Atlanta – Governor Sonny Perdue and the Georgia Agriculture Advisory Commission welcomed more than 800 attendees to the historic Atlanta Freight Depot to the kick-off event celebrating the fifth annual National Agriculture Awareness Week in Georgia. 

Held March 18, the event recognized the important contributions of agriculture and agribusiness in the state and featured displays and booths from more than 60 organizations and agencies.  The Technical College System of Georgia (TCSG) was featured prominently with a booth staffed by horticulture and forestry instructors from Augusta Technical College, North Metro Technical College and Swainsboro Technical College.

Guests for the event included legislators, state officials, high school students interested in careers in agriculture and agribusiness, and business and industry representatives.

“The TCSG is quite proud to take part in this Agriculture Awareness Week event since agriculture and agribusiness programs are an important part of the course offerings at many of our colleges,” said TCSG Commissioner Ron Jackson.  “For the TCSG, this event highlights our focus on providing exceptional training for the workforce for Georgia’s world-class agriculture industry.”
 
The TCSG also features programs in many of Georgia’s strategic industries, which includes agribusiness as well as fields like healthcare, aerospace, life sciences, logistics and transportation, and energy and the environment.  In 2007, more than 140,000 students attended the 33 TCSG colleges, which offer a broad range of opportunities in more than 600 certificate, diploma and associate degree programs. TCSG colleges feature small classes, hands-on experience and focused instructor attention.

###