Facebook
X
Pinterest
Copy Link
“Just know you’re not alone ’cause I’m gonna make this place your home” – Phillip Phillips
That line has always resonated with me. From my earliest memories, that song held a special place in my heart – not only because it comes from one of our own local stars, but because its message aligns so beautifully with what I believe.
I have always had a deep longing to help people feel loved, invited, rooted and connected. Inviting someone into your life is like opening a door, and as I’ve grown older, I’ve come to treasure the beauty of welcoming others in. Pulling up an extra chair at the table, making space, and building relationships is so important to me.
I have no doubt that this longing is what brought me into the real estate industry.
Leesburg, GA – Home to me
Leesburg, Georgia is where my story begins. With many family members in agriculture, I have been able to witness the lifestyle, its demands, and its rewards. Our hum of life has always been tied to the seasons. Agriculture and the outdoors aren’t just my background scenery – they shaped my worldview.
I couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. Even as life has led me into real estate and new industries, I carry my farming roots with me in my ideas of home, community, and service. The lessons learned growing up – hard work, stewardship, and care for the land and people around me continue to guide me every day.
After being away from home for an amazing 4 years in school, I longed to be back in the community that I grew up in after graduation. You don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone as they say, and I realized just how great I had it growing up.
Agriculture and Southwest Georgia
Southwest Georgia is shaped by its land, its seasons, and the people who work it. Agriculture here isn’t just a business; it’s a way of life, a calling, and it helps shape our community – even if it is hard sometimes to get people to realize. Sure, our area is more than just its agricultural environment, but I feel led to highlight at least a little bit of what agriculture means for our community.
Agriculture’s Reach in Our Region & State
- Georgia produced $13.2 billion in agricultural products in 2022 (USDA).
- Southwest Georgia counties lead in commodities like peanuts, cotton, watermelons, and pecans. (Georgia Trend Magazine)
- These counties consistently rank among the top nationally for production, and in 2021, Georgia’s food-and-fiber industries contributed nearly $14.7 billion in economic value.
Even in small towns, the work done on farms has ripple effects that reach state, national, and global markets. While each county’s farm gate value may vary, agriculture is the foundation of our economy, identity, and way of life.
Beyond Crops: Jobs, Identity & Connection
Employment & supply chain: Farms support jobs in processing, transportation, equipment dealerships, supply firms, seed and fertilizer businesses, and downstream industries.
Local economies & tax base: Healthy farms strengthen nearly every part of our local economy – from feed stores and repair shops to banks, insurance agents, restaurants, and boutiques. Strong harvests support local spending and help fund schools, roads, and community projects.
Cultural identity & sense of place: Farming here connects generations. From early mornings in the fields to learning life lessons around the kitchen table, family farms shape the values, resilience, and character of Southwest Georgia.
Resilience & challenges: While local farmers often produce record yields, many face growing financial strain. Costs for seed, fertilizer, fuel, and equipment have soared since the 1980s, yet crop prices remain nearly the same. Many operate at a loss, some are forced to sell or lease land, while others continue with quiet determination and faith, trusting God to guide them through uncertain seasons. Their perseverance keeps this region rooted and thriving – reminding us that agriculture is more than an industry; it’s a calling, a legacy, and the heartbeat of Southwest Georgia.
We owe deep respect and gratitude to the farmers and families who steward the land, take risks with weather and markets, and sustain so much of what we enjoy. Without them, this community simply wouldn’t be the same.
Thank a farmer today.
My Gratitude for Home
My hope is that through these words, you can see the heart behind this community and catch even a small glimpse of it through my eyes.
I am profoundly grateful to be part of Southwest Georgia – to live here, to work here, to grow alongside neighbors, farmers, dreamers, and builders. If you’re searching for a place to call home, or simply want to talk about life here, I’m here for it. Because this place, and all the wonderful towns that make up Southwest Georgia, is worth loving deeply.
Raven Bone – Flying you home
Coldwell Banker Walden and Kirkland Realtor
