ANDREW SAWYER

January 23, 2026 - 100 Days of School

The hats Jonathan and David are wearing belonged to their great-grandfather, Roy Sawyer, Jr.

December 31, 2025 - Happy New Year

December 25, 2025 - Merry Christmas

November 26, 2025 - Happy Thanksgiving

September 28th, 2025 - The Bull Moose

“We are not going to have any real Americanism in this country until we create an effective popular opinion which will insist that the man descended from French, the man descended from English, or the man descended from German ancestry has any business to consider loyalty to any country except the United States.” - In a letter by Theodore Roosevelt Jr. on September 28, 1916

September 1, 2025 - Jekyll Island

August 20, 2025 - Taft's Credo

“I believe myself to be as conservative as anyone within this company. I believe that in connection with personal liberty, the right of personal property is the basis of all our material progress in the development of mankind and that any change in our social and political system which impairs the right of private property and materially diminishes the motive for the accumulation of capital by one individual is a blow our whole civilization.”

– William Howard Taft in 1908 to Boston manufacturers

July 25, 2025 - Siblings & Cousins

June 25, 2025 - The Rough Rider

“I do not undervalue for a moment our material prosperity; like all Americans, I like big things… But we must keep steadily in mind that no people were ever yet benefited by riches if their prosperity corrupted their virtue.” 

- Teddy Roosevelt Fourth of July Speech in Dickinson, North Dakota, 1885

May 14, 2025 - Happy 5th Birthday to David

May 8, 2025 - Happy 1st Birthday to Daniel

April 20, 2025 - 40 Years on Easter

April 10, 2025 - A History of Tariffs: The First 100 Years

America's first proponent of tariffs was Alexander Hamilton, who was in between the protectionist mindset and one of free trade. He believed in tariffs to protect American business against Great Britain until business was more successful, pulling back to free trade. Tariffs during the 1790s through 1820 were around 8.5%.

After the 1820s, New England mercantilists wanted higher 'protectionists' tariffs to protect their industry. This divided the Democrat Party and Whig Party. This led to the “Tariff of Abominations” was enacted during the John Quincy Adams Administration and is actually what set the tone for Civil War. South Carolina threatened “nullify” these tariffs, and subsequently President Andrew Jackson threatened to invade South Carolina. These tariffs hurt the South paying higher prices for goods they could not produce themselves and lessening Great Britain's imports. Tariffs fluctuated between 16 and 26% before the Tariff of Abominations then rose to 50% following. Jackson made a compromise with South Carolina, tariff rates came down to about 35%.

Jackson's protege, James Polk, wanted to set up tariffs to assuage both the North and the South. Tariffs then came down to between 20 and 28%.

In the 1850s, it all gets screwed up. The Northern 'protectionists' initiated higher tariffs. After the war, the country was in debt. The Republicans controlled their base through Reconstruction which favored protection. Through the 1870s, the government had a surplus as tariffs during this time ran about 40%.

The Democrats' solution to this problem was this: lower tariffs. Texas (D) Representative Roger Mills and Nelson Aldrich of Rhode Island worked out a bill called the Allison Bill. It cleared the Senate but was stuck in the House Ways and Means committee by the 1888 election.

 When Harrison was elected, William McKinley of the Ways and Means Committee began fighting for a new bill. McKinley, like Aldrich, believed if you place tariffs high enough, “you diminish importations and to that extent diminish the revenue.” This was the case on tin plate. He wanted to raise the rates on tin plate high enough to stop imports of tin and create a domestic industry.

The McKinley bill was the first to address agriculture and U.S. farmers with $25 million of ag products coming in from Canada. Roger Mills argued that this surplus created from the tariffs would become a trade war! Mills believed to GET something, you have to GIVE something.  It was then that Secretary of State James G. Blaine of Maine would add one more thing to this bill…Blaine proposed something called “reciprocity." The idea was to continue the Republican protectionism but allow negotiated free-trade exceptions that would benefit the United States. 

McKinley warmed up to the idea and we got four parts : 1) expansive farm duties, 2) the sugar bounty, 3) a tariff to protect a non-existent tin plate industry and 4) the reciprocity principle. It was signed into law by our 23rd President Benjamin Harrison on October 1st, who was inaugurated 100 years after Georgie Washington.

In summary, the McKinley bill passed only because he had the votes. I think the debate was won by Congressman Roger Mills. Nonetheless, McKinley acknowledged that the tariff writing got out of control in the Senate. He believed the final bill reflected his view that protectionism was key to American prosperity and greatness. McKinley drew differences in American's protection and free-trade Britain over previous 20 years showing the total value of U.S. imports and exports increased by 62% from 1870 - 1889 while Britain's trade increased by only 25%. Further Britain's global trade fell from 27% in 1830 to 21% in 1880; America's global trade increased from 3.7% to 11.5% during that same time. America led all nations in agriculture, mining and manufacturing by this time. McKinley felt like this was the prize after 30 years of protection tariffs. Was there a better system? I am not sure. But other critics made a good point.

Senator John B. Allen of Washington pointed out that many factors contributed to our growth with lack of much evidence of a cause-and-effect relationship between protectionism and American property saying, “prosperity and adversity have come alternately under both a high and a low tariff.” America was new, populated by expansionist people on fertile soil with rivers and coasts and the blessing of raw materials. I think Senator Allen is onto something - that maybe tarriffs are like checkers. You make a move, the other makes a move. If there were any policy affecting growth outside of its normal expansion and production, it would be money and banking. This is why I cover this in each of our presidents. Tariff is a tax, money is a commodity. If you manipulate a commodity, you will create BOOMS and BUSTS in the market, which would naturally be minimal without manipulation.

April 5, 2025 - Panama City Beach

March 27, 2025 - The Great-Grandson of a Declaration of Independence Signer

“Individual independence necessarily precedes community independence. The free man came before the free state; and the free state will not survive him.” 

- Benjamin Harrison

March 25, 2025 - The Home Team

February 17, 2025 - President's Day

“Watch well, then, this high office, the most precious possession of American citizenship. Demand for it the most complete devotion on the part of him to whose custody it may be entrusted, and protect it not less vigilantly against unworthy assaults from without.” - Grover Cleveland on the presidency, July 13, 1887

January 22, 2025 - Winter Storm

January 20, 2025 - A Man of Iron

“They love him, gentlemen. And they respect him, not only for himself, but for his character, his integrity and judgement and his iron will. But they love him most for the enemies that he has made.” - Former Union Brigadier General and Wisconsin Representative, Edward S. Bragg, at the NY Democratic Convention on how Grover Cleveland was energizing the young voters of Wisconsin, 1884.

December 31, 2024 - Sincerity

“For the vice presidency, I was indebted to (Mr. Conkling). For the president of the United States, my debt was to the Almighty.” - Chester Arthur to Rosco Conkling over removal of William Roberts of the New York Custom House, October1881

December 25, 2024 - Merry Christmas

November 28, 2024 - Happy Thanksgiving

November 20, 2024 - Perspective

“Put yourself in his place and let the white man ask himself this question: What would I do if threatened as the Indian has been and is? Suppose a race superior to mine were to land upon the shores of this great continent, trade or cheat us out of our land foot by foot, gradually encroach upon our domain until we were finally driven,  degraded, demoralized band into a small corner of the continent, where to live at all it was necessary to steal, perhaps to do worse? Suppose that in a spirit of justice, this superior race should recognize the fact that it was in the duty bound to place food in our mouths and blankets on our backs, what would we do in the premises? I have seen one who hates an Indian as he does a snake, and thinks there is no good Indian but a dead one, on having the proposition to put to him in this way, grind his teeth in rage and explain, ‘I would cut the heart out of everyone I could lay my hand on,’ and so he would; and so we all would.”

- Colonel John Gibbon, commander of the District of Montana to the editors of the Army and Navy Journal, 1875

November 9, 2024 - To God be the Glory

The Dodge County ER Doctor said, “CT scan shows a crack in the skull and a brain bleed. He needs to get somehwere else as soon as possible.” At that moment, I knew Jonathan was a DEAD MAN WALKING. I actually thought that thought, then sat down and said to myself, “Oh well. To God be the Glory.”

With two other boys, including a baby, Kathryn had to stay home. I was in my PJs when they weighed me for a ride on the helicopter. I asked if I could go home and change clothes. They said, “You got 20 minutes.” Outside, I saw it was drizzling rain and new the helicopters would not fly. When I got back, the hospital said they contacted two choppers and both said they would not fly. I was really happy! We rode an ambulance to Atlanta.

Standing in the trauma room at the new Arthur M. Blank Children's Hospital, two social workers approached me. This is while I was talking to the trauma doctor five hours after Jonathan landed on the back of his head - on asphalt - after being knocked off a blow-up slide at a church Fall Festival. What do you say? I really did not know what to say. Nonetheless, this is what came out:

“We wanted to come by let you know we are here for any emotional and spiritual needs.”

“Thank you very much. I appreciate that. Our belief is in God.”

“Oh okay, that is good.”

“…and our belief in God DOES NOT MEAN my son is going to live.”

(Pause)

I continued… “God has all POWER and all AUTHORITY. Whatever happens to Jonathan, God will get the GLORY. What we have to do has humans is deal with God - individually - regarding our disobedience to God's moral law…”

No matter what she thought of me after my first statement, I am certain she thought I was crazy after this much. She smirked, but she was professional. (Pause)

I looked at Jonathan then back at them and said, “About a year and a half ago, he came to his mom and myself and told us he prayed to God - that his heart got bigger. He felt bad for the wrong things he has done and wanted Jesus to live in his heart. I can't know his heart. That is something that is between him and God. It is NOT between me, him and God…... Whatever happens now, Jonathan has dealt with God and that is the only hope we can have. Thank you both for stopping by.”

I don't remember them saying anything after that. Most of it was a fog. They did a CT scan at 2:00am and let him sleep. The next morning, they told me the bleeding had stopped, the crack will heal, and he can go home. Hopefully he will continue to live for God until God takes him. We later learned that in Bleckley County at nearly the same time, a child of 7 years fell off a truck and died. A few weeks after this, a 23-year-old, former UGA walk-on fell off the back of a pick-up on St. George Island, hit his head. My boss knows this boys father and reahed out to him. The father replied that his son would die in a few days, and he did. These falls were similar in height to Jonathan's, and somehow, he survived. I am reminded of Franklin Pierce's quote (below) that our children belong to God. To God be the glory.

October 12, 2024 - Family of Five

August 8, 2024 - Daniel is 3 Months

August 7, 2024 - Panic of 1873

After the Civil War, the paper currency called greenbacks had lost its value. There was talk of resuming specie (hard money) payment by the “Loan Bill” of 1866. However the Pennsylvania 'Ironmasters' realized a falling dollar and rising gold price made domestic prices cheaper and imported prices higher, functioning as an extra tariff. Simply put, inflation depreciates faster than prices rise. In addition, gold speculators were betting on higher prices of gold. After the U.S. Supreme Court decision of Knox v. Lee, two new railroad lawyer judges, appointment by Grant, rendered paper money Constitutional after the former Court under Hepburn v.Griswold did not. By this time, state banks began to boom as deposit-creating institutions. State banks pyramided on top of national banks. Total state and national bank notes and deposits rose from $835 million in 1865 to $1.964 billion in 1873 (135 % increase). The reserve pyramiding and excessive deposit creation were a large part of the panics of 1873, 1884, 1893 and 1907.

There was not a “great depression”, however. Why? How can you have “depression” with a large expansion of industry, railroads, output of net national product or real per capita income? From 1869 - 1879, there was 3% increase per year on money national product, real national product growth of 6.8 % per year and 4.5 % per year in real product per capita - alot! What about the supply of money they said was contracted? It never happened. Money supply increased by $1.964 billion to $2.221 billion (2.7%) in that 10 years.

Most historians and economists are conditioned to believe that a fall in prices means depression. They overlook the fact that in the natural course of events, when government and the banking system DO NOT increase the money supply rapidly, the market results in an increase of production and economic growth spreading the increase living standards to all consumers. The Panic of 1873 did not initiate a "great depression," but instead caused bankruptcies in over-inflated banks and in railroads riding the tide of government subsidy and bank speculation.

To read more, visit the PRESIDENTS OF THE US page!

August 7, 2024 - First Day of 2nd Grade & Pre-K

July 14, 2024 - A Message from the Past

"By the all powerful dispensations of Providence, I have been protected beyond all human probability or expectation."

- George Washington

June 16, 2024 - Happy Father's Day

June 15, 2024 - Never GRANT Inflation

“It is a duty - and one of the highest duties of Government - to secure to the citizen a medium of exchange of fixed, unvarying value. This implies a return to a specie basis. No substitute for it can be devised. The present bill took the country in the opposite direction. It signified a departure from true principles of finance, national interest, nation obligations to creditors, Congressional promises, party pledges - on the part of both political parities - and the personal views and the promises made by me in every annual message sent to Congress and in each Inaugural Address.”

- Ulysses S. Grant's veto message for the Expansion Bill of 1874.

June 11, 2024 - Shoot the Deserters

Did you know that in 18th and 19th century American wars, deserters were often shot? George Washington had deserters hung during the Revolution. Jefferson Davis was faced with the same issue during the Civil War. The North had twice the men and at least ⅔ more supplies. Once Grant made it to the Eastern Theater to fight Robert E. Lee, Lee could no longer feed his men. During the spring of 1865, Lee actually decided to not partake in shooting deserters since he could no longer feed his men.

On Axon road a mile from U.S. 441 in Atkinson County there is a Confederate soldier's grave in this hay field. The pecan grower told me the story from his Great Grandmother. James Summerhill was a Confederate soldier who had the task of shooting Confederate deserters. Yes, his job was to hunt them and shoot them! But in 1864, just east of this location in Satilla, GA, James Summerhill was ambushed by guess who? Confederate deserters.

Someone had his body taken here where he was buried in 1864 and remained since. There is more history to this than just Civil War. From a different perspective, there were alot of deserters from this area. I am not surprised, because this is where I was raised. People from Coffee County … DO NOT COMPLY. Not even with their own cause! I know them very well.

May 14, 2024 - Happy 4th Birthday to David

‘Little D’ nickname is no more since he is now four. He says, “I want to be David Sawyer." His brother Daniel I suppose should be called ‘Baby D.'

May 13, 2024 - Happy Mother's Day

There is no USELESS, material gift better than a mother taking home her baby from the NICU on Mother's Day. Do not forget the mothers who sat by their baby's cubes in the NICU crying because they could not 1) hold their baby and 2) take their baby home.

As for this mother, she is blessed.

May 8, 2024 - Daniel Joel Sawyer

Welcome my 3rd child from my 1st wife. Born in Macon, GA at 12:45pm, Daniel weighed in 5lbs 7 ounces and 19 inches in length.

April 20, 2024 - Creature vs. Creator

“The States had brought Congress into existence, and now Congress proposed to destroy the States. It proposed to abolish the original and elementary principle of its being. It was as if the creature turned round on the creator and attempted to destroy him.”

-Andrew Johnson

March 31, 2024 - Happy Easter

March 25, 2024 - The Freedom Fighter

“The slaveholders know that the day of their power is over when a Republican President is Elected.” 

- Frederick Douglas to his subscribers of the Douglass' Monthly in September 1860

March 23, 2024 - Mexico Beach

February 6, 2024 - Toby Keith (1961 - 2024)

Shocking news this morning from Toby Keith's website revealing that last night, February 5th, he passed away. Toby remains one of the purest representatives of country music and America. Like other greats before him, Toby's music engaged new generations and a new era of its own from the 90s through the millennium. With the #1 song of the 1990s, I Should've Been A Cowboy, Toby reached a new level of popularity with Courtesy of the Red, White and Blue, which led to a string of brand new, chart-topping singles. His voice was so pure and music was traditional country. He spent a lot of time on tours for our troops over seas. This was all on his ticket.

I watched an interview Toby did with CBS in early December, in which he sounded and looked good with high spirits. In a telling interview I watched with Brett Farve, it appears the chemotherapy of stomach cancer brought Toby to his death. He told Brett just two weeks ago,  “I quit chemo but it may be too late," and “I'm just tired.” Brett said he did not notice any red flags from Toby - that Toby seemed in good spirits.

February 1, 2024 - Gregory Glidden

February is heart month, and I want to share the story of a courageous little boy who became the first to survive cross circulation in 1954. Multiple fevers and sicknesses plagued Gregory until he was three months old, his moth Frances heart a “loud, blowing, systolic” murmur. It was the same sound her daughter Donna had before she died at age 10. Gregory too would be taken to University Hospital in Minneapolis where the father of open-heart surgery, Dr. Walt Lillehei, was located. Gregory was diagnosed with a VSD, which stands for Ventricular Septal Defect. The VSD is a hole in the bottom two champers of the heart.

The significance of the VSD was that its size varied. It was through Gregory's case that Dr. Lillehei drove from Minneapolis to Rochester to visit Mayo Clinic pathologist, Jesse Edwards. Edwards saved the hearts of deceased babies, since many conditions were still unknown. In one 55 gallon drum, Dr.Lillehei  studied all the hearts labeled “VSD.” His findings were extremely significant: The size of the VSDs varied from patient to patient! The ASDs - holes in the upper chamber mostly did not.

In the early 1950s, the heart-lung machine was not yet developed. A lengthy surgery was difficult and risky. If Gregory's VSD was large, it would require significant time to suture. It also would require strong sutures, since previous large VSDs tore the sutures following surgery. But Dr. Lillehei had an idea, and it too was extremely dangerous: Cross-circulation

Cross-circulation on Gregory Glidden

In the lab, Dr. Lillehei had successfully cross circulated dogs. One patient is connected to a donor patient who's heart supplies both patient's oxygen. The risk was not just losing the heat patient, but also the patient's donor. The medical industry abhorred this idea. Dr. Wangsteen was University Hospital administrator and believed in Dr. Lillehei. This was Gregory's only hope.

In March of 1954, Gregory's father Lyman would be the donor as his mother Frances waited. Another pioneer heart surgeon, Dr. Varco, would be operating too. This photo was snapped after the surgery completed. No significant blood loss, no heart block, no air in the machine or anesthesia explosion. All of these were major risks. Gregory survived!

Initially, Gregory looked great. But suddenly he became sick. In his oxygen bubble, he did not want to be held or see people. His breathing was shallow, and blood came from his mouth and nose. They started an anti-biotic. Gregory got worse. On April 6, 1954, Gregory died from pneumonia. Lyman signed the papers to allow Dr. Lillehei an autopsy. They thanked Dr. Lillehei and left the hospital - without Gregory. Frances would deliver her 12th child later that week.

Gregory is one of the many children to lose their lives as essentially an experiment. Without these the efforts by renegade surgeons, heart surgery would never occur. Without families like the Gliddens, we would not know the names of those pioneer surgeons. The culture that existed during this time allowed Dr. Varo and Dr. Lillehei engineer the greatest breakthrough in medical science history.

Gregory Glidden is on the far right, pictured with his siblings.

January 31, 2024 Student of the Month

Congratulations to Jonathan for being student of the month for February. In front of the audience, Jonathan says, “It's about time!”

December 29, 2023 - What Can the President Actually Do?

“The true touchstone as to whether the exercise of any proposed federal power has a warrant in the Constitution is to ask for the specific clause which authorizes it, or, if this cannot be shown, then, to prove that it is ‘necessary & proper’ without any strained construction … if this cannot be clearly pointed out, then … the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved for the States, respectively, or to the People.”

 - James Buchanan, 1867

November 21, 2023 - Child #3

November 1, 2023 - Washington County

These pecan trees are ready for harvest. The yellow senescence is characteristic of carya illinoinses.

October 23, 2023 - Trunk or Treat at FBC

October 18, 2023 - GACAA Food Booth @ the Sunbelt Ag Expo

Thanks to all who served the Georgia Association of County Agricultural Agent's Food Booth at this year's Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultrie. As Vice President, it was my turn to organize this week. The weather was great, which brings the crowd. Wednesday was a record-breaking day for the food booth. It reminded me of the days when I started serving here - long lines and no breaks!

October 15, 2023 - Just Playin' Possum

Finally caught this huge opossum right off our front door. Jonathan and I took him off to the woods where he is living even more happy now. On the way, we played Alan Jackson's song called “Just Playin' Possum” off his DON'T ROCK THE JUKEBOX album.

October 13, 2023 - Yellow Patch

It has been abnormally cool this September and October. We also had more rain this September than we did the past few years. Rhizoctonia solani loves cool weather. The yellow streaks of disease showed up in my ‘Palmetto’ St. Augustine after 5 inches of rain in three days.

October 7, 2023 - Taylor & Julia's Wedding

September 27, 2023 - Our Children Belong To God

"I am conscious that within in the last two years particularly my prevailing feeling has been that we were living for our children. In all my labors, plans and exertions in them was the center of all my hopes, they were in all my thoughts. We should have lived for God and have left the dear ones to the care of Him who alone is able to take care of them and us… My mind has long been impressed with the fact that if our present life is not probationary in its character, if we are not placed here, as the blessed word of God teaches, to prepare for another and more exalted state of being, we are destined to waste our energies upon things that are unsubstantial, fleeting, passing away and that can bring no permanent peace - can give no calm hope that is as an anchor to the soul. And yet with that conviction constantly recurring few have been more entirely absorbed in the whirl of business and cares purely of a worldly character than I have." 

- Franklin Pierce, November of 1843, wrote these words as his son Frank was dying of Typhus at 4 ½ years old

September 3, 1993 - THROWBACK

I found this note I wrote back in third grade. What did Mrs. Lott think of this?

August 19, 2023 - Little D is Little Me

We call David “Little D.” But he sure looks like little me. Here is the airplane show last weekend. What boy does not want to fly an airplane?

August 22, 2023 - America's Great Statesman

Henry Clay is considered America's Great Statesman. For years, I thought I would not have been associated with Whigs during this period. There was more ‘common man’ in the Whigs than I realized. (Even though their platform stole the common man persona from the Jacksonian Democrats.) Henry Clay was first a Westerner, a slave owner, a common man before he was a Whig. And the Whigs built mostly off their hatred for Andrew Jackson, but they could not come together on anything else.

"The Great Pacifier", the "Sage from Ashland", "The Great Compromiser" was a true Statesman to America. His service from the War of 1812 - a 'warhawk' in those days - to the Compromise of 1850 increased the power of congress, introduced the ‘American System’. The American System meant internal improvements of roads and canals to bolster the economy. It was simply a time when big government was feared, and the other side did not believe the Federal government to have this power.

Politically his greatest achievements were the The Missouri Compromise of 1820 and the Compromise of 1850. His ability to bring people together in a country were division ran deep is of his greatest attribute. Admitting Missouri as a slave stage and Maine as a free state maintained the balance of power in Congress and held for thirty years.

His years as a congressman and senator were shared with Daniel Webster and John C. Calhoun, the "Great Triumvirate". This period is a fascinating period in America. There was a lot that went on and I think the more important things happened outside of the Executive Branch. Clay should have been President if, for one, his success as a Statesman. I compare him to John Quincy Adams. His best chance looked like 1844 where he was nominated unanimously for Whig. The Democrats finagled James Polk for their nomination, the country wanted Texas. Once Clay - and Van Buren - separately denounced annexing Texas, it became their demise. The Van Buren ticket probably cost Clay in NY where the election was lost. Though he tried again in 1848, Zachary Taylor was too popular. And who cares about a man with no previous civil service?

Henry Clay is intertwined in some of America's greatest historical events and was viewed that way. He also endured the hardships of life like everyone back then. He and Lucretia lost a number of children and grandchildren. I think the hardest one was his namesake son who died in the Battle of Buena Vista in the Mexican-American War - a war which Clay feared would happen if Texas was annexed.

Clay died just after the Compromise of 1850, believing he saved the Union. Whatever I thought of this man before, I leave with respect to his lifelong goal to save the union. Clay held a piece of wood from Washington's casket before the Senate had to be very strong image of persuasion for compromise.

August 16, 2023 - The Revolutionary

America is not only different or its founding, but also for a revolution that took place under law and order. Most revolutions transform to anarchy until a power fills the vacuum, such as the case of the French Revolution during the same time. It was Boston where the American Revolution started - more than 10 years before 1776. Samuel Adams is most responsible for both the revolution and its law and order. He organized the Committees of Correspondence to protest Stamp Act, Coercive Acts, etc. through the 1760s. He termed ‘The Boston Massacre’ after seven men were shot by General Gage's troops. He helped organize the Boston Tea Party, though details of his involvement are unknown. Samuel Adams, James Otis and John Hancock put the courage in the people to resist Governor Hutchison, King George III and their ridiculous tyranny.

Adams truly covered his tracks and stayed low key, which is why we no detailed information from him. He had the intelligence to architect a revolution but not the vision to see the history made. John Adams was afraid all the history would go to the Virginians when James Otis had been calling for resistance in the 1760s. This new book by Stacy Shiff tells it all.

August 7, 2023 - St. Augustine

For six years I dug into people's lawns in Thomas County, GA to figure out turf issues. I learned a lot about St. Augustine, but most importantly that this grass is a high maintenance grass. The house we bought is one of the few in town with St. Augustine. I was not excited. Today, I do all the things to this lawn that I advised people to do in Thomasville. It is an aggravation to manage it, and it only looks this good in July and August.

My St. Augustine tips:

1. Cut it high
2. Water very deep and very infrequent
3. No post-emergent herbicides
4. Be ready for Brown Patch, Take-All Root Rot and Chinch Bugs

August 4, 2023 - 1st Day of 1st Grade

July 3, 2023 - Atlanta Airport

We stayed at the Renaissance Hotel by the airport for the first time. There were alot of planes to see. A thunderstorm came in that night. I could not help but think about the cockpit voice recorder of Delta Air Lines Flight 191 in August of 1985, “There's lightening in that one.”

June 19, 2023 - Bye Bye Douglas

The last family connection to Douglas has been severed with Momma and Daddy moving out of the house built in 1998. I stood in the same place on this day that the below photo of us cousins was taken the summer before we moved in. A lot of life happened during these 25 years; but nonetheless, we were spared serious loss and tragedy living in this house.

May 25, 2023

“History is what people are trying to hide from you, not trying to show you. You search for it in the same way you sift through landfill, for evidence of what people want to bury.” - Hillary Mantel

May 17, 2023 - Choices

May 14th, 2023 - David Turns 3 on Mother's Day

Here is a sweet mama with her sweet boys. One of them entered his third year on this day.

April 18, 1775 - “The Regulars Are Coming Out!”

The British trampling the rights of colonists started with the Stamp Act of 1765, passed by a legislation in Parliament in which the colonists were not represented. The Stamp Act came a long seven years of the French and Indian War, Great Britain amounted a large debt. They were reversed in 1766 but replaced with the Townshend Acts of 1767, which taxed glass, lead, paper and tea. Then the colonists started to boycott British goods (Importation). This lead to the Coercive Acts being reduced in 1770, except for the tax on tea. The Quartering Act of 1765 began to plague as British Troops moved into Boston and provoking citizens and soldiers. The Boston Massacre occurred on March 5, 1770. The Tea Act of 1773 lowered tax on British tea which followed with Samuel Adams (Sons of Liberty) organizing the Boston Tea Party in December of 1773. British response was the Coercive Acts of 1774 designed to shut down the Boston harbor. At the end of the year, the First Continental Congress met in Philadelphia. At this point, war was inevitable. In April of 1775, the British were trying to destroy munitions in Concord. This is when the Boston Committee of Safety sent Paul Revere and William Dawes to alert the countryside and get Minute Men. The British were also after John Hancock and Samuel Adams. Paul and William went to this parsonage, built by Hancock's grandfather, to alert them.

March 21, 2023 - The West Coast Braves

6U baseball for 2023. Jonathan playing for the Oakland Athletics.

March 1, 2023 - Prophecy of Tyranny under Big Government

“I am not well versed in history, but I will submit to your recollection whether liberty has been destroyed most often by the licentiousness of the people or the tyranny of the rulers. I imagine sir, you will find the balance on the side of tyranny.”

- Patrick Henry at the Constitutional Convention in response to George Washington's claim that anarchy will ensue without the Constitution

1990 - THOWBACK

Raphael was my favorite. This photo from the archives is full proof.

February 27, 2023

“Equality of talents, of education or of wealth can not be produced by human institutions. In the full enjoyment of the gifts of Heaven and the fruits of superior industry, economy, and virtue, every man is equally entitled to protection by law; but when the laws undertake to add to these natural and just advantages artificial distinctions… to make the rich richer and the potent more powerful, the humble members of our society - the farmers, mechanics and laborers - who have neither the time nor the means of securing favors to themselves, have the right to complain of the injustice of their Government. There are no necessary evils in government. Its evil exist only in its abuses.”

- Andrew Jackson's Bank Bill Veto message

February 2, 2023 - Pecan Planting Homecoming

From L - R: Andrew Sawyer, Kevin Tatum (Former Coffee Co 4-H Agent), Ashley Smith (Coffee Co ANR Agent), Spencer Highsmith (Coffee Co Young Farmer's Teacher) and Madison Britt (Coffee Co 4-H Agent)

February 1, 2023 - Geraldine Thompson

The month of February is Heart Month. We celebrate the medical breakthroughs that give life to people born with the world's number one birth defect and most of the world's number one cause of death, heart disease. This month presents ‘love’ with a different meaning. For those born with heart defects, living a short life was your prognosis until around the 1970s. Many pioneer and renegade surgeons across the U.S. worked on the edge of the great medical slogan - ‘first, do no harm’ - to accomplish this great feat.

To Mr. Dan Thompson, of Texas, the cost was more than a child. It all started when eight-year-old Leslie Thompson was diagnosed with a VSD (ventricle septal defect, a hole between the bottom two chambers of the heart). The family visited doctors around the U.S. who only promised an early death. Until she met Dr. Walt Lillehei at University Hospital in Minneapolis. Up until this time, Dr. Lillehei had success with a very dangerous method for operating on complex heart issues called cross-circulation. At this time, no heart-lung machine existed. Dr. Lillehei would cross circulate the blood of his patient with a donor - usually a parent. Knowing their daughter's prognosis, the Thompsons felt this to be Leslie's only chance. Mrs. Geraldine agreed to be the donor for her daughter on October 5, 1954.

Before the surgery began, a terrible mistake occurred. An anesthesiologist overseeing operating rooms dropped by and saw an empty IV bottle. He mistaken it for being full and squeezed it. Air, not solution, was released into the line going into Geraldine's brain. The operation was stopped. Geraldine left the operating room in a coma, and it was clear that she would never be the same again. She dragged her left foot while walking, clinched strongly in her right hand, had terrible hallucinations. Ultimately her mind remained in 1954.

Mr. Dan was told by Dr.Lillehei he must sue to take care of Geraldine. The court case began in 1958 in which the jury found clear Geraldine was not normal. The hospital offered to settle, but Dan hoped for a sympathetic jury. After a deadlock, the jury declared a mistrial. Six months later, a federal judge dismissed the case. They never got their money after all.

Leslie went on to have heart surgery at a government hospital in Maryland where she died in post-operative care. Mrs. Geraldine was later placed in a mental hospital where her mind stayed frozen in 1954. She lived to the end of the century believing her husband had been kidnapped by the government. Nonetheless, her heart remained strong.

A family destroyed not just by loss of life, but also by quality of life. Courageous people like Dan and Geraldine Thompson DO NOT exist in America today. The least we can do is celebrate their lives, their losses and ultimately, their contributions to the greatest medical breakthrough of our lifetime - open heart surgery.

November 7, 2022

“If men were angels, no government would be necessary. If angels were to govern men, no internal or external controls on government would be necessary. “ – James Madison

September 8, 2022 - First Lady of Country Music

"If it's important, sink your teeth in like a bulldog and don't let go." - Tammy Wynette

 August 5, 2022 - Buck Belue

Mark another Bulldog great that myself and Kathryn had the pleasure to meet. Quarterback from the 1980 National Championship Team, Buck Belue, spoke at the annual recreation department fundraiser! My favorite story from his book is being recruited by Coach Bear Bryant at Alabama.

“So, your from Valdosta?… What's this about you wanting to play baseball at Alabama?” - Coach Bryant

“Yes sir, I want to play football and baseball in college” - B. Belue

“Belue, let me tell you something…we've never had a football player play baseball at Alabama and we sure as hell aren't going to start with you.” - Coach Bryant

August 26th 2022 - THROWBACK

Happy Anniversary to Moma and Daddy

July 4, 2022 - A Presbyterian loyalist was a thing unheard of…

“Call this war by whatever name you may, only call it not an American rebellion; it is nothing more or less than a Scotch Irish Presbyterian rebellion.”

- A Hessian captain, 1778

June 19, 2022 - Who Looks Like Me?

When you see this picture, are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Look at how much Kathryn looks like me! Wow!

Oh, there's David too.

May 5, 2022 - A Gator in the Family

Here is my beautiful cousin Sarah Sawyer at her graduation from the University of Florida! I promise, this is no joke! I am wearing blue; I am in Gainesville; and I did take my picture on top of the Gator logo in the basketball arena. It's okay, I'm coming back to Georgia soon. Either way, I am very proud of Sarah. Her degree is Industrial Engineering and headed to work in Boston, MA!

December 20, 2021 - Edwards Sapien 3 Heart Valve Approved

I read a news article today that a new heart valve has been approved by the FDA to replace in pulmonary position. Interestingly, the implantation of this heart valve DOES NOT require open-chest surgery. This is the greatest news for children born with pulmonary atresia, pulmonary stenosis, Tetrollogy of Fallot, etc. Instead of their ribs being “cracked open” multiple times throughout their life, this low-invasive technique accomplishes the placement of a brand new valve without the knife. It's not even called surgery, only a procedure. What a breakthrough for cardiac science!

And, I have a another secret for you:

I WAS ONE OF THEIR TEST SUBJECTS…

December 19, 2021 - Andrew LIVE on Wolf Country 97.5FM 'Home Grown Howlin'

From 10:00 to 11:00, Andrew is LIVE with Scott Morrison to promote his new record, 'Storytellin'! This is Andrew's second appearance with Scott this month. A big thanks to WUFF Country for promoting local, home grown music. This hour will feature ONLY Andrew's music! Andrew will talk about the inspiration from songs off the record and other little known facts about their production.

November 19, 2021 - Selling CDs

I dropped by Douglas on the way home to see Mr. Danny Maley at his new music store, O'Malley Instruments. He has supported us since “Four Letter Word” music video allowing us to film the last scene in the restaurant (with people in there.) Not to mention half of our graduating classes worked for Danny at Danny's Pizza during our high school years.

November 15, 2021 - STORYTELLIN' Makes 2nd Album by Andrew

After 17 music videos and one industry-produced record, Andrew now has another country music album! This is the second studio record for Andrew recorded at Studio D in Moultrie, GA and produced by Gary DiBenedetto. Following the release of A New Tradition in Southern Sound in 2014, the music videos did not stop. With five new singles, Andrew and Gary went in the studio to add 6 more tracks.

Previous singles include "Don't You Know" (2016), "I'll Get Over You" (2017), "Jim Beam Me Up" (2019), "Tennessee" (2020) and "Bobble" (2021). There is one previous single that was re-recorded for this record. "Set'em Up Joe" was the third music video filmed in 2009 starring Todd Vickers and Megan Coogle. "I want to re-record one of the old ones on each project I do from here on out." says Andrew. "South Georgia Pine" was re-recorded for the first album.

New songs on the record include "If The Lord Be Willin'", "Charlotte", "Workin' Man" and "Dear Santa". The musical performance on this record is a step up from the first. Led by fiddle, Storytellin' takes you back to the 80s and 90s country music. Pedal steel. Fiddle. Chickin' pickin' electric guitar. Mastered by Steven Cummins in Murfreesboro, TN, there is a story for everyone on this new record.

Now available on ITunes, Apple Music, Amazon Music, Spotify and many more!

August 13, 2021 - David Greene

I never thought in a million years I would meet Georgia Bulldog quarterback David Greene! He was the guest speaker at the annual recreation department fundraiser. David played on at least one, if not two National Championship teams that NEVER won the title. He was Coach Richt's first QB and mine and Kathryn's favorite.

It was interesting because the young people in attendance didn't know him. And David was younger than the older people. That left few people talking to him at the front. So, David and I talked for probably 15 minutes. I asked him about certain plays that I remembered from his days. I also told him about Uncle Joel and me attending 21 GA-FL games in a row. I then told David how well I remember when Terrance dropping the pass where we were driving to score the go-ahead TD against Florida in '02. When David spoke to the audience, he actually said, “I think this upcoming team can win the National Championship.” (And they did.)

The best thing about David is how down to earth he is. I found out from the recreation director the conversation to ask David about coming down:

“David, I really need to get this fundraiser up a notch. I need to get a good speaker." - Spook

“Yeah, Spook, I would love to help you get somebody.” - D. Greene

“No, I want you.” - Spook

David did not let the recreation department pay him. Instead, he gave them a donation. Truly a humble guy.

June 12, 2021 - BOBBLE Music Video

If there is any song to out-compete "South Georgia Pine" this would be the song! A surprise indeed. While working on Andrew's second album, Andrew met with his Sawyer family in Seminole County. Talking with his cousin Randy, Andrew remembered a song Uncle Norman (brother of Roy Sawyer, Andrew's grandfather) wrote years ago. "Randy sang me the hook for the chorus. I went back home and pulled out the song. I polished up some extra verses Uncle Norman wrote. I added a verse about him painting the alligator."

Yes that is true! Norman Sawyer once painted the back of an alligator red, white and blue on Spring Creek. The gator was sunbathing one spring morning. Uncle Norman got a paint brush, tied it to a pole and started painting the alligator. You can't make this up!

On June 12th, five generations of the Sawyer family came together to film the great piece written by Uncle Norman. This song produced by Gary DiBenedetto in Studio D is as country as country gets. Jason Roller lays down a sweet fiddle and electric guitar.

The video also brought back together Andrew and video producer Riley Martin. The Thomas County era ended with seven music videos. Bobble makes the 8th video by Riley Martin. Enjoy some summer time fun!

April 12, 2021 - CAN YOU TAKE THIS HEARTACHE OFF ME Music Video

Andrew wrote this song just before his 6th open-heart operation, now more than 10 years ago. Born without a pulmonary valve (pulmonary atresia), Andrew has undergone six operations by age 25 to correct this disorder. By the mid-80s, heart operations were more common. As a matter of fact, the first heart transplant performed in Georgia occurred the year Andrew was born - 1985. However, congenital heart defects were still being researched. One reason for Andrew's many operations was that his first three were conducted in 36 straight hours to place a BTT shunt to re-direct blood around the undeveloped pulmonary valve. The shunt clotted following the first two operations until the surgeon used a shunt size for a 3-month old baby. It worked. Since then, Andrew has in its a place a real heart valve. The only treatment now is to monitor the condition of the valve and replace it when necessary.

"There's no way I can write a song to convey the details of these operations, so I thought I'd just make fun of it. What else can you do?" says Andrew. He dedicated the video to his pediatric cardiologist, Dr. Jane Todd, who passed away in August of 2020. She was the first doctor to see him off the helicopter at Egleston in 1985. She saw Andrew for 21 years. “She was so kind, caring, smart and intuitive. She gave reassurance, not just instruction. She was writing the book as we lived.”

Though the song was written to Dr. Brian Kogon, Andrew already has a newer valve replaced by interventional cardiologist Dr. Vasillus Barbaliaros. A heart valve made by hand from bovine tissue is sewed on to a stent. It is then placed into position with catheters through your femoral arteries. Andrew became the 3rd patient at Emory - and 1 of 52 in the U.S. - for a research heart valve for the FDA to receive more data on its pulmonary position. This less invasive procedure will eliminate many heart operations for children born today with the same condition.

January 6, 2021 - From the diary of Harry Truman

On January 6, 1947, Harry Truman drew comfort in the ghosts of the forgotten presidents during the dark days of the Cold War:

"The floors pop and crack all night long. Anyone with imagination can see old Jim Buchanan walking up and down and worrying about the conditions not of his making. Then there's Van Buren who inherited a terrible mess from his predecessor as did poor old James Madison. Of course Andrew Johnson was the worst mistreated of any of them. But they all walk up and down the halls of this place and moan about what they should have done and didn't. So - you see. I've only named a few. The ones who had Boswells and New England historians are too busy trying to control heaven and hell to come back here. So the tortured souls who were and are misrepresented in history are the ones who come back. It's a hell of a place."

November 4, 2020

“Always vote principal. Though you may vote alone, you can cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.” - John Quincy Adams

August 2020 - Robert Lawrence

A great inspiration for the love of music, Director Robert Lawrence, passed away from COVID. A former member of the U.S. Army, Mr. Lawrence taught middle school band at West Coffee Middle School in Douglas. Andrew and many friends were raised under the direction of Mr. Lawrence. This picture was taken in 1999 when Andrew was in 8th grade with their one of many Superior trophies.

This was given to Mr. Lawrence by that same 8th grade class with a famous quote from him:

July 4, 2020 - The Lion of Liberty

A great lawyer and orator, the first Governor of Virginia, Patrick Henry was the first cry for independence in outside of Boston. From Virginia, he was not of the elite, Tidewater, Aristocrats like Washington and Jefferson. His father was Scottish and his mother Anglican. He was, however, the ultimate defender of the farmers and frontiersmen. Henry's fervor was also fueled by religious discrimination in during the Great Awakening of 1740s and 1750s. Many Scots-Irish were Presbyterians, but slowly gained favor with Baptists who led this Awakening. Henry also led the movement to remove “established religion” from government. This issue was forced by Scots-Irish and “dissenting” mountain communities which was a factor in the First Amendment. 

Henry's idea of freedom was a man and his land, free to roam, hunt and fish. All issues were handled at the business end of a musket. Even Georgia Washington thought Henry's ideas would equal to anarchy. Patrick Henry led the Anti-Federalist against the ratification of the Constitution - mostly based on its lack of fundamental human rights. He argued against James Madison (it's own father) and earned great respect of his defense of the common man against the ultimate partnership between the elite and the government. Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, James Monroe and Edmond Randolph (who later flipped sides) are the reason the Bill of Rights were added to the Constitution.

Other notable Anti-Federalists are:

Samuel Adams

George Mason

Richard Henry Lee

Robert Yates

James Monroe

George Clinton

Melancton Smith

Arthur Fenner

James Winthrop

Luther Martin

James & Mercy Warren

June 3, 2020 - Slaves of Bankers

“Banking was conceived in iniquity and was born in sin. The bankers own the earth. Take it away from them, but leave them the power to create money, and with the flick of the pen they will create enough deposits to buy it back again. However, take it away from them, and all the great fortunes like mine will disappear and they ought to disappear, for this would be a happier and better world to live in. But, if you wish to remain the slaves of bankers and pay the cost of your own slavery, let them continue to create money.” 

Sir Josiah Stamp, Director of the Bank of England (appointed 1928)

May 11, 2020 - Mama's Boy

Jonathan is definitely Mama's boy. Kathryn and Jonathan pictured with David (somehow not yet a human being just a non-living FETUS) inside her belly.

May 9, 2020 - TENNESSEE Music Video

A fitting music video for Mother's Day weekend. A singer writes a letter to his mom before leaving for Tennessee to chase a dream in country music. The song takes an all too familar spin as the singer stops by the grave of Hank Williams along the way. Tennessee is the 15th music video from Runaway Cotton Records. The video has three main features: A trip to Hank William's grave, a 1971 GMC pick up truck and "Lazy Len" Robinson's voice on radio.

Andrew says, “I knew I could not ask Riley (video producer) to go to Alabama. It's just too far. I had to give a pecan presentation at a national meeting in Louisiana. I took my wife and we came back through Montgomery. I had a stabilizer for my phone, so we took it out there and filmed the shots at Hank's grave. The shots looks great for amateur. The storm in the background played into the video so well. We stayed in Montgomery for the weekend to see all of Hank's stuff.”

The video also features a 1971 GMC pickup truck, owned by Andrew's father-in-law. Andrew shifts with three speed on the column as he drives in downtown Eastman, through the graveyard and a few country roads in Dodge County, GA. "I love his truck. We actually took pictures of me on this truck a few years ago for some promotion material. This truck was perfect for the video as we wanted to take people back in time."

Perhaps the greatest surprise is hearing Len Robinson of WPAX and WTUF of Thomasville, GA on the radio. "Lazy Len" has been generous to Andrew over the years allowing him radio time for his South Georgia Pine Ag Update and to play his latest songs. "I remember like yesterday the first night I moved to Thomasville. I found 106.3 on the radio station and fell in love with the station as they played traditional country music. Everyone at work told me about "Lazy Len" and how he built that station. A few years later, he called me and asked if I would like to do a radio program for my farmers. I was elated to meet him. It means alot for me to have him on this song."

Easter 1988 - THROWBACK

Here is me with Grandaddy at my childhood home at Quail Hollow in Douglas. The four-wheeler in the background is a 1987 Suzuki, which Daddy would drive Momma, me, Mark and Jennie through woods of the “power lines” (also) in the background. (This is where the line from the chorus in “South Georgia Pine” came from). That four-wheeler still works and is at my house today which takes me, Kathryn, Jonathan and David on four-wheeler rides underneath the shade of many Dodge County pine trees.

April 27, 2020 - Talkin' Song I Don't Want to get the Virus Blues

While waiting on the final touches for the "Tennessee" music video debut, I recorded a new song while in quarantine. Co-writer and colleague, Dr. Glen Harris of UGA Extension offered me the hook to this song.

April 2, 2021 - Checking Casebearer Traps

Here is Jonathan in a ‘Stuart’ pecan orchard checking for Pecan Nut Casebearer moths. We don't recommend spraying for them, so why check the traps? Jonathan just likes bugs.

March 26, 2020 - TENNESSEE Released as New Single

Written when Andrew was in college, inspired by the greatest country singer of all time, produced with the purest sound of country music, Tennessee is released as the first single from Andrew Sawyer for 2020. This song is a sweet ballad of a man leaving home carrying only a note from his mother and a guitar. He stops in Montgomery, Alabama to pay respect to the one who defined country music. Producer Gary DiBennedetto is the mastermind behind the sound and tone heard in this song. Gary composed the most gentle ballad you will ever hear from a fiddle echoed with a ghostly steel guitar as Andrew looks on Hank's grave.

"I love this song for a few reasons. One, of course, is the story and it being about Hank. As a child, I was taught that his name was not Hank Williams 'Senior' but just Hank Williams. He is the REAL Hank Williams. This song means alot because I wrote the original song in 2009 while in college. I was immature in writing songs but new the chorus to this song was good. Everyone who heard it loved it. As I got better at writing, I re-wrote the verses to tell a more complete story. Originally it had 3 verses. But the chorus is still the same. I've written worse songs since this, and that is why I love it so much."

To listen to the song, click the media player at the bottom of Andrew's website.

February 14, 2020 - Andrew Plants Pecans for Legendary UGA Coach Vince Dooley

Vince Dooley, 1980 National Championship winning head coach for the Georgia Bulldogs, is now on the list of Georgia's pecan producers with the help of Andrew. While working as Area Pecan Agent for Southeast Georgia, Andrew was needed to help deliver and plant pecan trees for Coach Dooley and his son-in-law Desry. The Georgia Pecan Grower's Association Director Samantha McLeod made contact with Coach Dooley, an avid gardener since retiring from coaching, about planting a pecan tree. Former UGA Coach said he would love to plant one if she would bring him one. That is where Andrew came in.

Slated to pick up the trees from Clough Nursery in Blackshear, Andrew brought with him the patented, Excel cultivar discovered on the Clough farm years ago. A seedling with a large nut and good quality, it has remarkable resistance to scab - the dreaded disease of pecans. Thus making it a suitable cultivar for Coach and Desry.

Members of the GPGA helped dig holes and prep trees. Andrew showed everyone how the roots should be pruned and trees planted. Then Coach Dooley took the opportunity to chop some roots himself and prune back the remaining stalk. The day ended with Mrs. Barbara Dooley fixing chili for the tree planters followed by Coach giving a tour of his UGA memorabilia.

When asked about the experience, Andrew commented about an award Coach Dooley received from the Florida Gators representing his coaching in the rivalry, “I was taught early that beating Florida was the most important thing Georgia could do each season - even greater than winning a National Championship. I have not missed a GA-FL game in Jacksonville sine 1997. I acknowledged this award and told him the same thing and said, 'Coach, your record there was real good.' And he replied, 'Well, I lost many games there as well.' He was being humble, but he took the GA-FL game serious and was successful in that rivalry. I appreciated the respect they showed him by giving him this plaque in 2003.”

November 7, 2019 - JIM BEAM ME UP Music Video Released

The 14th music video released from Runaway Cotton Records, Jim Beam Me Up becomes a big hit on facebook. Filmed in Barwick, GA, the video stars Ashleigh Childs and JT Wynn as well as Billiards Bar N Grill's infamous, "One Beer Bob" Coleman. The setting was perfect for a traditional band shot featuring five additional players almost all wearing cowboy hats.

With 103 shares and 6,000 facebook views, fans say it is the best work on a music video. Director Riley Martin captures all the emotions while portraying the story of the song. "He knocked it out of the park on this one. If I do one thing well, it is to stand back and let Riley work his magic. He has a vision of what he wants. From my perspective, I'm fortunate to work with somebody who knows what I want, and what they want, and put it all together. It's incredible how much we think alike."(Andrew)

September 2019 - JIM BEAM ME UP Released as New Single

After 2 years behind the scenes, Andrew releases a brand new song titled 'Jim Beam Me Up' to social media and country radio. The song was produced by Gary DiBenedetto at Studio D in Moultrie, GA. In this new song, Andrew tells the story of someone caught up in their own comical dream, waking up to find out the girl he was with was way too young. He can't tell if his friend Jim (Beam) helped him or fooled him.

The song is classic country led by the fiddle. It carries the original sound of country music in the early 90s. Described as fun and upbeat, Jim Beam Me Up may be the best song and record released from Andrew.

It is available on iTunes, CD Baby and many other music outlets. Take a listen here:

Jim Beam Me Up

Andrew credits both a former colleague and former 4-Her for inspiration for the song. As a salesman for a pest control company in Nashville, TN, Andrew came up with the name of the song and pitched it to David Butler. Butler called back and said, "I have the hook of your new song, 'Jim Beam me up one more time, I got a fist full of dollars and I'm going to let it ride." That hook stuck with Andrew, and he drafted the song. But it wasn't until he moved to Thomas County, Georgia where the song would be complete.

One day, Andrew took out ole Jim Beam and started singing it. His colleague Robin Nelson said, "I'm not eavesdropping on your song, but I have to tell you a story about Hope (Robin's daughter) at the state horse show." The story was so amusing to Andrew that he re-wrote the last verse and made the song into a hit.

June 2019 - April Witkowski

April Witkowski graciously designed the CD cover and pages for Andrew's 2014 album A New Tradition In Southern Sound. April, her three children, and her husband Peter live in Virginia where Peter serves as pastor of Amissville Baptist Church. In May, April was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer following a CT scan to identify pain in her back.

April has been seen by oncologists at Mayo Clinic in Minnesota where she is undergoing hormonal treatment under the direction of a research study. If the hormonal treatment does not fight the cancer, she will being chemotherapy.

It is certainly a challenging time for their family. Please keep them in your prayers. If you would like to read Peter's blog for updates, visit witkowskiblog.com.

May 1, 2019 - Southeast Georgia Area Pecan Agent

Andrew joins the UGA Pecan Team as the new Area Pecan Agent for Southeast District. This position a partnership between University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and the Georgia Pecan Commission. Andrew serves both county agents and growers in Southeast Georgia. His territory stretches from Washington, Jefferson counties north to the Florida line south. It includes everything from the Ocmulgee River to the east coast. Pecan acreage has grown in the southeast for the past 5 - 10 years, and Hurricane Michael's devastation will likely see a shift in pecan varieties in Georgia when replanting new trees.

Andrew previously served as County Extension Coordinator in Wilcox County from 2017-2019 and County Ag Agent in Thomas County from 2011 - 2017. His work in pecans includes Asian Ambrosia Beetles and Pecan Leaf Phylloxera. His programming has focused on young trees, particularly pruning.

Below Andrew is pictured with UGA Pecan Horticulturalist Dr. Lenny Wells:

March 2018 - South Georgia Pine Ag Update Radio Program

A brand new tab added to the website includes each week's radio agriculture program from Andrew, the County Agent. Working as an agriculture consultant with UGA Extension, Andrew's radio show became popular while he served in Thomas County, Georgia. Since moving to the upper coastal plain, Andrew's radio program continues on the stations listed below:

• Wolf Country WUFF. 97.5FM Eastman - Throughout week
• Hot Country WWKM, 91.3FM Rochelle – Throughout week
• Your Country WDXQ, 96.7FM Cochran – Throughout week
• Solid Gospel WULS, 103.7FM Douglas – Monday thru Friday at 6:50am
• WPAX, 103.7FM / 1240AM Thomasville – Saturday at 7:50am
• Classic Country WTUF, 106.3FM Thomasville

May 9th, 2017 - LITTLE BLACK DRESS MUSIC VIDEO DEBUT

The 13th music video from Runaway Cotton Records since 2008. It was a great experience to bring this song to life. Filmed in Boston, GA, Andrew says, "I hear more about this song than any other song from the record. It has to be the saddest, heart-breaking song on there. I spent so much time crafting this song - so much that I get to where I don't even play it or sing it much anymore. It's amazing how many people like it. I always thought it would be too sad to film, but having the kids makes a difference. The kids did great - Callie, Cara, Jack and David. I'm glad the parents let them do it. Riley did a fantastic job on the video. I'm glad he brought this one to the table."

March 2017 - "Every Story Has A Song"

College friend from ABAC, Christy Layfield, - and owner of Thomasville Magazine - features Andrew in the 2017 Spring issue! The article presents the story of how Andrew transitioned from performance music into songwriting, his love for country music, and music videos filmed in Thomas County, GA. Visit local business in Thomasville to pick up a copy or find the story on their website.