Having grown up in an agricultural community, I sometimes miss the sight of a tractor or other farm equipment poking along the back roads of Rockdale County and surrounding areas. The growth of the region has squeezed many farms in our area out in place of McMansions and other development.

Now, I was not raised on a farm but I sure did my share of bailing hay, housing tobacco, grubbing thistles, gathering eggs and vaccinating chickens during the summers from 1969 through 1977. And I tell you, if every American youth today had to work one summer on a farm, we would be in much better shape. Of course, I doubt they could put down their cell phone long enough to do that!

Recently, Gary Black, the Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture, spoke at our morning Rotary meeting here in Conyers. I first met Gary Black before he was Commissioner. We were among a group at a football kickoff party at the home of Larry Munson. Yes, that Larry Munson. He was in his first run for office, which was unsuccessful, but he prevailed 4 years later and has been a great leader for our state every since.

Commissioner Black hit on many topics but the one thing he has reiterated time and time again is that agriculture is still the number one industry in the state of Georgia. With our families and particularly our younger members being sheltered from a lot of agriculture due to the urban sprawl around us, it is important that we realize this. As our kids grow and think about their futures, perhaps agriculture is not getting the good rap around these parts of the state that it should. That may be changing. Having grown up with friends in the Future Farmers of America (FFA), it is good to see a chapter right here in Conyers at the Rockdale Career Academy and some of the agricultural classes they are offering.

Commissioner Black also hit on several topics that may surprise a lot of us. I know it did me. I am sure most of you know that the Peach State no longer is the Peach State when it comes to production. That honor now goes to our friends on the left coast in California, with our neighbors to the north, South Carolina (you ever see the Big Peach in Gaffney?) coming in second and Georgia now being number three in production.

Now, the big test. Do you know what crop we do lead the nation in as far as production? Blueberries. That is right. Due to research begun years ago at the University of Georgia, a strain of blueberries that thrive in our soil has led us to lead the nation with 98 million pounds of blueberries grown for the year 2014.

Now that brings me to a dilemma. For years many boys growing into men have affectionately called their southern sweetheart their “Georgia Peach”. I am not sure calling her your “Georgia Blueberry” has quite the same ring! We will have to work on that, I guess.

Of course, we all know what great onions we grow in Vidalia or maybe about the great white shrimp caught off the Georgia coast. Or maybe you prefer to hear about the pecan crops in south and central Georgia or the chicken and eggs produced throughout the state. That is just a handful of the many agricultural products produced here.

One of the areas of great grow and awareness is the recent push from restaurants as they offer “farm to table” vegetables and meats on their menus. This type of interest in farming has started to bring some families back into the fold of farming and that is good news. Although they may not be the size of farms of yesteryear, it is bringing people back to the land and that is a good thing.

I know I usually write about food in my articles and I guess I just did again, although in a different format. If you want to know more about our state and what types of agriculture there is nearby, just take a day trip from Conyers. Grab the kids, pack a lunch, find a road side park to pull into and enjoy the drive. See what all we have to offer in this great industry. You never know, you may be traveling with the next researcher who brings a whole new crop to the state of Georgia. Who would have ever thought we could grow blueberries?