North Georgia Technical College is returning to its roots. On Tuesday, the college announced plans to establish the Tommy and Bernice Irvin School of Agriculture.
The move could put NGTC in a position to rival Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia’s top agricultural and agribusiness school. “Today I see a new beginning for North Georgia Technical College,” said NGTC President Dr. Mark Ivester as he recalled the school’s original standing as a premier Agricultural A&M school.
The announcement comes just weeks after former Georgia Agricultural Commissioner Tommy Irvin’s passing on September 14. Irvin served as Georgia’s Commissioner of Agriculture from 1969 until January 2011. He holds the record as the longest-serving Commissioner of Agriculture in the United States and the longest-serving statewide official in Georgia.
Aside from his political career in agribusiness, Irvin often felt as though agriculture was a key component to an exceptional life personally and economically, according to his grandson Chris Irvin. “He cared about what we put in our bodies.”
James Irvin said his late father’s legacy will live on at North Georgia Technical College.
“I discussed this with Daddy and he was excited about it and we began to plan the program,” he said. “Little did I know that he would be suddenly taken away from us. And as he breathed his last breath on the night of September 14th, the board met earlier that day and decided to move forward with the Tommy and Bernice Irvin School of Agriculture.”
The Irvin Foundation plans to offer a scholarship program in conjunction with the school. “We are also working towards establishing scholarships for FFA students here in Northeast Georgia so that they can attend the school here,” James Irvin said. He emphasized the importance of everyone working together to achieve this idea. “If we all get behind it, it’s something that can really grow.”
“This is definitely exciting for all the grandkids, to build on our grandparents’ legacy,” added Chris. “We are proud to be here and proud that everyone’s getting on board.” He closed his family’s remarks by speaking about the potential of the new school. “This school right here has the bones to be something great. If everybody gets behind it we can provide an education to our kids here in Northeast Georgia”.
North Georgia Tech Horticulture Instructor Craig Thurmond said the new School of Agriculture will have three areas of concentration, including Agri-Business, General Agriculture, and Sustainable Urban Food Production, according to WNEG Radio.
“Our goal is to begin offering the Sustainable Urban Food Production program this summer, summer semester 2018 and then have the General Agriculture first stage up and running by fall of 2018. So this time next year we should have ag students on campus,” Thurmond explained.
The Irvin Foundation donated $500,000 to help get the Agriculture School started.
The new Tommy & Bernice Irvin School of Agriculture will be built near the new greenhouses on the south side of the Clarkesville campus.
