News & Events

From the mule-powered sugar cane mill to the smell of syrup cooking, visitors will become immersed in the days of old in South Georgia on Nov. 19 at the annual cane grinding and syrup making event at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Georgia Museum of Agriculture. For many Southerners, cane grinding and syrup cooking are family traditions that have been passed down through generations. The Museum’s Historic Village is one of the few places where visitors can step back in time to see a mule-powered mill grinding sugar cane. The sweet juice pouring from the cane mill is transferred to the syrup shed where it is cooked down in a cast iron kettle to make cane syrup. Costumed interpreters will explain the cane grinding process and the intricacies of producing a delicious bottle of cane syrup. Educational programs for guests will take place throughout the Village during the day including doll-making, blacksmithing demonstrations, grapevine wreath making, open-hearth cooking, and more. Guests can also enjoy mule plowing and mule powered cane grinding demonstrations. The steam powered cotton gin will also be running. The Vulcan Steam train ride is always a highlight of the day for Museum guests. The Museum will be open from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Nov. 19. Admission to the Museum on Saturdays is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors (age 55 and over), $6 for children 5-16 years of age, and free for children four and under. For more information on cane grinding and other upcoming events, interested persons can contact the Museum at (229) 391-5205 or visit the Museum’s website at www.gma.abac.edu.

Children of all ages can ride the North Pole Express to see Santa Claus on Dec. 1-3 and Dec. 8-10 at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Georgia Museum of Agriculture. North Pole Express tickets will be available beginning Nov. 1 at 9 a.m. online at https://northpoleexpress2022.eventbrite.com. Tickets are $17 per person and must be purchased in advance. Tickets will not be sold at the event.  Children one year of age and under are free.  Children two years of age and older must have a ticket. Guests will begin their journey in Santa’s Bakery where Santa’s elves will read the holiday classic, “The Polar Express.” Guests will then board the North Pole Express to visit Santa Claus and enjoy the movie version of “The Polar Express.” Photo opportunities abound throughout this festive candy-themed holiday event. The Museum’s 1917 Vulcan steam locomotive will depart for the North Pole every 20 minutes from 5 to 8:20 p.m. on the six nights of the event. Guests are encouraged to arrive a few minutes before their scheduled session for the best experience possible. The train cars are open air, and it is recommended that guests dress according to the weather. For more information, interested persons can contact the Museum at (229) 391-5205 or visit the website at www.gma.abac.edu.

Pet a friendly farm animal or gather around for a spooky story at the annual Trick or Treat in the Village event on Oct. 29 at ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture. Children can participate in a costume contest, have their faces painted by Happy Sunrise Paintings, catch a hayride around the Village, or join the fun in yard games from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. The costume contest will take place at 1 p.m. in front of the Drug Store. Candy will be available throughout the Village while supplies last. Win a ribbon and bragging rights for creating the best carved, painted, or decorated pumpkin. Pumpkins must be dropped off at the Country Store by 6 p.m. on October 28 to be considered for judging which will take place at 12:30 p.m. on October 29. The celebration will include plenty of snacks to purchase and enjoy throughout the day. The Village Drug Store which features barbecue sandwiches, hot dogs, chili dogs, and hand-dipped ice cream. Cotton candy and popcorn will also be available at the Country Store. Cole’s Cakery and Wilma’s Place will have delicious treats as well. Admission for the day is $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens, $6 for children 5 – 16 years of age, and free for children ages 4 and under. For more information, interested persons can contact the Country Store at (229) 391-5205.                                                    

Test your skills of deduction throughout the Murder Mystery at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Georgia Museum of Agriculture (GMA) this fall. The Murder Mystery will be held Saturday, Oct. 1 with four sessions available from 4:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Tickets for Murder Mystery will be available beginning Thursday, Aug. 25 at 9:00 a.m. at https://abacgma.eventbrite.com. Tickets are $25 per person and must be purchased in advance. Tickets will not be sold at the event. Only 80 tickets are available for the event. The first group will begin at 4:30 p.m., with additional one-hour sessions starting at 5:30, 7:00, and 8:00. The Murder Mystery is designed for a maximum of 20 people per session. The event is recommended for ages 13 and over. All minors must be accompanied by an adult. Participants are brought in to act as “deputies-in-training” and are tasked to help investigate a high-profile murder. Murdered during a dinner party, the victim in question is Mr. H.B. Brooks, the owner of the local railroad branch. Guests will use their detective skills to search for clues and interview the dinner guests to find the culprit before time runs out. Murder Mystery is part of the 2022-2023 “History After Dark” program series which provides guests the opportunity to experience the Museum after hours. The series features evening programs throughout the year on a variety of topics and immersive activities. For more information, interested persons can contact Chloe Holbrook at cholbrook@abac.edu or (229) 391-5213.

ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture is hosting Destination Ag Day on Saturday, Sept. 17, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. to celebrate agriculture! Visitors will explore how agriculture impacts them in their daily lives through a variety of hands-on activities. This family-fun-filled day will include crafts, a petting zoo, tractor displays, and interactive activities allowing guests of all ages to discover how important agriculture is. Guests can milk Buttercup, the fiberglass milking cow, experience the challenges birds face during a migration game, and create their own monarch caterpillar-themed bracelet! “Destination Ag Day is not only just learning about agriculture, but also a celebration of how important it is to each of us every day,” states Kelly Scott, the Museum’s Agriculture and Natural Resources Supervisor. Destination Ag has provided field trip experiences in agriculture and natural resources for more than 40,000 elementary-aged children since 2016. To date, the program has also connected with additional students and adults through outreach at schools, regional festivals, its Family Farm Book series, and its Traveling Trunks program in partnership with the Georgia Farm Bureau. “We are always looking for exciting ways to increase engagement with agriculture and natural resources, and this event will allow us to connect even more children and families with where their food, fiber, and shelter come from,” says Scott. Admission for the day is $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens. Every paid adult purchase includes free child (ages 17 and under) admission. For more information, interested persons can contact Scott at (229) 391-5221.  

Break out the red, white, and blue on July 2 when visitors can celebrate their patriotic pride at the Wiregrass Freedom Festival at the Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College Georgia Museum of Agriculture.  Ride the 1914 Vulcan Steam Train into the Historic Village and enjoy numerous entertaining games and contests representative of the Wiregrass region of Georgia during the early 20th century.  All ages can enjoy traditional baseball, watermelon samples, and challenge their historic vocabulary knowledge with trivia in the Wiregrass School House. Kids can enjoy cane pole fishing in the Grist Mill Pond. Victorian era paper firework crafts will add to the atmosphere which is sure to be enhanced by the pie-baking contest. Baking enthusiasts can also join the fun with a pie contest! Contest rules require pies to be made offsite and brought to the Museum for entry. Pies can be submitted beginning at 9:00 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. at the welcome desk inside the Main Museum. A copy of the recipe must be submitted with the pie, which includes a list of all ingredients. Winners will be announced at 1:00 p.m. on the Drug Store porch. The action-packed list of activities begins at 9 a.m. and continues until 4 p.m. at the Museum, located just off I-75 in Tifton. Museum Director Garrett Boone said “the event will highlight the history of America as we celebrate our great nation through fun, educational, and unique activities for the whole family. Celebrate the holiday with old fashioned fun in the Historic Village.” Cool off with slice of watermelon at the Cravey House or a hand-dipped ice cream from the Drug Store. Enjoy other sweet treats from Simply Sweet Celebrations and Wilma’s Place when you visit the Opry Shelter Lawn. Guests can break from fun in the sun at two comfort stations complete with shade, water, and misters. See the past in action at the antique tractor display on the Tift House Lawn. The antique tractors will parade through the Historic Village at noon.  The Wiregrass Farmers Market will also be open for visitors. Local growers and producers will be offering fresh picked produce from 9 a.m. until noon as well as hand-made goods for sale at the Market located under the pole barn behind the Country Store.     Admission for the day is $12 for adults, $10 for senior citizens, $6 for children 5–16 years of age, and free for children four and under. For more information, interested persons can contact the Museum’s Country Store at (229) 391-5205.