MOULTRIE, Ga. (WALB) — You can’t tell the story of the Sunbelt Ag Expo without Berrien County and Colquitt County FFA.

The two programs have been at the Expo in Moultrie since it began nearly 50 years ago: cooking, fundraising and giving students hands-on experience.

For Berrien County FFA, it started with former agriculture teacher Bruce Shepard, who attended the original planning meeting in the late 1970s. From day one, Berrien students have run food service at the Expo.

“It has changed so much over the years and evolved over the years as our program has evolved,” Berrien County FFA adviser Scott Johnson said.

Johnson said some of the most memorable moments have come from who stops by. One year, students watched helicopters take off from three different spots — former Vice President Mike Pence had visited the Expo. About five years ago, Gov. Brian Kemp jumped the fence behind their building to take pictures and talk with the student grilling team.

“It’s really cool with the people they get to interact with at the Expo,” Johnson said. “It’s probably really what makes the Expo special.”

This year, Berrien students are serving hot dogs, hamburgers, pork skewers and steak skewers, all locally sourced.

“All of our pork products come from Gaskins Meats. And all of our beef products come from ACE Beef, which is all locally grown and sourced in Berrien County.” Allie Staines, an FFA student, said.

The fundraiser helps send members to state and national competition. This week, while part of the chapter works the Expo, Berrien’s state forestry and floriculture team, two agriscience projects and another team are competing at the National FFA Convention in Indiana.

The money also supports local service, including a current campaign called Protect the Harvest promoting highway safety during harvest season.

Across the park grounds, Colquitt County FFA is keeping to its own tradition: smoked pork chops and chicken halves.

“Our booth has always been known for cooking smoked pork chops and chicken halves, and so we’re not going to stray away from that,” Colquitt County FFA adviser Will Burt said. “Kids running the show, keeping the fires lit.���

Burt said the chapter sold out of all its food by about 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

“We love it when it happens, but it doesn’t happen all the time,” Burt said. “Every bit of the funds that come through this booth, they go directly to all these kids you see working.”

Funds pay for travel, convention fees and chapter socials.

For Colquitt County FFA student Banks Bailey, this is his fifth year at the Expo. He started serving in middle school and worked his way up to handing the grills.

“My favorite part is just being out here with my friends and cooking pork chops and chicken,” Bailey said.

Both chapters say they’ll keep showing up, just as they have for nearly five decades.

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