FOOD CHECK-OUT WEEK GIVES TIPS FOR EATING HEALTHY ON A BUDGET

During Food Check-Out Week, Feb. 19-25, Farm Bureau is offering tips to help consumers eat healthy on a budget. Higher rates of diabetes and childhood obesity in the South make it crucial that everyone evaluate their diets and take responsibility for the food we eat.

As the price for gas rises, so does the cost of transporting, preparing and packaging food products, but a USDA report shows that prices for unprepared, readily available fresh fruits and vegetables have remained stable relative to dessert and snack foods, such as chips, ice cream and soda.

“Consumers may significantly reduce their grocery bills without sacrificing nutrition by shopping at competitively-priced stores, using coupons and store loyalty cards, and sticking to their shopping lists,” said Georgia Farm Bureau Women’s Leadership Committee Chairman Linda Crumley. “Another way to stretch your grocery dollars without neglecting nutrition is to buy fresh produce when it’s in season and costs less, while

buying frozen fruits and vegetables when they're not in season.” Food Check-Out Week, now in its 14th year, also highlights the variety and dependability of

America’s food supply, made possible by America’s farmers. According to the most recent information (2010) from the USDA’s Economic Research Service, American families and individuals on average spend less than 10 percent of their disposable personal income for food. In comparison, Italian consumers spend 14 percent; Chinese consumers spend 33 percent and Pakistani consumers spend 46 percent.

To celebrate the safe and affordable food supply our country enjoys, Georgia Farm Bureau is asking its county chapters to hold events in their local communities to educate the public about eating healthy and shopping on a budget. Many county Farm Bureaus are accepting cash or canned food donations to assist the hungry in their counties as well as cash to provide food assistance for the Ronald McDonald House in Macon. Of the money collected during this time, half will be used to assist the hungry in the local community. The other half will go to the Georgia Farm Bureau Women’s Committee, the sponsor of the statewide effort, to assist families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Macon.

Each year, the Georgia Farm Bureau Women’s Committee rotates the state donation to a different Ronald McDonald House. In previous years, donations have been made to the Ronald McDonald Houses in Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus and Savannah. Since 1998, Georgia Farm Bureau and its county chapters have donated $32,700 collected during Food Check-Out events to the Ronald McDonald Houses of Georgia.

February 22, 2012 www.gfb.org Vol. 30 No. 8

Leadership Alert page 2 of 10 OBAMA’S PROPOSED BUDGET CUTS DIRECT PAYMENTS

As anticipated by many agricultural stakeholders, direct payments were eliminated in the proposed FY 2013 budget submitted by President Barack Obama on Feb. 13, part of an ag package that also reduces funding for crop insurance administrative costs by $1.2 billion over 10 years and cuts conservation funding by $1.8 billion.

The president’s budget provides $23 billion for USDA discretionary spending for FY 2013, a decrease by $700 million from the FY 2012 budget.

According to a USDA summary, the elimination of direct payments will reduce the national deficit by $32 billion over 10 years, but items in the proposed budget drew criticism from Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.), chairman of the House Ag Committee, and Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), chairperson of the Senate Ag Committee.

“The agriculture community remains committed to doing its part in deficit reduction. However, this proposal shows a lack of perspective and understanding in how agriculture can realistically contribute,” Lucas said.

The president achieved the cuts to conservation funding by lowering the enrollment cap in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) to 30 million acres. Renewable energy programs are budgeted for $6.1 billion in funding, also a decrease from FY 2012.

The proposed budget also eliminates the $5 million Microbiological Data Program, which screens fresh produce for bacteria often tied to food-borne illness outbreaks, like salmonella, E. coli and listeria.

In another budget item important to Georgia farmers whose commodities are exported, the proposed budget includes $2.8 million in spending for the dredging and expansion of the Port of Savannah, a $2.2 million increase over the FY 2012 funding for the project, which is projected to cost more than $600 million. Gov. Nathan Deal said the state has already budgeted $180 million toward the project and that federal assistance would allow it to stay on track. MCDONALD’S REQUIRES ELIMINATION OF HOG GESTATION STALLS

McDonald’s, one of the nation’s largest buyers of pork, announced on Feb. 13 that it will require its U.S. pork suppliers to phase out the use of sow gestation stalls, the company said in a joint release with the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

The company, which according to published reports buys 1 percent of the nation’s pork, has given its suppliers until May to submit outlines of their plans to end the use of gestation stalls.

“McDonald’s believes gestation stalls are not a sustainable production system for the future. There are alternatives that we think are better for the welfare of sows,” said Dan Gorsky, McDonald’s senior vice president for North America supply chain management. “McDonald’s wants to see the end of sow confinement in gestation stalls in our supply chain. We are beginning an assessment with our U.S. suppliers to determine how to build on the work already underway to reach that goal.”

The National Pork Producers Council (NPPC) said in a statement that the company’s move provides a chance for the pork industry to respond to consumer demands through the market rather than by government mandate.

Leadership Alert page 3 of 10 WALLER NAMED SOYBEAN CHAIR, TWO GET AGRIBUSINESS AWARDS

Washington County row-crop farmer Glenn Waller, long one of the state’s highest-yielding soybean producers, was named chairman of the Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Soybeans during the commission's monthly meeting on Jan. 25.

Waller, who won the 2010 high yield and production efficiency awards, succeeds Billy Wayne Sellers as commission chair. Waller’s term is scheduled to run through Aug. 8, 2013.

The commission is one of 12 state commodity commissions funded through check-off assessments and provides leadership on research, education and promotion of soybeans grown in Georgia.

During the 2012 Soyban/Small Grain Expo on Jan. 26, the Georgia/Florida Soybean Association presented its Agribusiness

Awards to Roebie Burriss and Dar Bohnenstiehl. Bohnenstiehl, a retired airline pilot, is the owner and manager of

Milner Farms in Lamar County, where he and his son Kyle grow soybeans, cotton and wheat on 2,000 acres.

Burriss is an area manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred for Georgia, South Carolina and much of Florida. A Georgia native, Burriss is a University of Georgia graduate and serves as president of the Georgia Seed Association.

FCC SUSPENDS LIGHTSQUARED WAIVER

Citing testing and analysis by the National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA), the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Feb. 14 suspended a conditional waiver to allow LightSquared to develop its wireless broadband network using satellite spectrum.

The NTIA, a Department of Commerce agency tasked with advising the president on telecommunications and information policy issues, conducted studies of the LightSquared network and concluded that it is currently unavoidable to have the LightSquared network interfere with signals used by global positioning satellite (GPS) devices, including those used by many farmers to execute precision farming practices. LightSquared disputed these findings.

In a statement, the FCC emphasized that interference with GPS would not be allowed and that the NTIA “has now concluded that there is no practical way to mitigate potential interference at this time.”

Farmers use GPS systems to map fields in order to maximize use of available land area and GPS technology aids in dispensing correct amounts of fertilizer, pesticides and herbicides on their fields.

“I think there’s a place for LightSquared in the future, but if they were to launch their network right now it would alienate millions of people and their tens of millions of pieces of equipment,” said Dooly County diversified row-crop farmer Gene Roney. “From an agriculture standpoint, losing GPS would be very harmful. We have autosteer tractors and use grid sampling that depends on GPS. Using GPS technology saves us energy and time. We use GPS technology to check our pivots and turn the position they are spraying. Sometimes farmers have irrigation pivots that are located in fields 20 or more miles from their farms. If we lost our GPS capability we would have to travel that distance to check on our pivots.”

Waller

Leadership Alert page 4 of 10 GA. PEANUT COMMISSION SEEKING FUNDING FOR AN ENTOMOLOGIST The Georgia Peanut Commission is encouraging all farmers and industry representatives to contact their state legislators request funding for a peanut entomologist at the University of Georgia. There is an opportunity to fill limited positions at the University of Georgia that have been vacant for a while. The Commission Board Members have made this a top priority due to the increased insect pressure farmers have faced in recent years. Find your Georgia state senator and representative online at http://www.senate.ga.gov/senators/en-US/SenateMembersList.aspx and http://www.house.ga.gov/Representatives/en-US/HouseMembersList.aspx.

GEORGIA JUNIOR NATIONAL LIVESTOCK SHOW Feb. 22- Feb. 26 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The Georgia National Junior Livestock show is an annual event that brings together students from across the state. The event at the Agricenter in Perry gives 4-H and FFA members an opportunity to show off all of the hard work it took to raise and handle their animals. For more information, visit www.gnfa.com. 2012 GEORGIA NATIONAL RODEO Thru Feb. 25 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry Sanctioned by the PRCA, the Rodeo features specialty acts, saddle bronc riding, bareback riding, tie down roping, steer wrestling, team roping. barrel racing and bull riding For tickets and information contact the Box Office 478-987-3247or visit http://www.gnfa.com. GFB SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATION DEADLINE IS FEB. 24 Students wishing to apply for one of 10 Georgia Farm Bureau Scholarships have until Feb. 24 to apply. The scholarships are for high school seniors who plan to pursue undergraduate degrees in agricultural and environmental sciences, family and consumer sciences or related agricultural fields. Students submitting an application must currently be a Georgia high school senior and plan to enroll in a unit of the University System of Georgia or Berry College during the 2012-2013 academic year. Contact your county Farm Bureau office for more information or an application. A copy of the application may also be downloaded from the GFB website by visiting http://www.gfb.org/programs/aic/EducationLinks.htm. Applications must be approved and signed by the Farm Bureau president of the county in which the applicant resides or attends high school. Winners will be announced in May. GEORGIA DOL AG PRACTICES SURVEY DEADLINE IS FEB. 24 The Georgia Department of Labor is conducting a voluntary survey of the state’s fruit and vegetable growers to determine the “valid prevailing and common agricultural practices in Georgia.” The results of the survey will be used by the U.S. Department of Labor to determine employee benefits and working conditions to be provided by Georgia agricultural employers who use the H-2A program. The survey can be filled out online at http://www.research.net/s/AGSurvey2012. Georgia Fruit & Vegetable growers who did not receive a survey should contact the Georgia DOL Agricultural Services Unit at 404-232-3500.

Leadership Alert page 5 of 10 FEB. 28 IS SALES CLOSING DATE FOR CROP INSURANCE IN GEORGIA The sales closing date for crop insurance in Georgia is Feb. 28 for producers of cabbage (Rabun County only), corn, cotton, flue-cured tobacco, grain sorghum, peanuts and soybeans. This is the last date to purchase a new policy or change the level of coverage for an existing one. Contact a multi-peril crop insurance (MCPI) agent for more information. A list of agents is available at http://www.rma.usda.gov/tools/agents/. PLANNING FOR 2020 AT UGA Feb. 29 Vidalia Onion Research Center Lyons The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is currently planning its future, developing its official 10-year strategic plan. To get public input, the college has scheduled several regional meetings across the state. The college prepares students for jobs in Georgia's No. 1 business, agriculture, conducts cutting-edge research and educates the public through UGA Cooperative Extension offices across the state. Six regional meetings have been set from 8:30 a.m. until. Like UGA’s current strategic plan, the CAES plan targets 2020. Participants are encouraged to register for the regional meetings at http://www.caesplan.caes.uga.edu/index.html. GFB SOCIAL MEDIA TRAINING 101 WORKSHOP March 1 GFB Home Office Auditorium 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Macon The Georgia Agritourism Association along with the Georgia Farm Bureau Certified Farm Market and Young Farmer programs is hosting this workshop, designed to teach volunteers the basics of utilizing social media to tell the story of agriculture. Attendees will be shown how to set up a Wordpress blog, a Facebook page, a Twitter account and a Google account to allow use of Gmail and YouTube. The course will also offer training on loading content to those platforms. Cost is $10 per person and the fee includes lunch. Participation is limited to 50 people. Please register by Feb. 27 by calling 1-800-342-1196. UGA CONDUCTING FERAL HOG SURVEY The Warnell School of Forestry at the University of Georgia is conducting a survey of randomly selected landowners in Southwest Georgia to gauge the extent and economic impact of feral hogs. The survey is being conducted by Dr. Mike Mengak, a UGA professor of wildlife ecology and wildlife outreach specialist. Responses are anonymous and will be kept confidential. Landowners who received the survey are urged to fill it out and return it by March 1. Wildlife students from the Warnell School will compile the results and issue a report on their findings by late spring. For information, contact your UGA Cooperative Extension office or Dr. Mengak at 706-583-8096 or mmengak@uga.edu. CAES ALUMNI ASSOCIATION ACCEPTING SCHOLARSHIP APPLICATIONS March 1 Deadline to apply for Freshman Scholarship June 1 Deadline to apply for Transfer Scholarship The UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Alumni Association is accepting applications for its Freshman Scholarship, for freshmen entering UGA in fall 2012 and the Transfer Scholarship for students considering transferring into a CAES program in fall 2012. For more information or to download the application form, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/alumni/CAA/scholarships.html.

Leadership Alert page 6 of 10 PROPOSALS FOR NRCS WATER PROJECTS DUE MARCH 2 The USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) is accepting proposals for water quality credit trading projects through March 2. Water quality credit trading is a market-based approach to lowering the costs of reducing pollution, and has the potential to engage more farmers and ranchers in water quality improvement efforts through the implementation of more conservation practices on agricultural lands. To apply electronically, visit http://www.Grants.gov or contact a local NRCS office. The complete announcement of program funding can be viewed online at http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/programs/financial/cig. For more information about NRCS conservation programs visit http://www.nrcs.usda.gov/wps/portal/nrcs/main/national/home or visit your local USDA service center. 8TH ANNUAL FFA WILDLIFE CAMP BANQUET March 3 Old Wal-Mart Building, Hwy. 278 Covington The Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center is hosting a smoked pork chop dinner to benefit the FFA Wildlife Camp and FFA Horse Camp. The banquet will feature a live auction, a silent auction and raffles for hunting and fishing supplies, a variety of guns, outdoor gear, a hidden treasure gun safe and more. Individual tickets are $25 each and sponsorships start at $200. Ticket order forms and banquet flyers can be downloaded at http://georgiaffacamp.org/WildlifeCamp.htm. For more information, contact Beverly Stahl at 770-786-6926, ext. 3 or BStahl@GaAgEd.org. 5th ANNUAL SOUTHEAST HAY CONVENTION March 6-7 UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center Tifton The convention, dedicated to growers who are serious about commercial hay production and want a thorough “A to Z coverage” of the subject. Sessions will cover hay production economics and outlook, climate, fertilization, pest control, marketing tips, irrigation and many more. Registration before Feb. 17 is $170 for the first person and $100 for each additional person from the same farm. After Feb. 17, it is $195 for the first person and $125 for each additional person. Deadline to register is March 2. Fees cover instructional materials, lunches and refreshments. For more information about the confvention, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/commodities/fieldcrops/forages/events/SHC12/SHC12.html or contact Dr. Dennis Hancock by email at dhancock@uga.edu or by phone at 706-614-2275. TIFTON BEEF CATTLE SHORT COURSE March 6 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center Irwinville Registration starts at 9 a.m. For more information contact Dr. Lawton Stewart at 706-542-1852 or lawtons@uga.edu or Patsie T. Cannon at 229-386-3683 or ptcannon@uga.edu. GEORGIA COTTON WOMEN BANQUET March 10 Tifton Conference Center Tifton Bonnie Duvall, who raises broilers, beef cattle and grows hay with her husband, Georgia Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall, on their Greene County farm, will be the guest speaker. An alumna of the UGA Terry College of Business, mother of four and grandmother of two, Mrs. Duvall will talk about her experience of being a farmer's wife and raising a family on the farm. Event begins at 7 p.m. Please RSVP by March 2 by calling Mary Walker at 229-386-5567.

Leadership Alert page 7 of 10 CONSERVATION RESERVE PROGRAM GENERAL SIGN-UP The USDA will conduct general sign-up for the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) from March 12 to April 6. CRP is a voluntary program available to agricultural producers to help them use environmentally sensitive land for conservation benefits. Producers enrolled in CRP plant long-term, resource conserving covers to improve the quality of water, control soil erosion and develop wildlife habitat. USDA provides participants with rental payments and cost-share assistance. Contract duration is between 10 and 15 years. Producers with expiring contracts and producers with environmentally sensitive land are encouraged to evaluate their options under CRP. For more information on CRP or other FSA programs, visit your nearest FSA service center or http://www.fsa.usda.gov. Georgia Agriculture Day Celebration March 13 Georgia Depot Atlanta Gov. Nathan Deal and Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black will host this event. Exhibits, food and entertainment will begin at 11 a.m. The program starts at 12:30 p.m. and includes the announcements for the Environmental Stewardship Award for Agriculture and the grand prize winner of the Flavor of Georgia Food Contest. For more information contact Steven Meeks by phone at 912-207-0813 or by email at steven@fmrburchfarms.com or meekss@me.com. NATIONAL PEANUT BOARD NOMINATION MEETING March 15 Georgia Peanut Commission headquarters 1:30 p.m. Tifton During this meeting, the Georgia Peanut Commission will select two nominees each for member and alternate to the National Peanut Board (NPB). All eligible peanut producers are encouraged to participate. Eligible producers are those who are engaged in the production and sale of peanuts and who own or share the ownership and risk of loss of the crop. ��John Harrell of Whigham is the current Georgia National Peanut Board member and Andy Bell of Climax serves as the alternate. The term for the current Georgia board member and alternate expires December 3. ��NPB encourages all persons who qualify as peanut producers to attend the meeting and run for nomination. It is USDA's policy that membership on industry-government boards and committees accurately reflect the diversity of individuals served by the programs. For more information on the nomination meeting, contact the Georgia Peanut Commission at 229-386-3470 or via email at info@gapeanuts.com. UGA CAES ALUMNI AWARD NOMINATIONS DEADLINE IS MARCH 15 The UGA College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences Alumni Association invites you to make nominations for its Young Alumni Achievement Award, Alumni Award of Excellence and the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame. The Young Alumni Achievement Award is for alumni who are 35 years old or younger and who have achieved excellence in their chosen field and/or in their community. The CAES Alumni Award of Excellence recognizes extraordinary CAES alumni 35 years or older. The purpose of the Hall of Fame is to recognize individuals making unusual and extraordinary contributions to agriculture and agribusiness industries in Georgia. Hall of Fame nominations must be postmarked by March 15. The Young Alumni Achievement and Alumni Excellence awards must be received by March 15. For more information or to make nominations for these awards, visit http://www.caes.uga.edu/alumni/CAA/scholarships.html.

Leadership Alert page 8 of 10 RAY CITY OLD FASHION PLOW DAY March 17 Ray City This event features an antique tractor show and plowing demonstration with antique tractors and mules and horses plowing in the field just like they did 100 years ago. Parade begins at 11 a.m. with plowing to follow. There will be live entertainment, a baking contest and much more. Free admission. Join us for a day of agricultural history. For more info contact Greg Harrell 229-237-3223. 4th ANNUAL PEANUT PROUD CELEBRATION March 24 Downtown square 7 a.m. – 11 p.m. Blakely This event begins with a 5K fun run and ends with an evening street dance. In between, visitors will enjoy annual Peanut Proud parade, live music from the Blakely Mass Choir, country artists Daryle Singletary and John Berry and others, a wrecking ball, train rides, trampoline jump, recipe contests and much more. For more information, visit http://www.peanutproud.com. GFB CAMPAIGN MANAGEMENT SEMINAR March 26–27 GFB Home Office Macon Individuals interested in running for public office will have a chance to gain valuable tips on how to conduct an election campaign during the campaign management seminar, hosted by Georgia Farm Bureau in conjunction with the American Farm Bureau Federation. The fee to attend is $150 for Farm Bureau members, $200 for non-members and $75 for candidate spouses and campaign managers attending with their candidates. Enrollment is limited to 30 people and the registration deadline is Feb. 24. For more information, contact the GFB Field Services or Legislative Departments at 478-474-8411. GEORGIA CATTLEMEN’S ASSOCIATION 51ST ANNUAL CONVENTION April 4-7 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry This jam-packed four-day event covers all things beef, including a forage conference conducted by UGA’s Dr. Dennis Hancock; a herbicide calibration clinic offering CEU credit hours; Pfizer Cattlemen’s College seminars on the topics of political/regulatory issues, risk management, nutrition and road safety; a livestock marketing seminar conducted by UGA’s Dr. Curt Lacy; the annual awards banquet; a “Beef Rocks” seminar hosted by the Georgia Cattlewomen’s Association; the GCA general membership meeting; angus, hereford, commercial heifer and club calf sales; the annual Cattlemen’s Ball; coffee and donuts with new Georgia State Veterinarian Dr. Robert Cobb and a new products and junior awards luncheon. For more information or to register, visit http://www.gabeef.org/gca/conventionregistration.htm. GEORGIA BEEF AMBASSADOR CONTEST April 7 Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter Perry The Georgia Beef Ambassador Contest, held in conjunction with the Georgia Cattlemen’s Association Annual Convention and Beef Expo, is open to youth ages 12 – 20. Its purpose is to advance youth knowledge of the nutritional values, cooking principles, safe handling and versatility of beef, as well as the importance of beef as an agricultural product. Contest entry forms must be received by March 1. Contest rules and entry forms may be found at http://www.gabeef.org/gcwa/contest.html.

Leadership Alert page 9 of 10 2012 OTTAWA FARMS STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL April 14-15 Ottawa Farms Bloomingdale This annual event is filled with family fun, including cloggers, hayrides, cow train rides, a wild west show, the mobile dairy classroom, corn cannon, pig races at the Ottawa Speedway and much more. The strawberry field will be open for visitors to pick their own strawberries and a variety of farm products at the Ottawa Farms General Store. Hours are 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on April 14 and 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on April 15. Admission is free for children under age 6 and $5 for everyone age 6 and up. For more information call 912-748-3035. INAUGURAL GOLDEN ONION COOKING COMPETITION April 22 Vidalia Community Center 12:30 p.m. Vidalia This competition, presented by the Vidalia Onion Committee, will serve as the official kick-off of the 35th Annual Vidalia Onion Festival. This professional competition will feature chefs from across Georgia preparing dishes featuring Vidalia onions. Prizes are $500 for first place, $250 for second and $100 for third. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $5 in advance and $10 at the door. For more information, visit http://www.vidaliaonionfestival.com. HEIFER EVALUATION & REPRODUCTIVE DEVELOPMENT (HERD) SALE April 24 Tifton Bull Evaluation Center Irwinville Sale begins at 12:30 p.m. For more information, contact Dr. Lawton Stewart at 706-542-1852 or lawtons@uga.edu or Patsie T. Cannon at 229/386-3683 or ptcannon@uga.edu. 35th ANNUAL VIDALIA ONION FESTIVAL April 26-29 Vidalia This four-day event offers the Miss Vidalia Onion Pageant, a children’s parade, outdoor music concerts, arts and crafts festival, street dance, car show, the Kiwanis Onion Run, the Vidalia Onion Festival Rodeo and the famous onion-eating contest. For more information visit http://www.vidaliaonionfestival.com. GEORGIA CENTENNIAL FARM APPLICATION DEADLINE IS MAY 1 Applications are being accepted for the Georgia Centennial Farm Program, which recognizes farms continuously operated by members of the same family for at least 100 years. The program is administered by the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Georgia Farm Bureau, Georgia Department of Agriculture, Georgia Forestry Commission, Georgia EMC and the Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter. Application forms are available online at http://www.georgiashpo.org/historic/centennial_farms. For more information, contact Steven Moffson at 404-651-5906 or steven.moffson@dnr.state.ga.us. EARLY DAYS OF YESTERYEAR May 11-12 Copeland Hall, Bowdon-Tyus Road Bowdon This free event will feature antique farm equipment and engines, tools, antique cars, entertainment, activities for children, vendors and food. For more information, contact Gearald Fielder at 770-258-9502 or via email at GFIELDER@aol.com.

Leadership Alert page 10 of 10 MONROE COUNTY HERD SALE May 12 Sleepy Creek Farm 12:30 p.m. Forsyth More than 80 bred heifers will be fore sale during the event. Data available on the heifers includes A.I. breeding and sire EPD’s, pelvic area, frame score, disposition score, weight per day of age and average daily gain. For more information contact the Monroe County Extension office by phone at 478-994-7014 or by email at uge2207@uga.edu. Information about the sale may also be found online at http://www.caes.uga.edu/extension/monroe/HERDProgram/herd.html. GEORGIA COTTON WOMEN SCHOLARSHIP DEADLINE IS MAY 15 The John M. and Connie H. Mobley Memorial Scholarship is presented annually by the Georgia Cotton Women to the child or grandchild of an active Georgia cotton producer with priority given to children of Georgia Cotton Women members. In the event there is no child or grandchild of a GCW member eligible for the scholarship, the GCW Scholarship Committee has the discretion to present the award to another qualified candidate. The $1,500 scholarship will be payable one-third each quarter or one-half each semester. This scholarship was established by the late John M. Mobley. It was continued by his wife Connie and is now carried on by their family. Scholarship applications may be downloaded at http//:www.georgiacottonwomen.org. The deadline for application is May 15. CALHOUN BEEF CATTLE REPRODUCTIVE MANAGEMENT WORKSHOP May 29 NW GA Research & Education Center Livestock Pavilion Calhoun Sale begins at 6 p.m. Contact Ted Dyer at 706-624-1403 or tgdyer@uga.edu or Phil Worley at 706/624-1398 - pworley@uga.edu for more information. GEORGIA EGG ASSOCIATION 51st ANNUAL MEETING June 20-22 King & Prince Beach & Golf Resort St. Simons Island The Georgia Egg Association meeting offers educational sessions, reports from the American Egg Board, United Egg Producers and the USA Poultry & Egg Export Council. The association will also hold its awards banquet, a spouse’s breakfast and much more. For more information, call 770-932-4622.