For most of the century that was his life, Jimmy Carter strived to be a blessing to his fellow man. During his last visit to Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College, he recognized the college for providing him with the same.
“ABAC is one of my favorite educational institutions in all of the world,” he said during an appearance before a standing room only crowd in the college’s Howard Auditorium in 2014. “ABAC has been a blessing to me and my family.”
Carter’s death last week at the age of 100 has caused many to reflect on his impact near and far. But before he was elected as a state senator, Georgia’s governor, or the 39th U.S. President, his relationship with ABAC had begun.
As a young farmer, Carter took short courses at the college on pesticide use and fertilizers. He said he learned about laying out terraces and planting peanuts and brought other farmers down from his family farms. At the time of his speech, he and his wife Rosalyn had visited over 100 countries as part of their humanitarian efforts.
“A lot of times when I am visiting a country like some of the places we have visited in Africa, I think of ABAC and all the things I learned about agriculture here,” he said.
During his rise to political prominence, the country heard many stories about his background as a peanut farmer from Plains and interest about agriculture in the state grew. Not coincidentally, that led to the creation of the Georgia Agrirama in 1976, the same year Carter was elected President, and he attended the grand opening. Years later, it became ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture.
In 2011, the museum hosted an exhibit titled “Jimmy Carter: Georgia’s Native Son” which chronicled his life from Plains to the White House and his humanitarian career with the Carter Center. Rare photos and artifacts were displayed.
In 2019, the ABAC Alumni Association voted him as an Honorary Alumnus because of his involvement and support of the college.
“President Carter’s impact was felt around the world and right here at ABAC,” said Lynda Fisher, ABAC’s Director of Alumni and Special Events. “We were very fortunate to have a relationship with him throughout the years. He was an American icon, a worldwide ambassador for peace and his impact will be felt for generations to come.”
In 1997, Dr. Doug Waid, an ABAC professor of Wildlife and Forestry, coordinated an effort with his students to install a series of wood duck boxes on his land. Today, Dr. Vanessa Lane, an Associate Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management, continues to take students from her department to Plains to maintain those boxes.
“One of the most remarkable aspects of President Carter’s legacy is that, in addition to his role as one of our nation’s presidents, his contributions extended far beyond the Oval Office,” said ABAC President Tracy Brundage. “His service to his home state, his country, and the world speaks to a legacy of compassion and dedication. We are proud of his connection with ABAC and grateful for his recognition of the importance of our mission and its impact on young people in our region. While his passing deeply saddens us, we know the world is better because of his impact.”
