Honey Ridge Arena, Ribbon Cutting

Effingham County School District (ECSD) proudly celebrated the grand opening of the Honey Ridge Agricenter Arena today with a ribbon cutting and program. The state-of-the-art facility, one of the most extensive of its kind south of Macon, is designed to host large livestock shows and events. With a show arena and holding stalls, the arena can accommodate up to 300 head of livestock, making it a premier destination for local, district, regional, and multi-state livestock events.

The Honey Ridge Agricenter Arena will also serve as a hub for school and community events, significantly enhancing educational opportunities in agricultural and Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) education. This facility will play a crucial role in shaping the future workforce in Effingham County, aligning with ECSD's commitment to the community.

Special guests today included Dr. Barbara Wall, Deputy School Superintendent of Georgia, Mr. Tyler Harper, Commissioner of Agriculture, and Mr. Billy Hughes, State Director of Agriculture Education, and FFA students and teachers from the middle and high schools of Effingham County, along with community leaders and Effingham County School District leaders and Board Members. Dr. Wall, Mr. Harper, Dr. Ford, Mr. Todd Wall, and Effingham College & Career Academy FFA President, Gabbi Bennett addressed the guests. The ribbon cutting, photos, and a reception followed the program. The ribbon was officially cut by FFA Presidents from each high school; Drew Greene from Effingham County High School, Gabbi Bennett from Effingham College & Career Academy, and Marcello Piraino from South Effingham High School.

Honey Ridge Agricenter was purchased by ECSD in 2016, a 324-acre farm rich in agricultural history. Once owned by Mr. Sam Zemurray, Honey Ridge was a Polled Hereford farm, breeding award-winning cattle. Upon his retirement, Mr. Zemurray sold the farm to the Effingham County School District and donated his herd of cattle, along with his house and equipment. Mr. Zemurray wanted the property to continue facilitating agricultural activities for students.

Since 2016, ECSD has expanded Honey Ridge to include activities for all ages and diverse programs. The opening of the new arena is one more step ECSD has taken to further the education of students and enhance the Effingham community.

“Georgia’s CTAE mission is to provide students with experiences that will prepare them for workplace success. Honey Ridge Arena is one of those experiences that Effingham students are provided with. The CTAE pathway completer graduation rate for Effingham School System is 98.53%. That is higher than the state average of 97.75%. I believe that one reason CTAE students are performing so well in Effingham County is due to the unique experiences they are provided like the Honey Ridge Arena. Experiences like Honey Ridge Arena help students prepare for workplace success, but experiences also help students grow and learn and find their passions.” - Dr. Barbara Wall, Deputy Superintendent

“Effingham County School District has been providing students hands-on agricultural learning experiences at Honey Ridge for nearly a decade, and the addition of a new livestock arena shows their continued commitment to excellence in agricultural education. I’m excited for the Effingham County students who will be able to use this new facility to further their interest in agriculture and grateful to ECDS for their commitment to Ag Ed and investing in the future leaders of Georgia’s #1 industry.” - Tyler Harper Agriculture Commissioner

"The Honey Ridge Agricenter arena is a point of pride for Effingham County. The agricultural component of the center provides a rich source of enhancements to students learning experiences. Those students who utilize these facilities will gain valuable knowledge and skills that can benefit them the remainder of their lives. I’m also very proud we can honor the legacy of a dear friend, Samuel ZeMurray, who cared deeply about Effingham County and our future generations." - Speaker Jon Burns

"The new arena is a game-changer for our agricultural program and the broader community. It will provide our students with state-of-the-art facilities to enhance their hands-on learning experiences, preparing them for successful careers after high school. This investment also reflects our commitment to supporting the agriculture economy of our community and strengthens the next generation of leaders in this vital industry."— Dr. Ford, Superintendent

“I’m excited about this new opportunity for the students of Effingham County. The new programs that will be incorporated with the addition of the new arena and the enhancement of the existing programs, will be priceless for our students. The skills learned from Agriculture and STEM projects will be valuable long after graduation.” - Todd Wall, CEO of Honey Ridge Agricenter and Career Technical and Agriculture Education

"The Honey Ridge Arena is a wonderful addition to Honey Ridge Agricenter and will be a hub for agricultural education in this community, region, as well as the state. We hope to host many livestock shows in the facility and utilize the interior portion of the building for educational classes, workshops, and seminars. From an agricultural education standpoint, I believe the impact on the students and families of our community will be immeasurable over the next several years and many lives will be changed by this facility." -Ben Richardson, Agriculture Education Teacher and Young Farmer Program Advisor