Fort Valley State University (FVSU) today announced the headlining of U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue as the keynote speaker for its 37th Annual “Ham and Egg” Legislative Breakfast. The event will take place from 8:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. at the C.W. Pettigrew Farm and Community Life Center on FVSU’s campus, located at 1005 State University Drive in Fort Valley, Georgia.

The former Georgia governor will join U.S. Senator David Perdue, U.S. Representative Sanford Bishop, Georgia State Senator John Kennedy, State Representative Patty J. Bentley, and other state and local leaders to discuss 2019 legislative priorities affecting the state’s agriculture industry and higher education, including the implementation of the 2018 Farm Bill and the recovery from Hurricane Michael.

“Our food and our planet should unite us all, and the federal and state officials who work together to enact policy which empowers both agricultural professionals and students are a testament to what we can accomplish by working in concert,” said FVSU President Paul Jones. “Governmental initiatives like the 2018 Farm Bill set the stage for Georgia and America increase their global competitiveness in the business and science of agriculture. Together we are enabling not just Fort Valley State University, but all of Georgia and the nation, to rise up and meet the challenges our future demands.”

Among other notable policy developments, the 2018 Farm Bill added scholarship funding to traditional U.S. Department of Agriculture support for research, education, and extension programming at 1890 land-grant institutions, which are colleges designated by Congress to disseminate knowledge in the areas most critical to American competitiveness, including agriculture. FVSU is Georgia’s only 1890 land-grant institution.

FVSU’s “Ham and Egg” Breakfast is an annual event sponsored by Fort Valley State University’s Cooperative Extension Program. It serves as a forum for Georgia residents and elected officials to discuss issues related to agriculture.

The name pays tribute to the historic “Ham and Egg Show” created in 1916 by Houston County Extension agent and FVSU alumnus Otis O’Neal. Featured in Life magazine, the show drew thousands as it allowed African-American farmers for the first time to showcase their agricultural products. Located on FVSU’s campus, it became so popular that it spawned a Folk Life Festival, believed by the Library of Congress to possibly be the first African-American folk festival in the country. Tickets can be purchased online for $40 through the Wildcat Ticket Office at https://bit.ly/2TEB80K . Tickets will also be available at the door, but seating is limited.

For more information about the Ham and Egg Breakfast, contact Joy Moten-Thomas at (478) 825-6954 or thomasb@fvsu.edu.
About Fort Valley State University
Founded in 1895, Fort Valley State University, a University System of Georgia institution, is one of the nation’s most innovative and affordable academic institutions. Leveraging its unique role as Georgia’s only 1890 land-grant institution, the college conducts more science, technology, engineering and math federal research than any other public teaching college in the state, making curriculum-enhancing research opportunities available to students learning to be leaders in innovation. The university’s undergraduate and graduate traditional and online degree programs enroll almost 3,000 students from all over the world. Named the most affordable online school in the nation for student economic mobility, the university has produced more African Americans with mathematics degrees than any other college in the nation in two of the past four years. FVSU students participate in more than 80 academic and civic organizations, honor societies and study abroad programs. The university is a member of the Southern Intercollegiate Athletic Conference and NCAA Division II League. Learn more by visiting Learn more by visiting www.FVSU.edu.
About Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated.Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated (AKA) is an international service organization that was founded on the campus of Howard University in Washington, D.C. in 1908. It is the oldest Greek letter organization established by African-American college-educated women. Alpha Kappa Alpha is comprised of nearly 300,000 members in more than 1000 graduate and undergraduate chapters in the United States, Liberia, the Bahamas, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Germany, South Korea, Bermuda, Japan, Canada, South Africa and the Middle East. Led by International President Glenda Glover, Ph.D, JD, CPA, Alpha Kappa Alpha is often hailed as “America’s premier Greek-letter organization for African-American women.” For more information on Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority and its programs, visit www.AKA1908.com. For more information on Educational Advancement Foundation, visit www.AKAEAF.org.