TIFTON — The University of Georgia Tifton Campus wrapped up a year of centennial celebrations on May 3, exactly 100 years after the founding of the research station in 1919.

The morning began at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center with a student poster symposium and a program featuring campus leaders, elected officials, staff and alumni.

The featured speakers, which included Assistant Dean Joe West, U.S. Rep. Austin Scott, UGA president Jere Morehead, Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black, and Dean of the College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences Sam Pardue.

United States Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue was not able to attend but sent a video.

The speakers highlighted the campus’ contribution to research and agriculture both in Georgia and around the world.

A ribbon cutting opening a recreation of a historic campus garden was part of the centennial celebration as well.

West said that old photos of the campus showed a formal garden located behind the Tift Building. The garden, which was symmetrical and contained a variety of ornamental plants, was replaced with a parking lot.

Plans were made to rebuild the formal garden as both an homage to the campus’ past and as a way to mark the next 100 years, according to West.

All of the plants in the garden are releases of plant genetics developed by UGA scientists.

The centennial celebration ended with an ice cream social and fireworks display on the campus.