In 2018, Hurricane Michael ripped into the Peach State, leaving a price tag of more than $1 billion in damages to homeowners and farmers.
To educate the public about natural disasters and agriculture, personnel from Fort Valley State University's Cooperative Extension Program will host the 42nd Farm, Home and Ministers’ (FHM) Conference. The 2019 theme is “Agriculture & Natural Disasters: Are We Prepared?”
The event will take place from 8 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Thursday, March 14, at the C.W. Pettigrew Farm and Community Life Center located on FVSU’s campus.
Representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Natural Resources and Conservation Service (NRCS), FVSU’s Cooperative Extension Program, Middle Georgia Community Food Banks and the Twiggs County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) will share presentations.
Breakout session topics include Youth Disaster Preparedness, Faith-Based Assistance during Disasters, Family Survival Kit Preparations and Keeping Pets Safe during Disasters. Ben Jones, chief meteorologist for WMAZ-TV 13 in Macon, will conduct a question-and-answer session in the Pettigrew Center auditorium on natural disasters.
Terralon Chaney, a FVSU Extension agent for Twiggs County and chair of the 2019 conference, said the planning committee selected the theme because so many disasters have targeted the state of Georgia.
Chaney cited recent instances of hurricanes, tornadoes, severe thunderstorms and flooding affecting Georgia communities. “Our goal is to keep the state of Georgia updated and prepared,” she said.
In addition to breakout sessions, participants can attend a luncheon and hear remarks from keynote speaker Cedric Scott, Dougherty County Emergency Management Agency (EMA) director and fire chief.
Lastly, Cooperative Extension personnel will announce winners for the 2019 Farm Family of the Year Award, Family and Consumer Sciences Family of the Year Award or Individual of the Year Award and 4-H Family or Individual of the Year Award.
The registration fee for the conference is $25. The deadline for pre-registration is March 8. To register for the conference, visit bit.ly/FHMC2019REG or contact E. Jean Willis at (478) 825-6269 (willise@fvsu.edu) or Sandra Daniel at (478) 825-6345 (daniels@fvsu.edu). On-site registration will be available beginning at 8 a.m. March 14.
For more information about the 2019 FHM Conference, contact Terralon Chaney at (478) 945-3391 or chaneyt01@fvsu.edu.