Carroll EMC welcomed nearly 350 middle and high school agriculture students from Carroll, Haralson, Heard, Paulding and Troup counties to its office on Wednesday, March 4, for its annual FFA Day, an educational event designed to expose students to the many career paths rooted in agriculture and skilled trades.
Throughout the morning, students rotated through a series of twenty-minute, hands-on learning sessions led by industry professionals. Presentations included cattle production with the Carroll County Cattlemen’s Association, fisheries management with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources and welding demonstrations with Carroll EMC’s vehicle shop.
Students also explored small-scale agriculture and self-sufficiency during a homesteading session with Triple F Homestead where live rabbits were brought on-site to discuss animal care and sustainable food practices. Additional sessions focused on agricultural education and career pathways through the University of Georgia Griffin Campus and its College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences along with a lineman panel highlighting opportunities within the electric utility industry.
FFA Day continues to reflect Carroll EMC’s commitment to honoring its agricultural roots while helping students explore modern careers tied to farming, natural resources and essential trades. The cooperative was founded to serve rural communities, and events like FFA Day remain an important way to invest in the next generation who may one day lead those industries forward.
By bringing students face-to-face with professionals who live and work in agriculture-related fields, Carroll EMC aims to bridge classroom learning with real-world experience and demonstrate that agriculture remains a vital and evolving part of the region’s economy and heritage.