North Georgia Technical College officials, community leaders, members of the Thomas T. and Bernice F. Irvin family and college supporters gathered June 16, 2026, to celebrate the groundbreaking of the new Irvin Agriculture Event Center, a project made possible through a $900,000 gift from the Thomas T. and Bernice F. Irvin Foundation.

The new event center will be located off Tech School Road on North Georgia Technical College's Clarkesville campus and will serve as an important addition to the college's Agriscience Complex. The facility will provide expanded opportunities for agricultural education, student activities, industry partnerships, and community events.

The center honors the legacy of Thomas T. "Tommy" Irvin, who served as Georgia's Commissioner of Agriculture for more than four decades and was widely recognized as a champion for Georgia agriculture and rural communities. The new facility also will serve as a museum of many of the Commissioner's memorabilia while he was 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 representative of the Thomas T. and Bernice F. Irvin 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."

North Georgia Technical College President John Wilkinson said the facility will significantly enhance educational opportunities for students enrolled in agricultural programs.

"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 the college's existing Agriscience Complex and strengthen NGTC's ability to prepare students for careers in agriculture, agribusiness, and related industries.

Construction is began following the groundbreaking ceremony. ♣