Andrea Whitfield of Ag South attended the Sunbelt Ag Expo and the Georgia FFA State Convention in 2021. While there, she first noticed the Support Georgia Agriculture merchandise. When she saw their products and heard that they donate 25% of every item sold to the Georgia FFA Foundation, she started following them on social media and in the news. After some time, she noticed that they were doing fundraisers for specific FFA Chapters. Andrea said, “I immediately reached out to find out how Bulloch County could participate. After filling out the ‘need info’ on the website about the fundraiser, I connected with Scott Chapman.”
"I immediately reached out to find out how Bulloch County could participate."
Andrea Whitfield
Magnolia Loom Georgia Grown Cotton Shirts
Scott Chapman and his son, Zeke Chapman owner of Chapman Trading Company, realized when the COVID pandemic began, that businesses were shutting down, and non-profit organizations could not hold fundraising events. Scott spoke with Katrina Jones, head for Georgia State FFA Foundation, to find out how fundraising was going for the FFA organization. She informed Scott that fundraising had gone down significantly. Scott realized that they needed a hands-off fundraiser.
After working with the Georgia State FFA Foundation, Scott and Zeke created a line of Georgia Grown cotton shirts, labeled Magnolia Loom. Magnolia Loom brand shirts are made with Georgia Grown cotton and are cut and sewn in Georgia. Zeke Chapman was able to screen print the Magnolia Loom shirts with art by Georgia Artist Elaine Burge, and thus creating Support Georgia Agriculture.
The Georgia State FFA Foundation used a link to get out information about the merchandise to fundraise online. People could then go to the Support Georgia Agriculture website, order the shirts online, and Zeke shipped them directly to the customers. With that fundraiser alone, over a two-week period, $15,000 was raised for the Georgia State FFA Foundation. Scott explained, “Georgia Farmer’s cotton creates Magnolia Loom shirts, and we can even note what farm the cotton originated from!”
"Georgia Farmer's cotton creates Magnolia Loom shirts, and we can even note what farm the cotton originated from!"
Scott Chapman, Chapman Trading Company
Bulloch County: Georgia's Dirt Road Capital
Andrea said, “I am fortunate that I have been able to serve on several FFA advisory committees in Bulloch County over the years. I recognize how stretched all teachers are currently. Once I had all the details, I knew what we needed to do make a fundraiser happen.” Andrea called a meeting with the FFA/Ag teachers to explain how the fundraiser worked and to make sure that they were on board. Andrea went further to explain, “The awesome thing about this fundraiser will allow the students to utilize their marketing and communication skills to get the word out about the fundraiser, but other than that, all the work is done by Support Georgia Agriculture, Chapman Trading Company.”
"The awesome thing about this fundraiser will allow the students to utilize their marketing and communication skills to get the word out about the fundraiser..."
Andrea Whitfield
Andrea’s daughter spent a great deal of time working on her FFA Chapter shirt design over the summer. Andrea said, “She and I had several conversations because it was her goal to come up with a design that people would wear. In those conversations, we talked about concepts that would make a great shirt. I mentioned to her how Bulloch County is known for having the most dirt roads in the State of Georgia. When I spoke with the FFA/Ag teachers and Support Georgia Agriculture, we knew we needed a design that would appeal to the entire county. We mentioned the fact that Bulloch County was considered Georgia’s Dirt Road Capital.”
Andrea exclaimed, “Everyone loved it!” She went further to say, “Then we wanted to pay respect to Bulloch County’s number one industry, Agriculture. After that, Support Georgia Agriculture came up with the perfect design depicting a clay dirt road with peanuts growing on one side and cotton on the other, and of course a tractor.”
“I think this is an easy way to promote all of Georgia Agriculture not just our chapters. It will help spread agriculture awareness while helping us to raise money for our chapters.”
Taylor Whitfield, Portal High School FFA Sentinel and 9th Grade Student
Andrea’s daughter, Taylor Whitfield, Portal High School FFA Sentinel, stated, “I think this is an easy way to promote all of Georgia Agriculture, not just our chapters. It will help spread agriculture awareness while helping us to raise money for our chapters.”
Scott Chapman made sure to explain, “Everything on the website can be purchased, not just the shirt for Bulloch County. When you select which school you are wanting to support, 20 percent goes directly to that specific school’s fundraiser, and the other 5 percent goes directly to the Georgia State FFA Foundation.” Scott said, “The great thing about this is if you have a child or grandchild in one school and another in a different school in Bulloch County, you can select each school to support both of the children.”
Ms. Riley Thompson, Agriculture Education Instructor at Southeast Bulloch High School, spoke with her students about their thoughts about the fundraiser. Kate Anna Newman, SEBHS, 9th grade student stated, “The partnership between Support Georgia Agriculture and Bulloch County FFA programs bring the community together as we celebrate a common interest.”
"The partnership between Support Georgia Agriculture and Bulloch County FFA programs bring the community together as we celebrate a common interest."
Kate Anna Newman, Southeast Bulloch High School, 9th Grade Student
Bo Thompson, SEBHS, Junior said, “I am excited to see one of my favorite companies’ pair with my community and an industry that is so close to my heart.”
Scan QR Code to Purchase Your Bulloch County Support Georgia Agriculture Shirt
This fundraiser is a win-win for the Bulloch County FFA Chapters, the teachers and students, and the Georgia State FFA Foundation. To purchase your Bulloch County Georgia Dirt Road Capital shirts, and stickers, along with other merchandise from the website, simply scan the QR Code below, or visit supportgeorgiaagriculture.com, click on the school or schools you want to support, and Support Georgia Agriculture, Chapman Trading Company will do the rest. Your order will then be shipped directly to your address.
Grice Connect is excited to see how much Bulloch County can raise for the Bulloch County FFA Chapters! Please spread the word about this great fundraiser by sharing with your family and friends.
We send a special thank you to Andrea and Taylor Whitfield, Scott and Zeke Chapman, and the Bulloch County FFA teachers and students for your excellent work creating a hands-free fundraiser! Happy fundraising!
