From a rodeo to a concert by a member of the Grand Ole Opry, all alumni, students, and friends of Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College will get a wide variety of activities to choose from during this year’s Celebrate ABAC on March 4-5.

Due to popular demand, ABAC is bringing back the “Gee Haw Whoa Back”, two sanctioned rounds of rodeo competition. The preliminary round will be on March 4, followed by the finals on March 5.

Both rodeo events begin at 7 p.m. at the ABAC Rodeo Arena with gates opening at 6 p.m.  Admission is $10 for general admission, $5 for children 6 – 12 years old and ABAC students with their Gold Card, and free to children under six. The rodeo will also include pony rides, carnival games, food, and more.

Grand Ole Opry member Mike Snider will headline “An Evening for ABAC” beginning with a dinner at 6 p.m. on March 4 followed by the concert at 7:30 p.m. at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture, now operated by ABAC.  The $75 per person event includes the dinner and entertainment provided by the former “Hee Haw” performer and his String Band.  Reserved tables are available for $1,250, and a portion of the ticket price for reserved tables is tax deductible.  Concert only tickets are $30. All proceeds go to student scholarships.  This event is ABAC’s premier student scholarship fundraiser and was formerly known as “Dollars for ABAC Scholars.”

The Golden Alumni Luncheon at noon on March 4 will feature the induction of the Class of 1961.  The ABAC Bluegrass Band will provide the entertainment.  Afternoon activities include campus tours, stories of days gone by, and a “Travel With ABAC” presentation where information will be provided on upcoming ABAC trips to South Dakota, Alaska, London, Paris, Australia, and New Zealand.

A candlelight memorial service will be held at the Chapel of All Faiths at 4 p.m. to honor ABAC alumni, students and faculty and staff who have passed away, as well as to recognize those in military service. The Baldwin Players will also present “An Evening of Storytelling” on March 3-5 in Conger 319 at 7:30 p.m. each night.

On March 5, the annual ABAC Alumni Association awards ceremony will honor former ABAC students for their achievements at 10:30 a.m. at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture. Tickets to the brunch ceremony are $20 each and must be purchased in advance. At noon, the ABAC Family Day and the opening of the “Needles and Pins” quilting exhibit will be the showcased events at the Georgia Museum of Agriculture Atrium and Gallery. Alumni can also choose to attend the Agriculture and Family and Consumer Sciences Alumni Cookout at noon at the Agricultural Sciences building.

From 1 – 4 p.m. on March 5, alumni will tour the Georgia Museum of Agriculture and Historic Village.  Opportunities will include steam train rides, an old-fashioned spelling bee, sack races, and more. Talented alumni can sign up for the talent show by contacting Vonda Fenn at (229) 391-5070 or vfenn@abac.edu. The deadline to sign up for the talent show is Feb. 4.

For more information on Celebrate ABAC, interested persons can contact the Office of College Advancement at (229) 391-4900 or visit the web site at http://www.abac.edu/ celebrate.

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