Tag Archives: Allie Andrews

GFB Young Farmers and Ranchers Gather on Jekyll Island for Annual Summer Leadership Conference

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Jekyll Island, GA |

Future agricultural leaders made their way to Jekyll Island for Georgia Farm Bureau’s annual Young Farmers and Ranchers Summer Leadership Conference, with more than two hundred and fifty attendees representing not only every corner of the state, but every sector of the agricultural industry.

“I’m not sure there’s an event in the state of Georgia where you can have so many different people from so many different aspects of the industry in one place at one time — whether it be a chemical salesman, an equipment dealer, or even educators. It’s people of all walks of life in Georgia ag, here at one place at one time,” said Garrett Hurley, Chairman of the GFB Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee.

MORE THAN NETWORKING

Networking is just one of the many reasons attendees make the trip to Jekyll Island each July. The conference also includes sessions focused on advocacy, education, and the importance of political engagement — because according to one of the event’s featured speakers, agriculture’s voice in Washington is growing quieter by the year.

“Just looking at Congress, there are very few members now who have any type of agriculture background. You look at the way districts are drawn — you have these oddly shaped districts where a person from a suburban or urban area gets elected but is representing a rural area, and they’ve never seen a real blade of grass in their life,” said Mike Sistak, Director of Advocacy and Political Management for the American Farm Bureau Federation. “You want to be involved because you want to help those people. You have to show up and advocate for yourself, for your business, your family, and your community.”

RECOGNIZING THE BEST IN THE PROGRAM

One of the highlights of the conference each year is the announcement of competition winners — and the class of 2026 represented the state well. Allie Andrews of Lamar County took home the Achievement Award. Bryan and Addie Tucker of Wilcox County won the Excellence in Agriculture Award. And Michael Howard of Hart County was named the Discussion Meet winner. What they all have in common: they got their start at events just like this one.

“A lot of the application is your involvement — so get involved on your county level, your local level, and try to get involved on the state level. Come to events like this one on Jekyll Island,” said Levi Davis, GFB Young Farmers and Ranchers Program Coordinator. “This is one of those things you can add to your application to boost your involvement. And there are also opportunities here through breakout sessions and keynote speakers where you can gain ideas and insight on what might make you a better applicant the next time you apply.”

A MESSAGE FROM THE SKY

Among this year’s keynote speakers was Lieutenant Colonel Dan Rooney — a fighter pilot and founder of Folds of Honor, an organization that provides scholarships to the spouses and children of fallen or disabled service members and first responders. His message to the group was both straightforward and personal.

“Showing up in a disciplined way every day — that’s what I’ve been able to learn as a fighter pilot. We talked about the concept of CAVU: ceiling and visibility unlimited. At its core, that is my code of living, to get the most out of every day,” Rooney said. “It’s about faith, family, farming, and freedom — and it was just such a huge blessing to be with our future leaders and great, traditional American farmers and families.”

For Georgia’s next generation of agricultural advocates, Jekyll Island offered more than a summer getaway. It offered a roadmap — and a reminder that showing up is where leadership begins.

By: Damon Jones

Mae’s on the Corner in Barnesville Is a Farm Stand Built on Sourdough, Hard Work, and Community

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Barnesville, GA |

Allie Andrews is someone who has a lot going on. She, her husband, and three kids run and operate a family farm in Lamar County that includes hay, poultry, and beef cattle. But as if that weren’t enough, Allie’s newest venture is Mae’s on the Corner — a small farm stand that has quickly become a community favorite.

“Mae’s on the Corner is about a two-acre vegetable garden where we grow all sorts of veggies — from tomatoes to black-colored sweet corn, squash, zucchini, green beans, butter beans,” said Andrews. “Along with Mae’s on the Corner, we have our shack, and in our shack, I love to personalize things for friends, family, and our community. We do sourdough bread, sourdough cookies, cinnamon rolls, an herb mix for the bread, and blueberry muffins.”

BORN FROM A PERSONAL JOURNEY

The baked goods didn’t start with a business plan — they came out of a personal health journey. But once friends and family got a taste, they encouraged Andrews to sell, and from there, things moved quickly.

“In February of last year, I had a little pop-up table in the front yard starting at six in the morning for teachers and people heading to school and work, and I sold out within about an hour,” Andrews said. “Every month after that — either the first or second Monday or Tuesday — I’d pop up my table, and it just grew from there.”

A TRUE TEAM EFFORT

What started as a table of baked goods has grown into a full farm stand experience, with fresh produce from their garden added thanks to the involvement of the whole family. For Andrews, that’s not just a convenience — it’s a conviction.

“We are raising the next generation to take over, and I can’t say that’s always the mindset on some farms. We want our kids to know we work for everything we get,” Andrews said. “If we’re not training up our kids — if we’re not allowing them to pick with us, plant with us, ride the tractor — who’s going to learn behind us? I think it’s just the coolest way to have them on the front lines, seeing it, putting in the hard work, understanding discipline. And in that discipline, you get to see the reward of the harvest.”

SERVING THE COMMUNITY AND BEYOND

For Andrews, Mae’s on the Corner has become more than a farm stand — it’s a way to serve the community she lives and works in. And now, as a member of the Georgia Farm Bureau Certified Farm Market program, that reach has grown considerably, drawing visitors from across the state.

“I hope that people gain the understanding that there’s a lot of work that goes into it, and they can appreciate shopping local because of that work,” Andrews said. “We have people with the passport that have come from Milledgeville, Athens, North Georgia, South Georgia, east, west — they’re all popping into these little shops and markets and shopping local. And to hear someone in the grocery store or at church say, ‘Hey, we stopped by your stand — you have the cutest setup,’ that means everything.”

For Allie Andrews, Mae’s on the Corner is proof that a pop-up table in the front yard, a loaf of sourdough, and a whole lot of heart can grow into something that feeds an entire community.

By: John Holcomb