GROWING AGRICULTURE TODAY FOR OUR FUTURE TOMORROW
Planned Agriculture Education &
Natural Resource Center
This beautiful 60,000+/- Sq Ft Education & Natural Resource Center with a cannery, commercial kitchen, offices, classrooms plus both an indoor and outdoor arena will be built in the middle of Polk County GA for ALL to enjoy. It will be built on 22+ acres of DONATED land near the beautiful Silver Comet Trail.
CLICK on a photo to stop the show.
APPLICATIONS FOR CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED SPENDING (CDS)
We applied for $997,500 to equip the cannery and commercial kitchen. This money is awarded for FY2027. We hope to break ground as soon as we are approved for the USDA loan, so the CDS funds will be just in time for installing the equipment.
FIELD TRIP TO GILMER COUNTY FACILITY
Glenn & Laura were joined by our architect, Zac Bell and an engineer, Scott Shephard, for a tour of the Agriculture Education Center in Ellijay. Our focus was on the nitty-gritty details needed to plan for appliance locations, water, electricity, HVAC, security, sewer and audio/visual. (12/18/2025)
USDA LOAN PROCESS Started
Seeking $5,000,000 Rural Development Loan. Met with Tamika Lucas, USDA Area 1 Director, to start USDA Loan Process. We have been approved as an eligible non-profit organization. Currently developing package for state and federal review.
SITE SELECTION
Met with Scott Lewis, Civil Engineer, to review final site selection. Working on details such as water, electrical, HVAC, AV, sewer and other requirements as we start applying for building permits.
DRAWINGS & 3-D Model REVIEWED
Glenn & Laura Robinson met with Zac Bell on 8 May 2025, to finalize the detailed construction drawings and view the 3-D Model created in collaboration with the Kennesaw State University Coles College 3-D Lab.
ARCHETICTS SELECTED
Friends of Agriculture reached a major milestone by signing with Bell & Associates Architects in Carrollton on 5 June 2024 for the detailed design of the ~62,000 square foot multipurpose Agriculture Education & Natural Resource Center planned for central Polk County on donated land on Sardis Road.
ZONING APPROVED July 2022
We applied for $997,500 to equip the cannery and commercial kitchen. This money is awarded for FY2027. We hope to break ground as soon as we are approved for the USDA loan, so the CDS funds will be just in time for installing the equipment.
FIELD TRIP TO GILMER COUNTY FACILITY
Glenn & Laura were joined by our architect, Zac Bell and an engineer, Scott Shephard, for a tour of the Agriculture Education Center in Ellijay. Our focus was on the nitty-gritty details needed to plan for appliance locations, water, electricity, HVAC, security, sewer and audio/visual. (12/18/2025)
USDA LOAN PROCESS Started
Seeking $5,000,000 Rural Development Loan. Met with Tamika Lucas, USDA Area 1 Director, to start USDA Loan Process. We have been approved as an eligible non-profit organization. Currently developing package for state and federal review.
SITE SELECTION
Met with Scott Lewis, Civil Engineer, to review final site selection. Working on details such as water, electrical, HVAC, AV, sewer and other requirements as we start applying for building permits.
DRAWINGS & 3-D Model REVIEWED
Glenn & Laura Robinson met with Zac Bell on 8 May 2025, to finalize the detailed construction drawings and view the 3-D Model created in collaboration with the Kennesaw State University Coles College 3-D Lab.
ARCHETICTS SELECTED
Friends of Agriculture reached a major milestone by signing with Bell & Associates Architects in Carrollton on 5 June 2024 for the detailed design of the ~62,000 square foot multipurpose Agriculture Education & Natural Resource Center planned for central Polk County on donated land on Sardis Road.
ZONING APPROVED July 2022
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Lead Architect Alan Bell with Friends of Agriculture President Glenn Robinson
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Architects Doug Elkins, Zachary Bell and Alan Bell with Friends of Agriculture President Glenn Robinson and Board Members Shelia Jennings and Laura Robinson
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Fundraising has started with several generous donations for "Brick & Mortar".
WE NEED: $500,000
to pay for grading and land preparation.
Please help spread the word to friends in Haralson, Paulding, Bartow, Floyd as well as our Alabama neighbors
in Cherokee, Cleburne & Calhoun.
Agriculture is the number one industry in Polk County GA, yet a third of the county is a “food desert” with 100% of students on the USDA lunch program. Education is the key!
We plan to fund a multi-purpose Agriculture Education and Natural Resource Center on donated land that will serve a seven-county area with the goal of improving nutrition and job prospects through sustainable agriculture.
We plan to fund a multi-purpose Agriculture Education and Natural Resource Center on donated land that will serve a seven-county area with the goal of improving nutrition and job prospects through sustainable agriculture.