agriculture

Dr. Thomas McNair (left) and Cynthia Altman from Wilkes County Veterinary Services conduct a breeding soundness exam on a herd bull at the Northeast Georgia Livestock haul-in facility in Rayle on Monday, October 20, 2025. These exams should be conducted yearly to determine the fertility of bulls before breeding season. (Makenna Reavis/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Dr. Thomas McNair (left) and Cynthia Altman from Wilkes County Veterinary Services conduct a breeding soundness exam on a herd bull at the Northeast Georgia Livestock haul-in facility in Rayle on Monday, October 20, 2025. These exams should be conducted yearly to determine the fertility of bulls before breeding season. (Makenna Reavis/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Bull breeding exams are key as prices rise

Makenna Reavis
Thursday, November 13, 2025
Some animals were less than cooperative when farmers from around Oglethorpe County loaded their herd bulls in the crisp morning air late last month.  The process was quite a feat for many, but they said the trek was worth it for valuable information about their bulls’ fertility.
Cole Faust, a senior at OCHS, won the State Tractor Operation and Maintenance CDE through the Georgia FFA at the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition last month. He wants to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College after graduation. (Submitted Photo)

Cole Faust, a senior at OCHS, won the State Tractor Operation and Maintenance CDE through the Georgia FFA at the Sunbelt Agricultural Exposition last month. He wants to attend Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College after graduation. (Submitted Photo)

Drive to win pushes Faust to tractor title

Jacob Harper
Thursday, November 6, 2025
Cole Faust made Oglethorpe County history last month. On a tractor.  The Oglethorpe County High School senior won the State Tractor Driving and Operations contest, the first time an FFA member from OCHS has won the event. Faust said his victory was a long time coming.
The grain elevator at Oglethorpe Feed and Hardware Supply stretches 125 feet from the ground and provides efficient unloading and loading of feed. The Sanders have seen greater efficiency since its completion in July. (Elizabeth Kim/The Oglethorpe Echo)

The grain elevator at Oglethorpe Feed and Hardware Supply stretches 125 feet from the ground and provides efficient unloading and loading of feed. The Sanders have seen greater efficiency since its completion in July. (Elizabeth Kim/The Oglethorpe Echo)

Grain elevator boosts efficiency at feed store

Makenna Reavis
Thursday, October 9, 2025
The Sanders family, which has been running Oglethorpe Feed and Hardware Supply since 1998, introduced a towering addition to their business this summer: a 125-foot-tall grain elevator.
Oglethorpe County FFA officers prepare flowers for the floral design contest Thursday in the high school cafeteria. From left, sophomore Katherine Horsley, senior Daisy Brown and senior Andee Dellinger organized vases and flowers before students arrived to compete. (Photo/Ella Jones)

Oglethorpe County FFA officers prepare flowers for the floral design contest Thursday in the high school cafeteria. From left, sophomore Katherine Horsley, senior Daisy Brown and senior Andee Dellinger organized vases and flowers before students arrived to compete. (Photo/Ella Jones)

FFA competition brings hundreds of students to Oglethorpe County

Ella Jones
Wednesday, October 1, 2025
For senior Callie Bridges, the floral design competition at Oglethorpe County High School was both a test and an opportunity to showcase her small business. The contest required a timed arrangement, an identification exam and a written exam.
Susan Shaw (top left), her daughter Jennifer Johns (top right), and son-in-law Josh Johns (center) pose with grandchildren Madelyn and Levi Johns (bottom left and right) for a photo at Hickory Hill Farms. (Photo/ Lilly Stone)

Susan Shaw (top left), her daughter Jennifer Johns (top right), and son-in-law Josh Johns (center) pose with grandchildren Madelyn and Levi Johns (bottom left and right) for a photo at Hickory Hill Farms. (Photo/ Lilly Stone)

Oglethorpe’s family-owned farms persevere through changing times

Lilly Stone and Jesse Wood
Thursday, April 24, 2025
Nine-year-old Madelyn Johns spends her Friday afternoons running through rows of crops spread across her family's 12 acres of plantings at Hickory Hill Farms in Carlton.  Across the field, her youngest brother Matthew, 6, clutches a handful of freshly pulled carrots.
Marcus Eason, Oglethorpe County 4-H youth program director, holds a football to demonstrate where to measure and identify features on a live bird during poultry judging practice. The 4-H office hasn’t been able to secure live birds for practice due to avian flu. (Photo/Lilly Stone))

Marcus Eason, Oglethorpe County 4-H youth program director, holds a football to demonstrate where to measure and identify features on a live bird during poultry judging practice. The 4-H office hasn’t been able to secure live birds for practice due to avian flu. (Photo/Lilly Stone))

Don’t fumble the chicken: Cost of eggs forces 4-H poultry team to use football, not fowl

Lilly Stone
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
There were no feathers scattered across the floor, and a familiar clucking was absent during poultry judging practice at the Oglethorpe County Extension Office last week.
Owner and founder of Strickland Pride Produce, Kendall Strickland, stands behind the counter of his storefront location at 1129 Athens Rd, Crawford, GA. Strickland originally began his business from a successful roadside stand on E Main St. in Lexington, GA. This past Friday, the community joined him in celebrating one year in his storefront location. (Photo / Lilly Stone)

Owner and founder of Strickland Pride Produce, Kendall Strickland, stands behind the counter of his storefront location at 1129 Athens Rd, Crawford, GA. Strickland originally began his business from a successful roadside stand on E Main St. in Lexington, GA. This past Friday, the community joined him in celebrating one year in his storefront location. (Photo / Lilly Stone)

Putting down roots: Strickland celebrates 1 year in storefront

Lilly Stone
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
Eleven-year-old Austin Qualls and his mother, Angela Qualls, take a 30-minute drive once a week from Washington to Strickland Pride Produce in Crawford.   The weekly journey has become routine for the mother and son since the store opened its doors just over a year ago.
Sara Micale/The Oglethorpe Echo

Sara Micale/The Oglethorpe Echo

Ag census: Number of county farms on the rise

Sara Micale
Wednesday, April 10, 2024
Farming in Oglethorpe County has grown in the past five years despite a national and statewide decrease in the number of farms.  Oglethorpe County’s 2022 Census of Agriculture County Profile saw significant increases in number and average size of farms and net cash income.
Ben Brubaker (from left), his son Benji and his father Dale gather around the wheel of a combine. The Brubaker family, which grows crops on their farm on Comer Road, could see a third generation of farmers if Benji decides to continue the tradition. (Submitted photo)

Ben Brubaker (from left), his son Benji and his father Dale gather around the wheel of a combine. The Brubaker family, which grows crops on their farm on Comer Road, could see a third generation of farmers if Benji decides to continue the tradition. (Submitted photo)

Row croppers on decline

Sara Micale and Lesley Randall
Friday, March 29, 2024
Wheat is growing on 600 acres of row cropping land along Comer Road, but it’ll soon bear corn and soybeans.   The farm belongs to Ben Brubaker, who said he believes he is one of two or three others row cropping in Oglethorpe County. His father, Dale, also works on the farm with him.