This week at Rotary we heard the Classification Talk from our own Hannah Beth Hembree, Development Officer for the Salem Pantry. She has been with the Pantry since September of 2021 and has extensive experience not only here but in other non-profit organizations, including museums and historical societies.
Hannah Beth is very fascinating, including her double Southern name. She has an adopted cousin named Hannah, so she goes by Hannah Beth to differentiate between the two. Hannah Beth grew up in Worth County, a county with about 20,000 residents in south Georgia, Worth County. The area relies mostly on agriculture, specifically crops like cotton, corn, and peanuts. It turns out that Sylvester, GA is home to Peter Pan Peanut Butter. She claims to somehow be even more talkative after a drink or two, with a history of breaking into song, so everyone be sure to buy her a round at Dutch Drinks this Friday (see below for more information).
Hannah Beth shared pictures of her early life, even one of her as a baby. She grew up "doing farm things." She played with cousins remembered the smell of tobacco. Around High School she became more involved in the community. She was the president of her school's FFA chapter and served as class president every year but her senior year. As a kid, she was a bit of a rabble rouser, and Has been arrested but never been booked or charged with anything. It helped that the sheriff was her neighbor. Again, everyone should go to Dutch Drinks on Friday so we can get more details.
Hannah Beth attended Abraham Baldwin Agriculture College and graduated with a Rules Studies Degree. Even she is unsure of what that really entails, but every class had a community service aspect. Hannah Beth also created an exhibit for a local museum that is still there. She took a trip to India and ended up in a documentary that she claims to have never seen. However, you can watch it right here!
Please watch this film and give Hannah Beth a full review at Dutch Drinks on Friday.
Hannah Beth wrote her senior thesis about self sufficience in south Georgia during the Great Depression. Her family got their farm through the Farm Act, so her thesis really came from home. She earned her Masters Degree from Shorter University. Thomasville is a great place to visit, and she gave tours in the area (among other jobs). She learned about food insecurity after the death of a friend who volunteered at a local food pantry. Eventually Hannah Beth landed at the Salem Pantry. As the organizations Development Officer, she has helped grow the revenue stream from $400,000 to 1.6 million.
Hannah Beth loves her cats and has worked with her fiance to put together a Cat Cabernet. She likes camping and hiking, enjoys making pottery, and loves to garden. She currently lives in Beverly and is getting married next September.
Dutch Drinks
The Phoenix School's An Evening at the Gables
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