Georgia has a new car tag designed to promote agriculture and the environment as well as support FFA and 4-H initiatives. Pictured with replicas of the tag are: (l-r) Brenda Danner, Lincoln County tax commissioner; Tim Smith, Lincoln County extension agent; and Linda Willgus, deputy tax commissioner. Georgians may now purchase a new car tag designed to promote agriculture and the environment as well as support the Georgia Future Farmers of America (FFA) and Georgia 4-H.

The idea for the agriculture tag's design came from rising juniors and seniors attending the Governor's Honors Program during the summer of 2005. The students researched other states' agriculture tags and then came up with their own ideas of what should be on the tag.

Using a rough drawing created by the students, Mike Parsons, an artist from Winder, Georgia, developed the design for the tag.

Georgia voters approved a constitutional amendment authorizing specialty tags by a 67 to 33-percent margin. Included in the amendment was the "Ag Tag," proposed by Senator Greg Goggans of Georgia's Seventh District.

The purpose of the new automobile license plate is to honor agriculture in the State of Georgia.

The tags can be pre-purchased now at the Lincoln County Tax Commissioner's Office in the courthouse annex. The cost is $25, $10 of which will be used to support work relative to the missions of the FFA and 4-H and specifically, to promote agriculture, agricultural awareness, and environmental education. The money collected from the sale of the tags will be distributed evenly between the two organizations.

Once 1,000 tags have been ordered, they will be manufactured and delivered to the buyers.

For more information about the Georgia Ag Tag, contact the Lincoln County Tax Commissioner's Office at 706-359-5536.