State Ag Commissioner Visits Stephens County

By Charlie Bauder, WNEG Radio, Toccoa

Stephens County hosts State Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black for its 2014 Agriculture Tour.

Organized by the Stephens County Cooperative Extension Office and the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber Of Commerce, County Extension Agent Forrest Connelly said the turnout for the event was great.

Connally said the tour demonstrated how important and varied agriculture is in Stephens County.

“It is very important and they are aware of the importance of agriculture in Stephens County,” said Connelly. “It shows by everybody that is here today. We have the city here, the county here. Our state representative and senator are here.”
Along the way, the tour covered all types of agriculture, from cattle to poultry to wine.

Friday’s tour visited three different locations.

They started at Seven Lakes Tarentaise cattle farm, then went to Oak Valley Farm, then ended at Currahee Vineyard.

Among those on hand for the tour was Georgia Agriculture Commissioner Gary Black.

He says it was great to hear about Tarentaise cattle and some of the other areas that make up the agriculture industry in Stephens County.

“It is just a wonderful time when the local community will reach out into the rural areas,” said Black. “Agriculture helps provide a quality of life for us and that is something we do not need to overlook.” –

Black also says it is important to have local leaders on hand to re-enforce the importance of the agriculture industry.