Student News
Fariz A. Ahmadov
 Fariz Ahmadov is the recipient of the 2006 Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award from the University of Georgia. He was recognized for this distinction at the UGA Honors Day program. This award recognizes teaching assistants who have excelled in the performance of their teaching responsibilities and rank in the top ten percent of all teaching assistants serving the university. This recognition is a result of the excellent work Fariz did in “Intermediate Economic Principles” (AAEC 3580) as a TA teaching laboratory and exam review sessions during spring 2005 and as the instructor during fall 2005. He received excellent evaluations from students and faculty.
Fariz is an M.S. Agricultural Economics major from Ganca, Azerbaijan, with plans to graduate in May 2006. He received a B.S. in Engineering Economics from the Department of Agricultural Economics of Azerbaijan Agricultural Academy. He is a recipient of the Edmund S. Muskie Graduate Fellowship (2004-2006) from the Department of State, which funds his study program at UGA. The program is administered by the American Councils for International Education, Washington, D.C. and hosted on campus by the Office of International Public Service and Outreach. In addition, he was a finalist in the Freedom Support Act Undergraduate Exchange Program of Murray State University, Murray, Kentucky.
Working in the field of economic education and economic research with a focus on policy analysis and design are included in Fariz’s career goals.
He is a member of the UGA Turkish Student Association and a board member of the Interfaith Cultural Organization of Athens. Through this organization, he actively participates in the promotion of inter-cultural and interfaith dialog and mutual understanding among people of different faiths and cultures in the Athens community. Fariz’s leisure-time activities include hiking, camping, cooking and spending time with friends.
Brandon Harrelson
Brandon Harrelson, a second year agribusiness major from Baconton, Georgia, is on the Dean’s list, an Ag Hill Representative, past president of Russell Community Council and current advisor, and supervisor of Habitat for Humanity. He is a member of Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, the Agricultural and Environmental Economics Club, and the Agronomy Club, and he works as a resident assistant at Russell Hall.
Brandon shared these thoughts about his experience as a student: “I would like to let everyone be aware of the great experiences I have had in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. The students and the teachers that I have come in contact with have given me an even greater respect for agriculture and the people that continue this great tradition. I would also like to point out the great experiences that I have had with Alpha Gamma Rho. This fraternity has largely influenced my life and how I live it today. I would encourage people to get involved in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences because there are many great people willing to help students.”
Outside of academics, Brandon’s interests include intramural sports and other sports, hunting, fishing, meeting new people, and music. He volunteers at the Athens Habitat for Humanity and enjoys Morton’s Theater. He takes part in community service activities, including Athen’s Food Bank, giving blood to the Red Cross, Relay for Life and Toys for Tots. In his leisure time, he enjoys “hanging out” with friends and working out. Brandon has a twin brother, Steven, who is also a student in the department.
Steven Harrelson
Steven Harrelson, a second year student from Baconton, Georgia, is on the Dean’s List, an Ag Hill Representative, Homecoming Chair for Alpha Gamma Rho, and a member of the Agricultural and Environmental Economics Club, Roteract, the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, and the Agronomy Club. He also works part-time for a general contractor.
Steven shared these sentiments about his college experience: “I am deeply indebted to the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. It has provided me with so many opportunities, and been a home away from home. With Alpha Gamma Rho, which works closely with the CAES, my college experience has been a very enjoyable one. I would recommend the college to anyone. So, thank you CAES. It’s been a blast. I’m looking forward to everything that it has to offer.” Steven is working toward degrees in agribusiness and agri-engineering. After college graduation, he hopes to become an entrepreneur or a lobbyist.
Steven’s main interest outside of academics is God. He has a twin brother, Brandon, who is also a student in the department. Family is very important to Steven and he appreciates everything they do for him. He “loves” to have fellowship with friends and enjoys “hanging out” at the Alpha Gamma Rho house where he currently lives. He remarked, “there is always something fun going on there.”
Susannah Martin
 Susannah Martin, a third year agribusiness major from Brooklet, Georgia, is currently working as a intern with Bayer CropScience as a Temik monitor. Temik is a pesticide that is applied to many agricultural crops. Because of low water tables in Florida, water contamination problems can occur and the pesticide application process must be carefully monitored. Susannah’s job involves taking steps to prevent water contamination by flagging the required radius around any wells of drinking water near citrus groves. A typical day for Susannah involves meeting with applicators to look over groves, posting non-potable well signs, and flagging drinking wells. This work is very important to farmers and growers in Florida. Only licensed applicators in Florida are permitted to apply the chemical to citrus, peanuts, cotton, etc. Susannah works closely with these applicators and Bayer CropSciences sales representatives to aid the application process. Her internship began with a two-day training session in early December 2005. Since Temik can only be applied from January 1 to April 30, Susannah will return to Georgia the first part of May.
There are five monitors working in different areas of Florida. All of the monitors are in their early twenties and are close to completing college or have already graduated. Susannah learned about the internship from her sister who interned in the same capacity a few years ago. The application process involves sending in a resume and going to Gainesville for an interview. Susannah has thoroughly enjoyed her internship. It has allowed her to be independent and make her own work schedule. She has met numerous people in the citrus industry from grove foremen to CEOs of large citrus companies. Also, she has learned about the citrus industry and the challenges involved. Susannah lists numerous benefits to working as a Temik monitor, including housing, office supplies, a work phone, a vehicle, and a good salary. In addition, by working with Drs. Dorfman and Stegelin, she will receive college credit for her internship.
Susannah views internships in the second or third year of college as very important. The experience gives students “exposure to the world outside of the classroom.” Susannah has been able to apply some of what she learned in class to real business. The experience has helped her decide what she wants from a career and the kind of work environment she wants after college. She plans to pursue agricultural sales or work with an agricultural commodity group.
In her leisure time, Susannah enjoys going to the beach, spending time with her family and traveling. She is a member and served as vice-president of new member education for 2005 of the Delta Zeta Sorority, a CAES Ambassador, a UGA Football Recruitment Assistant, a member of the Agricultural and Environmental Economics Club and a CAES Alumni Association Scholarship winner. She has been a volunteer at the Boys and Girls Club, participated in Relay for Life and attends Athens First Methodist Church.
Sara Rachael McCall
 Rachael McCall, a second year agricultural economics major from Rochelle, Georgia, completed her year of service as a National FFA Southern Region Vice President from 2004-2005. Her vast array of duties in this position required Rachael to take a year off from her classes at UGA. As a national officer, she traveled over 120,000 miles, visited 35 states, Japan and Mexico. She developed and conducted over 100 workshops focusing on leadership, personal growth, and career success. In addition, she delivered motivational speeches which reached over 65,000 people; trained 110 state FFA officers in team development, agricultural issues, presentations, and personal growth; participated in the international experience program in Japan; and educated FFA’s partners and sponsors during three weeks of business and industry visits. In the course of her year of service, Rachael met with President George W. Bush and Secretary of Agriculture Mike Johann. She and her team concluded their year of service with the National FFA Convention in Louisville, Kentucky.
The selection process for national officers for FFA involves a rigorous assessment of each candidate’s academic and extracurricular accomplishments. Rachael’s qualifications for this honor are exemplary. She received a national proficiency silver emblem in dairy production entrepreneurship, second place in the state extemporaneous public speaking career development event (CDE) and second place in the national job interview CDE. Her supervised agricultural experience (SAE) involved beef and dairy production entrepreneurship.
Rachael was recently elected vice-president of the Agricultural and Environmental Economics Club. She is a member of Collegiate FFA and the Wesley Foundation, and she is an Alumni Council Board Representative. She was a CAES Feature Student, Georgia Department of Education Merit recipient, and Valedictorian and STAR Student of her high school class. She is currently a local high school mentor.
After obtaining her agricultural economics degree, Rachael plans to attend law school at UGA. She hopes to own her own legal practice in Georgia and maintain a close relationship with her agricultural roots.
In her leisure time, Rachael enjoys cooking for her roommate and neighbors. She derives great satisfaction when people enjoy the food she prepares for them. The one activity Rachael does just for herself is running. Exercise clears her mind and helps her relax. Her days are enhanced when she starts them out by jogging.
Rachael really enjoyed her time as an FFA national officer. It was a great experience, however, she did “miss boiled peanuts and the Georgia Bulldogs.” She says, “It is great to be back!”
Carrie Neely
 Carrie Neely, a second year masters student majoring in environmental economics, has been at UGA for six years. She received a B.S. in environmental science in 2003. Carrie’s hometown is Wildwood, Georgia which borders both Alabama and Tennessee. She is on the Dean’s List, the President’s List, a Student Representative to the Graduate Committee and served as a guest judge for the regional FFA agricultural marketing competition. Carrie was awarded a departmental graduate assistantship, and was chosen to present a selected paper at the American Agricultural Economics Association annual meeting this year. She is currently serving as president of the Graduate Student Association and promotes and organizes the association’s various functions – both academic and social.
After receiving her masters degree, Carrie would like to continue her organic and sustainable agriculture research. She envisions gaining some work experience for a few years and then pursuing her Ph.D. She would also like to be a Peace Corps volunteer.
For the past three years, Carrie has served as an overnight volunteer at a winter homeless shelter. She attends Milledge Avenue Baptist Church and works with the Interfaith Hospitality Network which places homeless families in temporary housing in churches around Athens. Carrie states, “I would encourage everyone with any spare time to become involved with the homeless population in Athens.”
In her leisure time, Carrie enjoys knitting. She works at a knitting shop in Watkinsville one night a week “to pay for her yarn addiction.” She tries to spend as much time outside as possible, usually with her dogs. She “loves” hiking, gardening and biking. While not yet consistent, Carrie is an aspiring jogger.
Alumni News
Bertram T. Kinzey IV  Lieutenant Bertram “Chip” Kinzey is a Navy Flight School instructor teaching newly commissioned student Navy and Marine Corps pilots familiarization, instrument, aerobatic and formation flying. Chip joined the Navy in 1997 when he was accepted to the Navy Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida. In September of that year, he earned his commission and reported for flight training. After completing all phases of flight school in Corpus Christi, Texas, he was selected into the P-3 pipeline and received his naval Aviator Wings in September 1999.
After one year at the P-3 Fleet Replacement Squadron in Jacksonville, Florida, Chip was assigned to Oak Harbor, Washington. From there, he served six-month deployment cycles in Japan and in the Persian Gulf. During his Persian Gulf tour, Chip participated in several major military operations. For his distinguished service, he was awarded an Air Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal with Combat Valor Distinction and the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary and Service Medals. In 2003, Chip was selected to be a Navy flight school instructor pilot and returned to Corpus Christi, Texas where he began his flight training. He plans to leave the Navy and return to civilian life in September of 2006.
Chip received a BSA in agricultural economics in 1995. While in college, he served as historian and associate chief justice of Phi Kappa Literary Society and chaplain of the Culture of the South Association. In addition, he was employed by the UGA Extension Service on an equine breeding farm in Winterville. Chip gained valuable verbal skills through speaking and debating at the Phi Kappa Literary Society. He offers this advice to current students in the department: “Apply your classroom instruction to real world jobs during college by having an internship or co-op with a company. Think ‘outside the box’ and explore all job fields and career opportunities. Travel as much as possible.”
A list of Chip’s greatest accomplishments since college graduation includes becoming a Navy pilot after only two years of pilot training, leading crews during major military operations, becoming a Navy instructor pilot and becoming a husband and father.
After returning to Corpus Christi, Chip was reacquainted with a former church friend, Valerie Ema Martinez, whom he had known when he was in flight training. The two were married and now have two children, Richard Michael and Liam Owen. In his leisure time, Chip enjoys spending time with his family, horseback riding, history, hunting, fishing, and skiing.
Milledge White  Milledge White is the oldest living alumnus in Agricultural and Applied Economics at the University of Georgia. He celebrates his 100th birthday on April 10, 2006. Mr. White was one of only two members of the department’s first class to graduate in 1930. He was the oldest of eight children and the first in his family to graduate from college. After graduation, Mr White taught high school and served in the military, attaining the rank of captain. After his military service, he worked for the federal government, the Georgia Department of Agriculture and
operated his own real estate business.
A celebration was held April 3, 2006 at the Morningside Assisted Living Home in Albany, Georgia to observe Mr. White’s 100th birthday. Joining the celebration were his wife of 69 years, Evelyn, 94; his son, Robert, his daughters-in-law, his grandchildren and great grandchildren; his Morningside friends; and representatives from his alma mater, including Fred White, head of the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics.
During the past century, Mr. White has observed tremendous advances which have literally changed the world we live in. When he was growing up, there were no airplanes and even automobiles were rare. Of all the advances he has witnessed, Mr. White considers the automobile to be the one that revolutionized the world.
Mr. White’s son, Robert White of Duluth who is also a UGA alumnus, remarked that his father had instilled in his family Christian values that filter through the White line today.
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