Governor Perdue to Fully Fund the Agriculture Education Program

ATLANTA, GA – Governor Sonny Perdue announced today that the agriculture education program will be fully funded at $7.4 million in his FY06 budget recommendations. Governor Perdue made the announcement during a keynote address to the Georgia Farm Bureau Federation Annual Meeting at Jekyll Island.

“I know the importance and the success of Ag education in Georgia. You can see the results in the success of Georgia’s Future Farmers of America members, who brought home more awards than any other state at the National FFA Convention,” said Governor Sonny Perdue. “We’re proud of our young people, and we want to continue giving them the support and learning opportunities they deserve.”

Governor Perdue’s budget will include $2 million for the FFA youth camps, area teacher program, young farmers program, and food processing plants. An earlier budget recommendation submitted to the Governor reduced funding for these programs.

The Governor’s prepared remarks are available at www.gov.state.ga.us.