Alumni and Hall of Fame Honorees | Ty Brooks | Entomology's 75^th Celebration

We are excited to announce that registration is open for the 70^th Annual UGA CAES Alumni Awards and Georgia Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony. Join us in Athens, GA on Friday, March 20, 2026 as we celebrate:

Young Alumni Achievement Award

Blake Carter (BSA ’19, MAB ’19, PhD ’25)

Caroline Stelling (BSES ’11)

Sarah Jane Thomsen (BSA ’17, BSA ’17) 

Alumni Award of Excellence

David Gazda (BSA ’83) 

Mark Risse (BSAE ’87, MS ’89) 

Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame

Michael A. Dirr 

Robert E. McLendon 

UGArden is UGA’s student-run farm focused on sustainable food and community service. It grows an estimated 20,000 pounds of produce annually, donating 90 percent to local families. The farm provides students hands-on training in planting, harvesting, tractor use, and postharvest handling.

Ty Brooks (MAEE ’07), UGArden’s Director, leads these efforts, mentoring students and supporting interdisciplinary projects while ensuring the farm serves both as an educational space and a vital food source for Athens.

Tristan Lowery, a senior Turfgrass Management major, plays a vital role in maintaining the university’s athletic fields, including Dooley Field at Sanford Stadium. As part of the athletics grounds crew, he handles tasks like mowing, repainting lines, and making quick turf repairs on game days. His work combines classroom knowledge in turfgrass management and horticulture with hands-on experience, ensuring UGA’s facilities meet the highest standards. 

We recently toasted the Entomology Department's 75th anniversary with a grand celebration of research, education and outreach. We also had the pleasure of honoring the legacies of nine recent emeritus professors who dedicated their careers at the University of Georgia to innovation, instruction and community impact.

More than 150 guests attended the event to connect with friends and colleagues, reflect on the department’s legacy and look ahead to a bright future. Attendees included faculty, staff, students, friends and family of the honorees. 

Unable to attend the the D.W. Brooks Lecture last month? You can now watch Dr. Raj Khosla’s talk, "Cultivating Intelligence: AI’s Past, Present, and Future in Precision Agriculture,”  on the CAES YouTube channel.

Don’t forget to check out photos from the lecture and awards dinner on the CAES PhotoShelter website.

UGA has been ranked No. 1 nationally for short-term study abroad participation, a milestone that highlights our commitment to global education and student success. With more than 3,000 students engaging in transformative international experiences last year, UGA continues to lead the nation in preparing students to become global citizens.

Because the need continues to grow from year to year, please consider making a year-end gift to the CAES Deans' Promise Fund. Your gift ensures CAES students who wish to participate in these incredible experiential learning programs are not held back because of financial restraints. 

Southeast Fruit and Veggie

Savannah, GA

January 8-9, 2026

The CAES Alumni team will be at the 2026 Southeast Fruit and Veggie Expo in Savannah, GA again this year. Be sure to say hello and grab some alumni swag. We will be at the registration area.

Georgia Ag Forecast

Tifton, GA

January 23, 2026

8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Join us in Tifton on Friday, January 23 as CAES economists provide an outlook of agricultural markets for the coming year and keynote speakers focus on important and trending topics. 

Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest Registration

Griffin, GA

January 23, 2026

The Flavor of Georgia Food Product Contest has helped launch small, startup food companies while garnering recognition in new markets for established Georgia brands since 2007. Your product could be the next winner!

The first-round competition will take place in late February with the final-round taking place on March 27, 2026 in Athens, GA. Please email flavorofga@uga.edu with questions.

Spring Intros and Appetizers

Athens, GA

February 12, 2026

5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Intros and Appetizers is a low pressure, high energy student and alumni/industry professional networking event. This is a great opportunity for students to seek advice and mentorship from alumni and friends of CAES. Space is limited to 50 students and 25 alumni/industry partners. Refreshments will be provided. Dress is business casual.

GSSR Rodeo

Athens, GA

March 19-21, 2026

6:00 p.m. - Doors open

7:00 p.m. - Rodeo begins

The Great Southland Stampede Rodeo (GSSR) is operated entirely by UGA Block & Bridle members with a mission of providing a quality rodeo experience according to the National Cowboy Professional Rodeo Association guidelines, while developing skills that will allow them to advance both personally and professionally. This event is fun for the whole family.

70^th Annual UGA CAES Alumni Awards  & Hall of Fame Celebration

Athens, GA

March 20, 2026

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Join us as we honor college alumni for their outstanding achievements as well as incoming Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame inductees. 

Flavor of Georgia: Savor the State

Athens, GA

March 27, 2026

2:00p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Flavor of Georgia is a food product competition which culminates into a final round competition open to the general public on March 27 in Athens, GA. This is a great opportunity to sample and buy products from the Flavor of Georgia Finalists. Registration is coming soon.

 The University of Georgia Foundation is registered to solicit in every state and provides state specific registration information.

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