NGTC breaks ground on Irvin Agriculture Event Center

CLARKESVILLE, Ga. — North Georgia Technical College officials, members of the Irvin family and community leaders gathered Tuesday to break ground on the Irvin Agriculture Event Center, a new facility designed to expand agricultural education and community programming on campus.

The project is being funded through a $900,000 gift from the Thomas T. and Bernice F. Irvin Foundation and will be located off Tech School Road on the college’s Clarkesville campus. It will serve as an addition to the school’s Agriscience Complex and provide space for student learning, industry partnerships, agricultural programming and public events.

The center also will honor the legacy of Thomas T. “Tommy” Irvin, who served more than four decades as Georgia’s commissioner of agriculture and was widely recognized for his advocacy on behalf of farmers and rural communities. The facility will include a museum space dedicated to Irvin’s memorabilia from his time in office.

“We are incredibly proud to help create a lasting tribute to our grandfather through the construction of the Irvin Agriculture Event Center,” said Chris Irvin, grandson of Tommy and Bernice Irvin and a representative of the foundation. “My grandfather dedicated his life to supporting agriculture and the people who make it possible. It is especially meaningful that this facility will help educate and inspire future generations of agricultural leaders while preserving his legacy for years to come.”

NGTC President John Wilkinson said the center will strengthen the college’s agricultural programs and expand hands-on learning opportunities for students.

“This event center represents an investment in the future of agriculture in Northeast Georgia,” Wilkinson said. “Our students will benefit from this dedicated space that supports the continued growth of our Agriscience programs. We are deeply grateful to the Thomas T. and Bernice F. Irvin Foundation and the Irvin family for their generosity and commitment to agricultural education.”

The Irvin Agriculture Event Center will complement existing facilities within the Agriscience Complex and support workforce development in agriculture, agribusiness and related fields. Construction is expected to begin immediately following the groundbreaking ceremony.