After a year of construction, the Stephens County School System cut ribbon to recognize completion of the Ferman Gregory Agriculture Center on Monday, Sept. 30.
The $8 million agriculture center, located off Eastanollee School Road near the Stephens County FFA Livestock Barn, stands at 28,000 square-feet and includes a 7,700-square-foot livestock showing arena with retractable bleachers and a seating capacity of 400.
The new multipurpose facility also features a 3,000-square-foot multipurpose room, a 670-square-foot meeting room, four office spaces, a livestock staging section, a loading and unloading area, as well as additional room for storage, utilities and concessions. The facility will host livestock shows, school performances and other events for students involved in Future Farmers of America.
The project, funded through the Education Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax, came out nearly $1 million less than the school system anticipated.
School board member Mark Smith said the name is an homage to Ferman Gregory, who taught agriculture education at Stephens County High School for 30 years. Gregory passed away in 2021 and “left a legacy of agriculture excellence in Stephens County,” according to Smith.
“(Gregory) was inducted into the Stephens County Farm Bureau Hall of Fame in 2012 and the Georgia Agricultural Education Hall of Fame in 2015,” Smith said. “He was actively involved in our community and served the field of agriculture, our school system, and our county well.”
Stephens County School System Superintendent Connie Franklin called the new facility a key resource for agriculture students.
“We are excited that the construction of this impressive, modern agriculture facility is
complete,” Franklin said. “We have always had a great agriculture education program…our mission this year is to ‘grow greatness,’ and this is just one more way we can achieve this goal.”
Once the ribbon was cut, students of Stephens County FFA hosted its first local show at the agriculture center.
During the event, 30 students exhibited 60 head of livestock that included goats, lambs, swine and cattle.
“The Ferman Gregory Agriculture Center represents generations of agriculturalists both past and present,” agriculture teacher and FFA advisor Ethan Holton said. “I cannot think of a better way to open the facility than by hosting a livestock show.”
Holton added: “Since the project began, I have been amazed at how many community members of all ages have expressed their excitement of the facility, and how many have reminisced on their time in the FFA program and exhibiting livestock. We truly have a legacy of agriculture here in the county, and we look forward to the endless possibilities that await our current and future students with our new facility.”
