Beyond the Classroom/Outreach (SANR)

The ABAC horse stables is an on-campus self-care horse boarding facility for students. The ABAC stables is just a short walk from the center of campus and dorms and provides stalls, pasture space, riding arena, and trails. Through student clubs, several events will take place at the ABAC stables during the year including barrel races, team roping, and a rodeo during homecoming week. Please see the steps for boarding your horse at ABAC and FAQ link below.

Steps for boarding your horse at ABAC

• Acquire a boarding contract.
  • There is a waiting list, so you will need to submit a contract to have your name on the list. When a stall opens, you will be contacted.
  • Contact the School of Agriculture and Natural Resources:

Dr. Katheryn Cerny, Associate Professor
ABAC 8, 2802 Moore Highway
Tifton, GA 31733
Office:  Agricultural Sciences Building, Room 109
kcerny@abac.edu
229-391-4822

• Read, understand, and complete the contract.
• Return the contract to Dr. Katheryn Cerny.
• When we have your contract and a stall opens, you will be contacted and will need to provide the following:
  • Proof of ABAC Acceptance.
  • $100 deposit (check made payable to ABAC).
  • Up-to-date vaccine record and negative Coggins (see contract for required vaccines).
  • Photo of yourself and horse for identification purposes.

Everything must be received before the stall is committed.

At nearly 400 acres, the farm includes both cultivated and grazing land. Major crops grown include cotton, soybeans, peanuts, and corn.  Pasture and forage crops include bermudagrass, alfalfa, and winter annuals for our commercial cow-calf beef herd. The farm also includes turfgrass teaching and research plots (1.12 acres of five different species of turfgrass) along with greenhouse and nursery facilities.  The farm provides experiential learning opportunities for students to apply the concepts learned in the classroom.

The 5,000 square feet Turfgrass Teaching Green is composed of two bermudagrass cultivars, TifEagle and TifGrande.  The green allows students to conduct hands-on greens management practices such as mowing, aerification, vertical mowing, and topdressing

Forest Lakes is a 9-hole golf course (par 72; 6,970 yards from gold tees for 18 holes) located six miles east of campus at 80 Moorman Drive in Tifton.  It is open to the public from 8 am to sunset seven days a week.  In addition, it provides an ideal learning lab for SANR students to get real-world, hands-on experience in turfgrass and golf course management.  Forest Lakes is also home to the ABAC Men’s Golf Team.

At nearly 1,000 acres, this property, located 10 miles north of campus off Willis Still Road, includes two fields, several pastures, two ponds, and trees covering 60-70% of the property.  Due to the diverse ecosystems available, the forest provides unique hands-on learning experiences for students primarily in the Natural Resource Management program.

This 24 acre property, managed by the ABAC Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society, includes a one acre green tree reservoir and pond; grass flat, five acres of large mixed pine species trees, 3.5 acre early successional scrub mid-story under a pine canopy, 1.5 acre pollinator and wild flower cover type, and a half mile of walking trails.  Prescribed fires are set every 1-3 years as part of fire ecology classes, invasive species are controlled; and many native, uncommon plant species either occur naturally or have been planted. The Nature Study Area provides students a diverse, hands-on learning environment.

Lake Baldwin, managed by the ABAC Student Chapter of The Wildlife Society, provides excellent fishing opportunities for bass and other fish. Only currently enrolled students are allowed to fish the lake. A state fishing license and a free ABAC fishing license (available at the Yow Building) are required. State fishing regulations must be followed, as well as additional regulations posted on two signs on either side of the lake. The lake is used as an outdoor classroom for students in fisheries and wildlife courses (Natural Resource Management).

Available to Georgia’s Rising 10th, 11th, and 12th graders. This workshop focuses on the value, protection, and conservation of Georgia’s wildlife, forestry, soil, and water resources, including conservation in Georgia’s mining industry. The workshop gives students a taste of college life while delivering valuable insight into careers through their counselors and instructors. (Students who have previously attended the workshop are not eligible).

Information about the Program:

• Dates of NRCW June 9 – 14, 2024.
• Camp takes place at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College in Tifton, Georgia.
• Students scoring well on the workshop exam may be awarded a college scholarship. A limited number of scholarships are awarded based on exam scores and specific scholarship guidelines and criteria.
• Features field trips, classroom instruction, and recreational activities.
• Sponsorships are available through local Conservation Districts for students to attend at no cost.

Natural Resources Conservation Workshop is Sponsored by:
Georgia Association of Conservation Districts
Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Society
Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College
Georgia Soil and Water Conservation Commission

Participating Agencies:
Georgia Forestry Commission
Georgia Department of Natural Resources
USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service
UGA Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources

The number of students who can attend the 2024 Natural Resources Conservation Workshop is limited.  We will be accepting applications between March 1 and May 1.  All steps of the application process must be completed before the student can be accepted. Workshop spots are filled on a first-completed application basis.

2024 NRCW Registration will be open until May 1, 2024!

1. Complete the “2024 NRCW Student Application Part 1” (link below) 
2. Once we receive Part 1, you will then receive a follow-up email with a link to “2024 NRCW Student Application Part 2” and “2024 NRCW Code of Conduct”.
3. You will receive an acceptance email once all steps have been completed and your paperwork has been received and processed by the workshop personnel.

NRCW – Bus Ride Information

The Blue Ridge Mountain Conservation District and the Limestone Valley Conservation District coordinate buses that make various scheduled stops to transport workshop attendees to and from the workshop.  The scheduled bus routes and pick-up/drop-off locations for 2024 will be posted here as soon as available.

For more information, call 229.391.5072 or email nrcw@abac.edu.