At UGA-Tifton, students build agricultural careers in rural Georgia
Dream Big, Stay Local
By Emily Cabrera
Illustration by Adrian Moore
Photos by Adam Brown
In the sandy Coastal Plain region that encompasses most of south Georgia, agriculture isn’t just an industry — it’s a way of life. Generations of families have passed down both farmland and a deep-rooted connection to agricultural work. Whether managing family farms or supporting the industry through agribusiness, research and innovation, many south Georgians see agriculture as more than a profession — it’s a legacy.
For students from rural communities who want to pursue higher education while staying close to home, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences on the UGA Tifton campus has long provided an accessible path to a top-tier agricultural education.
With world-renowned scientists, UGA-Tifton enables rural students to learn in classrooms, laboratories and fertile fields directly linked to the industry that sustains their region. The campus motto, “Stay Close, Go Far,” reflects the opportunities it offers — helping students build successful careers while remaining connected to home.
The Hancock brothers (from left to right: Ben, Guy and Jarrett) each had faculty mentors during their time at UGA-Tifton.
The Hancock brothers (from left to right: Ben, Guy and Jarrett) each had faculty mentors during their time at UGA-Tifton.
A family legacy of agricultural studies
Few families exemplify this motto better than the Hancocks. For brothers Guy, Ben and Jarrett, attending UGA-Tifton was a shared experience that launched diverse careers.
As a high school student, eldest brother Guy Hancock was introduced to the Young Scholars Internship Program (YSP), a paid five-week summer internship for high school students interested in agriculture, food and environmental sciences. The program connects students with faculty mentors on UGA's Athens, Griffin or Tifton campuses, exposing them to agricultural research and career pathways. Guy interned with Ronald Scott Tubbs, a professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, conducting applied agronomic research.
Guy went on to earn a bachelor of science degree in agricultural and applied economics on UGA's Athens campus, later earning a master’s degree in the same field at UGA-Tifton. As a student, he served as a Congressional Agricultural Fellow for a U.S. senator, gaining real-world experience in federal agricultural policy. After graduation, he was hired as a UGA Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in Turner County. Today, he is an agricultural data scientist in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at CAES and an Extension specialist, working from the very campus that shaped his academic and professional path.
Ben Hancock, who also graduated with honors with a degree in agribusiness, was drawn to UGA-Tifton’s strong academic programs and state-of-the-art facilities. Like his older brother, his journey into the program began with the Young Scholars Program, where he was mentored by Esendugue Greg Fonsah, an agricultural and applied economics professor. Ben’s academic path led him to law school, and he is now an attorney in Tifton.
“The opportunities UGA-Tifton provided for my career were second to none,” Ben said. “The professors, faculty and research scientists on this campus are some of the brightest minds in the state. The faculty helped me at every turn, and my advisors and professors truly cared about me and shaped who I am today.”
Opening a world of knowledge
For Jarrett Hancock, the youngest of the three, watching his older brothers attend UGA-Tifton solidified his aspirations to follow them through YSP as a high school student with a keen interest in precision agriculture.
Now a rising senior at CAES majoring in agriscience and environmental systems with a focus on precision agriculture, he works in the lab of Wes Porter, a professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences and Extension precision agriculture specialist.
In addition to his research, Jarrett serves as a UGA-Tifton CAES Ambassador, helping recruit and guide prospective students.
“Pursuing my education while staying engaged in my local agricultural community has given me a front-row seat to the challenges facing local producers today,” he said. “The insight gained has broadened my understanding of the real-life application of precision agriculture and its potential to enhance the sustainability of modern farming.”
Jarrett also was able to study abroad in Uruguay — an experience that expanded his horizons and deepened his understanding of agriculture on a global scale.
Reflecting on the family’s collective experiences, Guy emphasized that earning a UGA degree while remaining connected to their agricultural community enriched their education.
“This balance between local roots and broader opportunities exemplifies how staying close can help one go farther,” he said.
For families like the Hancocks, UGA-Tifton offers more than an education — it provides a launchpad for success close to home.
Guy Hancock walks with his former faculty mentor, Scott Tubbs at UGA Tifton's campus on June 16, 2025. Guy interned with Ronald Scott Tubbs, a professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, conducting applied agronomic research. Hancock is an agricultural data scientist in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at CAES and an Extension specialist, working from the very campus that shaped his academic and professional path.
Guy Hancock walks with his former faculty mentor, Scott Tubbs at UGA Tifton's campus on June 16, 2025. Guy interned with Ronald Scott Tubbs, a professor in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, conducting applied agronomic research. Hancock is an agricultural data scientist in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics at CAES and an Extension specialist, working from the very campus that shaped his academic and professional path.
Ben Hancock walks with his former faculty mentor, agricultural and applied economics professor Greg Fonsah at UGA Tifton. Ben’s academic path ultimately led him to law school, and he is now a practicing attorney in Tifton.
Ben Hancock walks with his former faculty mentor, agricultural and applied economics professor Greg Fonsah at UGA Tifton. Ben’s academic path ultimately led him to law school, and he is now a practicing attorney in Tifton.
For Jarrett Hancock, watching his older brothers attend UGA-Tifton solidified his aspirations to follow them through the Young Scholar Program as a high school student with a keen interest in precision agriculture. Now a rising senior at CAES majoring in agriscience and environmental systems with a focus on precision agriculture, he works in the lab of Wes Porter, professor and Extension precision agriculture specialist.
For Jarrett Hancock, watching his older brothers attend UGA-Tifton solidified his aspirations to follow them through the Young Scholar Program as a high school student with a keen interest in precision agriculture. Now a rising senior at CAES majoring in agriscience and environmental systems with a focus on precision agriculture, he works in the lab of Wes Porter, professor and Extension precision agriculture specialist.
Pathway serves rural students
To further strengthen access to agricultural education, CAES expanded its mission of providing accessible, high-quality education with the launch of the Transfer Pathways Program last year. This initiative allows students from local technical colleges to transition seamlessly into UGA, earning bachelor’s degrees through CAES.
In partnership with Wiregrass Georgia Technical College and Southern Regional Technical College — both with multiple campuses in south Georgia — this program enables students to start their education close to home before transferring to UGA’s Athens, Griffin or Tifton campuses to complete their degrees.
The program is designed to make a UGA education more accessible, particularly for students from rural areas who may face financial or logistical barriers to attending a four-year university from the start.
As a CAES alumnus who transferred to UGA herself, CAES Director of Student Recruitment Jaky Childers understands the value transfer students bring to the university.
“Transfer students bring distinctive academic experiences and a strong foundation,” Childers said. “Transferring into the program allowed me to live at home for two years, saving my family money. The community of fellow students, faculty and staff members quickly made CAES feel like home.”
From their first days on campus, transfer students have access to experiential learning opportunities including study-abroad programs, research and internships.
Strengthening Georgia’s agricultural workforce
The benefits of the program extend beyond student success — it is also designed to strengthen Georgia’s agricultural sector.
“The state’s agricultural industry is facing a shortage of graduates in critical fields like agribusiness, agriscience and precision agriculture,” said George Vellidis, University Professor in crop and soil sciences and director of UGA's Institute for Integrative Precision Agriculture. “This initiative helps us meet those demands by producing skilled graduates ready to fill high-demand jobs.”
Integrative precision agriculture, one of the program’s key focus areas, is a rapidly growing field that merges technology with traditional farming practices to improve efficiency and sustainability.
In partnership with CAES, Southern Regional Technical College is developing two complementary precision agriculture tracks — one leading to an associate degree at Southern Regional Technical College, focused on advanced agricultural equipment, and another leading to a bachelor of science degree in precision agriculture at UGA, emphasizing data analytics, artificial intelligence and computer vision applications in agronomy.
Bridging the access gap
With the establishment of the Transfer Pathways Program, in conjunction with high school recruiting efforts and early exposure through the Young Scholars Internship Program, CAES continues to expand opportunities for students while strengthening Georgia’s agricultural workforce.
By creating accessible pathways to higher education, these programs ensure that students from rural communities can achieve their academic and career goals without leaving behind the people and places that matter most to them.
For students like the Hancock brothers, UGA-Tifton lays the foundation for a future that blends tradition with innovation, ensuring that Georgia’s agricultural legacy continues to thrive.
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