News        from ABAC

Michael D. Chason Director of Public Relations ABAC 30 -- 2802 Moore Highway Tifton, GA 31793-2601 Phone 229-391-5055 Fax 229-391-5056 mchason@abac.edu

IMMEDIATE MARCH 16, 2006

HOMECOMING APRIL 6 – 8 AT ABAC

TIFTON- Alumni from days gone by will meet at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College April 6 - 8 for the 2006 Homecoming activities.

The Golden Anniversary Class will kick off the weekend with a social and dinner at the Donaldson Dining Hall beginning at 6 p.m. on April 6. The Golden Stallions baseball team will also face off with South Georgia College at 6 p.m. at Stallion Field.

The ABAC Concert Band and Choir will perform at 7 p.m. in Howard Auditorium, ending the first day of the Homecoming festivities.

The Golden Alumni Breakfast will be held April 7 at the Holiday Inn at 8 a.m. The Horticulture Club Plant Sale will take place at the Chambliss Building from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. on April 7 - 8.

The Golden Anniversary Luncheon gets underway at noon on April 7 in the Donaldson Dining Hall with the induction of the Class of 1956 into the Golden Alumni Association. Each class member will be presented a specially commissioned bronze medallion. At 3 p.m., the Golden Fillies softball team will play Gordon College at Fillies’ Field.

The Candlelight Remembrance Service will be held at 6:30 p.m. on April 7 in the Chapel of All Faiths. In a service led by an area minister, individuals are invited to light a candle in memory of an alumnus, student, faculty/staff member or friend of the college. Because the country is currently at war, candles may also be lit in honor of someone serving in the military.

The 13^th Annual Peach State Stampede rodeo will open its gates at 6:30 p.m., with the rodeo beginning at 8 p.m. This event is sponsored by the ABAC Rodeo Club.

Members of the Professional Cowboys Association will compete in a number of events. General admission to the Stampede is $7 for adults and $5 for children ages 4 – 12. It is free to ABAC students and faculty with I.D. and children 4 years of age and under.

At 7 p.m. the college will open its doors to the general public to share in the Homecoming festivities. The night’s entertainment includes an Old-Fashioned Hoe-Down Barbeque Dinner in the Donaldson Dining Hall, followed by “Gee Haw”, an alumni and student variety show at 8 p.m. The events of April 7 culminate with the Homecoming dance at 9 p.m. in the dining hall.

At 8 a.m. on April 8, a Golden Alumni Breakfast will be held at the Holiday Inn for all classes 1956 and earlier. Alumni registration on campus will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Carlton Center, with registration continuing at 11 a.m. in the Donaldson Dining Hall.

The Fifth Annual ABAC Men’s Basketball Golf Tournament will take place at ABAC’s Forest Lakes Golf Course at 9 a.m. The cost is $75 per player. Lunch will be provided, and all participants will receive a t-shirt and prize bag.

The tournament will be a four - man scramble. The first prize is a watch from Echols Jewelers. Prizes will also be awarded for closest to the pin on all par threes, longest drive, and hole in one. For more information or to Pre-register for this event, contact Todd Sheppard, Men’s Head Basketball Coach at (229) 391-4937.

A Forum on Agriculture will begin at 10 a.m. on April 8. This event is sponsored by the Ag Alumni Council and features several candidates running for the Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture post, including Gary Black, Brian Kemp, and Deanna Strickland.

The highlight of the weekend will be the Alumni Awards Luncheon at noon on April 8 in the Donaldson Dining Hall. Alumni from various walks of life will be honored for their contributions to their professions, their communities, and ABAC. One very special individual will be recognized as an Honorary Alumnus. The Legacy Family will also be introduced at the luncheon.

The Young Ag Alumni event will be held at Lake Baldwin at noon. The Golden Stallions baseball team will play a doubleheader beginning at 1 p.m. at Stallion Field against South Georgia College.

Two club reunions will be held on April 8. The Family and Consumer Science Club will hold a reunion in the FCS Living Room of the Ag Sciences building at 2:30 p.m. At 5:30 p.m. in the Donaldson Dining Hall, the ABAC Ambassadors will hold a reunion for all past and current members.

The Peach State Stampede will hold its second performance at 8 p.m. at the ABAC Rodeo Arena on April 8. Events include bareback, saddle bronc, steer wrestling, team roping, calf roping, and bull riding, and barrel racing.

Coleman said the pre-registration deadline for all meal functions is March 24. Ticket orders received after that date will not be mailed, but can be picked up at the Alumni Office or registration desk at Homecoming. A limited number of tickets will be available the day of Homecoming but will be assessed a late charge of $2 per ticket.

For tickets and more information, contact the ABAC Alumni Office at 229-391-4898. For additional information, Homecoming details can be viewed at the ABAC web site at www.abac.edu.

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