VALDOSTA — Georgia’s first lady arrived in town this week to kick off Agriculture Week.

Marty Kemp began her visit with students at J.L. Newbern Middle School where she learned about the pollinating garden and its vegetable garden.

Middle schoolers were eager to share their knowledge with Kemp. They said it was an honor to have her at the school.

“I can’t wait to show her what we have done, what we are doing,” Cornell Collier, a seventh-grader, said.

Newbern started work on its pollinating garden last fall, said Deanna Brooks, seventh-grade life science teacher.

The pollinating garden, which demonstrates feeding relationships between various organisms, allows students to explore science outside of the classrooms, Brooks said.

The young scientists, or the “Panther Planters,” tend the garden with the assistance of volunteers.

Dr. Elena Ponder, Newbern principal, said the garden is a transformation from the classroom to the outdoors and vice-versa.

Jabarie Baker, one of Brooks’ students, said having the garden is exciting because he and his class do not have to go anywhere else to experience the process.

“The resources are right here in front of us, and we’re able to see it as it goes through the process,” he said.

The school garden is a way for kids to learn how to live off of the land and have an appreciation for farmers, Kemp said.

“I’m just really impressed at their excitement, what they’ve learned … all of them want to tell me something about it,” she said, “and then, they can just watch their hard work grow. That’s just real satisfaction to them, that their hard work paid off.”

Agriculture is important to remember farmers, she said. Kemp spoke about farmers still suffering from the devastation of Hurricane Michael.

“It’s the number one business in Georgia, and we’ve got to take care of our farmers. … We’ve got to support our farm to table, which is very important,” she said.

The official kickoff for Georgia Agriculture Week took place late Monday afternoon at the Lowndes County Administration Building.

During a speech, Kemp announced the Governor’s Mansion will only have Georgia Grown products.

“We are very excited to do that to support this great program,” she said.

Area Georgia Grown members South Georgia Pecan, Sunset Farm Foods, GG’s Sugared Peppers and Raisin’ Cane were present with samples.

Valdosta Mayor John Gayle and Lowndes County Commission Chairman Bill Slaughter jointly read a proclamation for Ag Week.

“And whereas Georgia’s total food and fiber sector employs 392,400 Georgia workers,” Slaughter read.

“And whereas Lowndes County and the City of Valdosta support the Department of Agriculture and Georgia Grown produce,” Gayle read.

Agriculture is the number one industry in the state, Slaughter said.

Gayle said agriculture has the most economic impact in the state.

An after-party for the kickoff was held at Georgia Beer Company. 

Amanda M. Usher is a reporter at The Valdosta Daily Times. She can be contacted at 229-244-3400 ext.1274.