Ware County Young Farmer Advisor Eric Hickox delivered a spirited and data-rich case for the importance of agriculture education — locally, statewide, and nationally — at a meeting of the Waycross Exchange Club.
Drawing from personal experience, industry statistics, and the work of local FFA programs, Hickox said agricultural literacy is not merely an elective interest but a foundational pillar of Georgia’s economy and future workforce.
Hickox opened with a personal reflection on his unlikely path to the classroom. Though he once insisted he’d “never be a teacher,” he credited mentors like Ware County Schools Supt. Dr. Lynn Barber for helping shape his passion for agricultural education.
While working at the FFA/FCCLA Center in college, Young said he realized “this was my life’s calling,” a moment that set him on the path to becoming an advisor who now works — as he put it — “to bridge the gap between business and industry.”
Ag Education: More Than Farming Hickox addressed a common misconception head-on — agriculture education exists only for future farmers.
He recalled an educator questioning why Ware County employs so many agriculture teachers when “we don’t have that many farmers.” His response was simple — food, clothing and shelter remain universal needs, and agriculture touches every one of them.
He emphasized the transformative impact of programs like FFA, noting they provide “leadership development, hands-on experiences, and career opportunities that are in high demand.”
Students, he said, become “problem-solvers and innovators in everything from sustainable farming practices to techno logy in agriculture.”
Georgia Agriculture: $70 Billion Power Hickox then turned to the broader economic landscape, outlining Georgia’s top agricultural commodities.
Broilers lead the state’s farm gate value at $6.1 billion, followed by beef, eggs, peanuts, greenhouse products, cotton, timber, dairy, corn and blueberries.
He noted Georgia produces around 50 percent of the peanuts grown in the United States, and ranks first nationally in broilers, peanuts and forestry.
The timber industry, he added, has faced recent challenges, including the closure of five paper mills in 2025, which “directly impacted the state’s coastal and southeast timber industries.”
These numbers, Hickox stressed, “aren’t just numbers — they represent careers, innovation, and the backbone of Georgia’s economy.”
Agriculture contributes over $70 billion annually and supports more than 400,000 jobs statewide.
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