The Morgan County Board of Education celebrated the grand opening of the Morgan Agricultural Learning Lab (MALL) on Nov. 18.
The spacious building off Old Buckhead Road includes a classroom, barn space filled with stalls, and restrooms.
The MALL is opening doors — quite literally — by giving the livestock show program and its animals a place to call home.
“[Not having the space to house livestock] has stopped numerous students over the years from participating in the livestock show program,” high school ag teacher Rachel Kinsaul said during Monday’s ribbon cutting. “The MALL is meeting the needs of the students in our community by giving them a place to keep livestock. With this new facility, students who previously could not participate will be on a level playing field. It’s opening doors for students who wouldn’t normally be able to participate, be a part of the team.”
She noted how more students can reap the benefits provided by the livestock show program, including its many important lessons.
“Showing livestock teaches students responsibility, time management, patience, and work ethic,” Kinsaul shared. “It teaches students how to win gracefully and lose with determination to do better.”
Several individuals and organizations were thanked for making the program’s home a reality, including former Superintendent Dr. James Woodard, current Superintendent Dr. Virgil Cole, Jennifer Butler, Brett Creel, and the BOE.
Meta was also thanked for jumpingstarting the fundraising efforts with a $300,000 donation and the Conrads Family Foundation for contributing $100,000 to match donations.
Many sponsors were also thanked, including (Gold Buckle sponsors) Damon and Renee Malcom; Godfrey’s Feed; the College and Career Academy Board of Directors; Rob and Ruth Bearden; (Blue Ribbon sponsors) Victoria and Ella Newsom; Morgan County Farm Bureau, Mid-South Lumber Co.; WDairy LLC; Sonny and Patty Pennington; Bank of Madison; Whitey Hunt; (Showman sponsors) Lee Nunn Farms; the Garrett Foundation; Fly and Form Structures, Inc.; The Go Ag Group, LLC; Parrish Construction; Jack’s Creek Farms; James and Janet Woodard; Town-N-Country Farm & Pet Supply; the Piedmont Soil and Water Conservation District; United Bank; Mike and Margaret Patrick; Jason and Rachel Kinsaul; Anne and Robert Trulock; Central Georgia EMC; Sarah Baldwin Harris and the JD Harris Foundation; Jeb and Megan Morris; and Jason Sidwell and his family.