Former President Jimmy Carter cut the ribbon to signal the opening of an exhibit on his life at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village on Oct. 8. ABAC operates the Museum as a part of its campus.

Two new bachelor’s degrees in the academic curriculum and a visit by a former president of the United States highlighted the 2011 calendar year at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

President David Bridges announced a new bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management with majors in forestry and wildlife management on Feb. 10 when he and Dr. Rod Brown sawed a log in half as a symbolic start to the program in the Agricultural Sciences building.

Bridges joined Dr. Ray Barber in Evans Hall on June 9 to announce another bachelor’s degree program in biology, designed for students pursuing a career in biology as well as for those who want to enter professional schools in such areas as medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine.

Former President Jimmy Carter cut the ribbon on an exhibit which honors his many accomplishments at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village on Oct. 8.  The exhibit will remain on display through April, 2012.  ABAC began its second year of operating the Museum as a part of its campus on July 1.

The year actually had an auspicious debut when the first day of spring term classes was cancelled on Jan. 10 because of inclement weather which left the roads in the area iced over.  Classes began on Jan. 11.

Matthew Keen, a rural studies major from Nashville, won the $3,000 top award for the William Zimmer Prize in Art Criticism.  Dr. Chrystle Ross, Chief Information Officer, announced a new website portal titled “myABAC” designed to make web access easier for ABAC students.

Laurel Higginbotham from Baxley was crowned Ms. ABAC 2011.  Bernard Green from Tifton was selected as Mr. ABAC 2011.  Both students were members of the ABAC Ambassadors.

ABAC Alumni Association award winners at the annual Celebrate ABAC weekend were Mack Crawford of Zebulon, Distinguished Alumnus; Jodi Rayl Snow from Belle Glade, Fla., Outstanding Young Alumnus; Terry Clark from Moultrie, Master Farmer; Dr. Jerry W. Johnson from Griffin, J. Lamar Branch Award; Suellen Coleman Perry from Moultrie, Outstanding Educator; Mark Mobley from Moultrie, Outstanding Business Leader; Dr. Jay Williams from Albany, Outstanding Health Care Professional; and Alan Kramer from Tifton and Tommy Irvin from Habersham County, Honorary Alumni.  The Ollie E. McMillan family from Berrien County also received the Family Legacy Award.

Due to popular demand, the ABAC Alumni Association brought back a “Gee Haw, Whoa Back” rodeo to the Celebrate ABAC weekend.  Grand Ole Opry member Mike Snider headlined the ABAC Foundation’s “Evening for ABAC” scholarship fundraiser at the Museum during the weekend.

Bridges placed the 100th Birthday Time Capsule in a compartment in the history room of the renovated Tift Hall on March 8.  The capsule was sealed on April 5, 2008 at the 100th birthday celebration at Homecoming.

Dr. Gail Dillard took over the leadership of all activities at ABAC on the Square in Moultrie, replacing Kay Powell, who expressed a desire to return to the classroom.  Dillard was previously the Vice President for Student Affairs.  Academic Affairs Vice President Niles Reddick assumed those duties along with Dean of Students Bernice Hughes.

The AET Club debuted a new Agco Allis 9650 pulling tractor on March 19.  The club also completed renovations to the original ABAC pulling tractor, “Cracker Jack.”

Melanie Partlow, assistant professor of mathematics and Quality Enhancement Plan Director, received the 2011 Regents’ Teaching Excellence award at the seventh annual Regents’ Awards for Excellence in Education Celebration on March 26.  Ken Newkirk retired on March 31 after 35 years of service directing the Upward Bound Program.  

Inductees into the Athletics Hall of Fame on April 2 included the 1995 national championship women’s softball team, Kyle Farnsworth, Benny Dees, Harley Stewart, and A.B. Malloy. On the same day, a new scoreboard for the ABAC Fillies’ softball team was dedicated in a ceremony which honored donors A.B. Malloy, the Spurlin family, and the ABAC Fillies softball alumnae.

Kevin Vantrees, a freshman from Douglasville, was elected president of the ABAC SGA in the spring election. Faculty member Dustin Bass received the Impact Award, and Director of Student Activities Kris Liebegott received the SGA President’s Award.

Michael Arena from Fitzgerald was selected as the top academic student at ABAC during the Honors Day ceremony when he  was named the J.G. Woodroof Scholar.  Faculty-staff award winners were Donna Hatcher, W. Bruce and Rosalyn Ray Donaldson Award for Two new bachelor’s degrees in the academic curriculum and a visit by a former president of the United States highlighted the 2011 calendar year at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.

President David Bridges announced a new bachelor’s degree in Natural Resource Management with majors in forestry and wildlife management on Feb. 10 when he and Dr. Rod Brown sawed a log in half as a symbolic start to the program in the Agricultural Sciences building.