Photo by Logan Thomas April 5 , 2023
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Vol. 5 No. 7
ATHENS TECH DEDICATES TOM MCCALL AGRICULTURAL SCIENCE COMPLEX Since 2014 Athens Technical College (ATC) has offered an agricultural science program to prepare students in Northeast Georgia for jobs in agriculture that need education beyond high school but not a bachelor’s degree. The program began on ATC’s main Athens campus, but last year moved to the new Tom McCall Agricultural Science Complex that was dedicated in a ceremony March 31 on ATC’s Elberton campus. “Tom has always supported Athens Technical College. He understands the importance of what we’re doing for workforce development and worked tirelessly to support Athens Tech during his 26 years in the General Assembly,” ATC President Andrea Daniels said. The ag science complex includes a 10,320-square-foot classroom building and a 17,091-squarefoot arena. “I can’t think of anyone more deserving to name this facility for,” said former Gov. Nathan Deal, who signed the state budget that allocated funds for construction of the complex. “I have an ag background and it makes me more appreciative of what I see here. This is a facility that will give students practical, hands-on training to secure jobs and make a living for their families.” The classroom building includes four labs with lecture seating, four offices, one classroom, a conference room and a beautiful lobby and student workspace with windows that look out on a pre-existing pond that sits below an adjoining patio. A 5,400-square-foot greenhouse will be completed soon. “It’s because of people like Tom McCall, who from his 26 years of service in the General Assembly to him serving as president of Georgia Farm Bureau, have ensured that Georgia agriculture is successful. Tom understands that our state can’t be successful if agriculture isn’t successful and that providing our own food and fiber is a national security issue,” Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Tyler Harper said. “What better way to honor Tom’s legacy than with an arena and classroom building where new ag leaders’ minds will be shaped.” The arena has a 5,841-square-foot show ring with bleacher seating for 274 people, a 4,725square-foot tie-out, multipurpose area and a 1,876-square-foot ag mechanic/construction lab. The first livestock show was held in the arena in January. Reservations for renting the arena can be -continued on next page