TJ Elder Middle School Receives Grant for Ag & Special Needs Project

AgGeorgia Farm Credit recently awarded $55,000 to twelve local non-profit organizations as part of the cooperative’s Community Mission Fund. The grant program was established in 2023 to support endeavors that further the future of agriculture and enhance life in rural Georgia.  Forty-eight grant applications were received, and awards of up to $5,000 per application were distributed in the fourth quarter.

TJ Elder Middle School was selected as a recipient and is using the grant funds to purchase equipment for a joint project between the school’s agriculture and special needs departments.  “The purpose of this project is to educate students about raising poultry with the bonus of being able to offer fresh, local eggs to the community,” states Matthew Shelton, Agriculture Teacher for the school.  The TJ Elder agriculture program teaches students in plant science, animal science, forestry, natural resources, leadership, and agricultural mechanics. “The TJ Elder FFA chapter will use the funds in partnership with the school's special needs classes to develop a poultry science program where the special needs classes will assist the agriculture classes with caring for chickens as well as processing, marketing, and selling eggs. This will help to open training in entrepreneurship and poultry science to a wider range of students,” says Mr. Shelton.

AgGeorgia Farm Credit will accept applications for the 2024 Community Mission Fund until June 30, 2024. For more information and to apply, please visit the AgGeorgia Farm Credit Community Mission Fund page at www.aggeorgia.com/community-mission-fund.