Albany, Georgia (October 25, 2023) - The Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy (4C Academy) was chosen by the America’s Farmers Grow Communities Bayer Fund to receive a $5,000 grant used to strengthen local nonprofit organizations that positively impact farming communities across rural America.
Dedicated to making a difference in rural farming communities, the Grow Communities program has awarded over $65 million to nonprofits, schools, and youth Ag programs across rural America. The program asks farmers across the country to participate by nominating nonprofit organizations for resources to strengthen their local communities. Last August, a southwest Georgia farmer nominated the Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy (4C Academy) for the grant.
Marty McLendon, President of McLendon Acres and Chairman of the Board of Directors for Flint River Fresh, a non-profit aimed at providing fresh produce in underserved communities, is a lifelong farmer and strong proponent of education. “When I learned about the America's Farmers Grow Communities Bayer Fund, I immediately thought of the Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy as an organization that could put the grant to good use. They have a growing Agri-Business pathway and are working with students from several southwest Georgia counties to expose them to the many different opportunities in agriculture while preparing the students for their careers," Marty McLendon was excited to share and he is excited to see the Commodore Gardens grow and develop.
The Commodore Gardens is a three acre space consisting of 40 raised-bed, irrigated garden boxes, an orchard of fruit trees, honey bees, a mobile produce stand and a new 5,400 square foot hydroponics greenhouse. Although the 4C Academy has been hosting tours of the Commodore Gardens to people in the community for several years, the school plans to invite elementary and middle school students from the Dougherty County School System and other surrounding counties to learn more about agriculture and the role the Commodore Gardens plays in nutrition in the schools. According to the the 4C Academy CEO Chris Hatcher, the Commodore Gardens provides a couple of functions for the school, “Our vision for the Commodore Gardens is not only to teach and prepare our students about agriculture and careers in agriculture, but we also want to expose students at younger ages, along with our community, to agriculture so that they can understand its importance to our region and our society as a whole. This garden does just that. The Grow Communities grant will help us with our vision to create an incredible outdoor classroom for young and adult learners..”
To serve as a companion to the agribusiness class, Willow and Olivia, two Nigerian dwarf goats are now permanent residents of the 4C Academy. The newest additions to the 4C family have done a great job eating down plenty of shrubs and bushes. They will continue to serve as a learning opportunity for the children and people of the community who will visit the garden. Agribusiness students are learning to care for these low-maintenance farm animals. “The goats are great companions and are very interactive with the students, ” says Megan Verner, 4C Academy Agribusiness Instructor.
Willow and Olivia will be an exciting, new element for the Commodore Gardens. 4C. Additional updates include a self-guided tour with signs that contain QR codes that provide information on the crops and technology in the gardens with video from our Agri-business students. “The Commodore Gardens is an incredible asset for our school system and our community as we create awareness around our state’s and region’s number one industry,” says Hatcher. “The added bonus for our gardens is the ability to put the vegetables to good use in our community. We are proud to have donated over 25,000 pounds of food to individuals and food banks in our community. This has a real community impact and allows our students to learn so much more than what they might learn in the classroom. We appreciate Mr. McClendon for nominating us and we appreciate the Grow Communities program for selecting us.”
Since 2010, the America’s Farmers programs have awarded nearly $65 million to nonprofits, aspiring ag students, and public schools across rural America. Farmers are leaders in their communities, which is why America’s Farmers programs rely on them to help identify the worthiest causes.
“Bayer Fund is proud to work side-by-side with farmers to identify local eligible nonprofit organizations that can provide their residents with solutions that leave a lasting impact,” said Al Mitchell, Bayer Fund president.
To learn more about how America’s Farmers are making an impact, visit www.AmericasFarmers.com.
About Bayer Fund
Bayer Fund is a nonprofit organization dedicated to strengthening the communities where Bayer customers and employees live and work by providing funding for food and nutrition, education, and community development projects.
About 4C Academy
The mission of the Commodore Conyers College & Career Academy is to produce college and career-ready graduates with relevant skills, education, and exceptional work ethic who can compete and succeed in the real world. Our partners include local business and industry, the Dougherty County School System, Albany Technical College, Albany State University, the Albany/Dougherty Economic Development Commission, and the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce. In addition, we have partnered with the Calhoun, Terrell, and Baker County School Systems.