GA FarmLink

This morning, GA FarmLink and Athens Land Trust held our Farmer Cohort Gathering, an event that marks the beginning of each 10-month session of the GA FarmLink Farm Business Education Program.

It was a great time for program staff and participants to all get together in person and welcome 6 new farmers, who will comprise Cohort 4, and bring the total number of farms in the program to 24!

These farmers got to learn from some incredible industry experts, including Clarenda "Farmer Cee" Stanley, founder and CEO of Green Heffa Farms, and Ellen Polishuk of Plant To Profit.

They also got to connect with our statewide partners and learn about some incredible resources from McIntosh S.E.E.D., the Conservation Fund, and Georgia Grown.

A little background on the goals of this program: Over the course of four years (since 2024) 30 Georgia farmers will be guided by a team of professional consultants through a farm business curriculum that focuses on topics such as basic accounting, systems for data tracking, business & financial analysis, credit readiness, accessing federal programs, marketing/branding and planning for growth.

The program also provides farmers with opportunities to develop social capital and build a network through peer-to-peer mentoring and yearly on-farm educational events.

We rounded off the day with a reception with our state partners in conservation and agriculture. More details to come!

We want to give a major thank-you to Albany Technical College for hosting us in their LEC Auditorium.

We can't wait to see what's next for these incredible farmers!

AFT's Farm Transfer Toolkit AFT's Farm Transfer Toolkit is designed for agricultural landowners who seek to transfer their land, operation, or both to an incoming producer. The toolkit covers key steps in a farm transfer process. It contains information, worksheets and other tools to help users set goals, assess their finances...

Great place to learn what rural life can be like. Athens Land Trust

Registration for this free event for Georgia farmers is open: bit.ly/farmlink2026

Ted Turner 1938 - 2026.
Ted Turner will be remembered for many things; Winner of the 1977 America's Cup (sailing), creator of TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network and around the world for CNN.

However, he was also passionate about the world around us, the Captain Planet franchise and the work he did with oceanographer’s Jacques Cousteau.

He is also one North America's largest private landowners, dedicated to restoring and conserving millions of acres through sustainable, ecologically sensitive management and permanent conservation easement . His efforts focus on biodiversity, species restoration—including the world's largest private bison herd (approx. 45,000)—and operating through Ted Turner Reserves to connect people with nature.

GA Farm Link and Athens Land Trust wish to extend our sympathy to his family, and also thank him and his family for the on-going conservation work.

Jana D**e of the Albany-Dougherty EDC, Georgia Grown Resource Center President & CEO of the Albany-Dougherty EDC Jana D**e talks about partnering with the Georgia Department of Agriculture for the Georgia Grown Resource Center that will be located in downtown Albany.