J. W. Fanning Lecture
Wednesday, November 14, 2007

The guest speaker for the 2007 J.W. Fanning Lecture was Ken Stewart who was appointed Commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development by Governor Sonny Perdue in January 2007. As chief marketing officer for the state of Georgia, Mr. Stewart leads the state in efforts to recruit new businesses and expand existing ones; grow the state’s tourism, international trade and entertainment industries; and support the growth of small businesses and entrepreneurs. Previously, Mr. Stewart served as director for the Georgia Forestry Commission (GFC) for slightly over two years, where he focused the agency and the state’s 24 million acres of forest land on new markets and products such as biofuels, as well as niche and specialty products. Commissioner Stewart’s lecture addressed his vision for the economic development of Georgia, specifically as it relates to agribusinesses and rural economic development.

Georgia: An Emerging Leader in the Business of Bioscience
Marketing Georgia to the World: the Agribusiness Edge

J.W. Fanning Lectures

The Career of J.W. Fanning

During his 43-year career, Dr. J. W. Fanning made significant contributions to Georgia agriculture and to The University of Georgia. A graduate of The University of Georgia, he joined the Agricultural Extension Service in 1929 as an assistant county agent.  He served the University in many positions including Head of the Department of Agricultural Economics from 1956-61 before becoming Vice President for Services.  He retired from this post in 1972. Dr. Fanning was inducted into The University of Georgia's Agricultural Alumni Hall of Fame.  He was also named Man of the Year by Progressive Farmer magazine and was made an Honorary Georgia Planter by the State FFA. Dr. Fanning received the Distinguished Faculty Award from the College of Business Administration and a Special Alumni-Faculty Award from the Alumni Association. Governor Carl Sanders declared a J. W. Fanning Day in Georgia in his honor. Mercer University has recognized his achievements by granting him an Honorary Doctor of Law degree. Dr. Fanning passed away July 27, 1997, after a distinguished career serving the people of Georgia.

Rod F. Ziemer Lectures

Every year the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics Graduate Student Association organizes a Rod Ziemer Lecture. The purpose of the seminar is to honor a former outstanding student in our department,  the late Dr. Rod Ziemer, who died in a car wreck in 1984.