Georgia Magazine - October 2024 - 4

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From THE EDITOR
Comments from our readers * Compiled by Jennifer J. Hewett
Let's celebrate Georgia agriculture, the
I've been there!
August's Picture this? contest featured a
photo of a mural titled " The Flow " by Thomas
Turner that is painted on a staircase at the
Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell.
Nearly 80 readers recognized the location,
including Melissa Silvey of Midland.
Silvey and her sons, Colt and Waylon,
visited the 127-acre nature center beside the
Chattahoochee River for the first time in July.
For the last 12 years, the Silveys have been
members of Reynolds-based Flint Energies,
which provides power to their home. Silvey
says her favorite thing about Georgia Magazine
is the calendar of community events.
To see the winners of August's Picture
this? contest and this month's contest photo,
turn to page 6.
-Lindsay Penticuff
An impactful article
Imagination Library
encourages reading fundamentals,
young readers
By Laura Berrios
W
and over. "
The children have many of their favorites memorized
and pretend to read them to each other, their mom says.
" There's a little picture of Dolly in the back of a lot of
[the books], and our 2-year-old likes to tell her good night
before going to bed, " Barnard says.
Thousands of other children also could be wishing
sweet dreams to the famous entertainer, whose nonprofit
has given away more than 221.5 million books globally
since it began in 1995.
that every child, regardless of income, would have
access to books. It sends more than 2.3 million books
monthly to children in five countries and all
50 states. Nationally, one in 10 children younger
than age 5 is in the program.
In Georgia, 15,669 children
participated in the Imagination Library
this year. Though Parton's nonprofit is
based in Sevierville, Tenn., 18 Georgia
counties and three cities have
Lucy and Declan Barnard of Cleveland peruse their
collection of books for the next one to read.
and pretend to read them to each other, their mom says.
" There's a little picture of Dolly in the back of a lot of
[the books], and our 2-year-old likes to tell her good night
Thousands of other children also could be wishing
sweet dreams to the famous entertainer, whose nonprofit
has given away more than 221.5 million books globally
The Imagination Library flowed from Parton's desire
that every child, regardless of income, would have
access to books. It sends more than 2.3 million books
monthly to children in five countries and all
50 states. Nationally, one in 10 children younger
hen preschool siblings Declan and Lucy Barnard
of Cleveland run to their mailbox, they hope for
another book from Dolly. Yes, that Dolly.
For the last year, the Barnard kids have
received free books from legendary country
musician Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, a program that
mails high-quality books each month to children from birth
until age 5 in participating areas.
" They have loved it, " says Courtney Barnard, mom to
Lucy, 2, and Declan, 5, who has now aged out of the
program. " They love getting the books in the mail each
month. And they're really good books. They're some of their
favorite books, and they like to read them over and over
partnerships to bring the program to their areas.
A child who was signed up at birth would have 60 books
by the time he or she begins kindergarten. Selections
include classics such as " The Little Engine That Could " and
touch-and-feel books for babies.
Participating children are more likely to start school
with a solid literacy foundation than are other children.
According to two decades of U.S. and international data
collected by the Imagination Library, children in the
program are ahead of those who are not. The program also
promotes positive changes in children's attitudes toward
reading and early literacy skills.
" It is a fantastic program. We all so admire this vision
Dolly Parton had about literacy in her own community of
Sevierville, where she started this, " says Paula
Everett-Truppi, a retired special education
director with the Gwinnett County School
District. " How positive and powerful that the
Imagination Library is changing
educational outcomes in children
before they even darken the
door in kindergarten. "
The former educator
and others are helping
Everett-Truppi, a retired special education
director with the Gwinnett County School
District. " How positive and powerful that the
Imagination Library is changing
educational outcomes in children
before they even darken the
door in kindergarten. "
The former educator
I wanted to extend a heartfelt " thank you " for the
wonderful article about Dolly Parton's Imagination
Library in Georgia Magazine. [See " Imagination Library
encourages reading fundamentals, young readers, "
December 2023, page 21; bit.ly/dpil1223.] The impact was
immediate and significant: Our child enrollment grew by
11 percent in the month following its publication. Since
then, we've seen a remarkable 22 percent increase in
child enrollment, with new programs rising by 30 percent.
We still have work to do to ensure that every child
MORE
www.georgiamagazine.org
21-23_Imagination_Library_1223.indd 21
11/8/23 5:40 PM
in Georgia under the age of 5 has the opportunity to
21
enroll in the Imagination Library, but with champions like you and the electric
cooperatives, I'm confident we can make it happen.
Your support has truly made a difference in promoting childhood literacy and
getting more books into the hands and homes of Georgia's children. We sincerely
appreciate your role in this success.
-Nell Withers McCauley, program director,
The Dollywood Foundation, Sevierville, Tenn.
They read and won!
Congratulations to Georgia Magazine's most recent trivia contest
winners: January 2024: Judith Stascheit, Dalton; February: Daniel Martuscello,
Dublin; March: Laura Henderson, Atlanta; April: Haley Lyon, Monticello;
May: Mary L. Brown, Marietta; June: Keith Moore, Newnan; and July: Shamella
Lionel, Dallas. Each winner received a $25 gift card.
Want to enter? Look for our trivia contest in the magazine each month and
online at georgiamagazine.org. This month's contest appears on page 37.
Share your thoughts. Email us at magazine@georgiaemc.com. Please include your name, address
and phone number. Letters may be edited for clarity and space.
4 Georgia Magazine October 2024
state's No. 1 industry! The University of
Georgia's 2024 Ag Snapshots reports that
Georgia's commodities represent a direct
value of $18.3 billion to our economy. Food
and fiber production and related industries
contribute more than 323,000 jobs and
$83.6 billion to the state's economy, too,
based on the 2022 Georgia Farm Gate Value
Report.
Our state brings a lot to the table-
literally.
Georgia's official state crop is the
peanut and the official vegetable is the
Vidalia onion. But did you know the state
also has an official grape?
Read about Georgia's muscadines on
Melissa Silvey stops for a photo on
the steps at the Chattahoochee
Nature Center in Roswell in July.
page 22. This fragrant grape is native to the
Southeast, comes in a range of colors and is
used in juices, jellies and wines made by
vineyards all over the state.
I first saw and tasted these wild grapes
when I was a kid exploring the woods near
Kennesaw Mountain. Look for muscadines
at your local farm stand through the end of
this month.
The abundance that Georgia produces
would not be possible without our farmers,
growers and ranchers.
St. Elmo Harrison of Whigham recently
was recognized as the state's oldest farmer.
Learn more about this peanut farmer, who
turns 102 in November, on page 9.
In " Pinewood heritage " on page 30,
meet Claire Shelton Lee of Valdosta, who is
carrying forward her family's legacy of
tree-farming. Georgia is the No. 1 forestry
state in the nation.
The Olivers in Pitts are building a
business for their specialty flours and
artisan oils made from sunflower seeds,
pumpkin seeds, pecans and more. Read
about their products and try a few of their
recipes, beginning on page 34.
October also is National Cooperative
Month. Learn about the good things our
electric membership cooperatives (EMCs)
are doing in Currents on page 14. And see
how Georgia's EMCs contribute to and build
the state's economy on page 13.
Thank you to all in the ag industry!
Happy fall!
Jennifer J. Hewett
Editor
ISTOCK.COM / CIRODELIA
FOUNDATIONAL LITERACY
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COURTESY MELISSA SILVEY

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Georgia Magazine - October 2024

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - October 2024