Hundreds of people gathered Thursday to honor a prominent Republican state senator for his work in agricultural education, as Lt. Gov. Casey Cagle and other dignitaries opened the John K. Wilkinson Hall at the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center.

The Toccoa Republican quipped that “this is the closest I’ll ever get to my own funeral” before thanking supporters, friends and more than 300 students for attending the event.

The new center sits at the center of a sprawling camp in Covington, and two state Future Farmers of America officers said Wilkinson has left an indelible imprint on their projects. Cagle, who is running for governor, also praised Wilkinson for championing agricultural education programs.

The state senator, meanwhile, was touched by the outpouring of support.

“There’s a lot of cynicism where politics is concerned,” he said, “but there’s a lot of good people in Atlanta.”

In other news:

Channel 2 hosted Casey Cagle and Brian Kemp at the debate.

About the Author

Keep Reading

Former Atlanta Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms announces her bid for governor while meeting with journalists in Atlanta Monday, May 19, 2025. Bottoms describes herself as a moderate, but many of her critics disagree. (Ben Gray for the AJC)

Credit: Ben Gray for the AJC

Featured

Travelers wait in Concourse F, the international terminal, at Hartsfield-Jackson airport in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 4, 2025. (Arvin Temkar / AJC)

Credit: arvin.temkar@ajc.com