The $500 B. Frank Strickland Memorial Scholarship will be presented annually to an entering freshman or rising sophomore from a tobacco-producing county in Georgia who plans to attend ABAC for the fall semester. Preference will be given to a student majoring in some area of agriculture. The recipient will be selected by a committee comprised of the President of the Georgia Farm Bureau, Chairman of the Georgia Tobacco Commission, and President of the Lanier County Farm Bureau or their respective appointed designee.
A native of Lanier County, Strickland graduated from Lakeland High School and then ABAC (1942). After college, he returned home and took over the family farm at the age of 19. He raised his family on the 450-acre farm that had been in his family for over 100 years. The ABAC Alumni Association presented Strickland the Master Farmer Award in 1975. His son, Ben F. Strickland, Jr., was named Master Farmer in 1996, making them the only father/son recipients of this award.
According to Wayne Dollar, President of the Georgia Farm Bureau, "Mr. Frank," as he was known throughout the state, served on the Georgia Farm Bureau Board of Directors for 27 years and as vice president for 12 years. He will long be remembered as an ally for the tobacco farmer. Strickland also served on the Georgia Commodity Commission for Tobacco for 20 years and the Flue-cured Tobacco Stabilization Corporation board for 18 years.
"Frank served the agricultural community well and represented tobacco with pride," Lawton Matthews, Chairman of the Georgia Tobacco Commission, said. "His honesty, integrity, and character set him apart. It is the purpose of this scholarship that we honor the achievements of a great American for years to come in helping to further the education of students seeking a career in agriculture."
Applications may be obtained from high school counselors in tobacco producing counties, by writing to Georgia Farm Bureau Federation, Commodities/Marketing Department, P.O. Box 7068, Macon, Georgia 31209, or by calling 1-800-342-1192, Ext. 5218. Completed applications should be returned to the GFBF by April 15, 2002. The first scholarship will be awarded to a student attending ABAC for Fall 2002 semester.
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