Bird dogs to blueberries

Courtesy of City of Waynesboro

Travel writers got a taste of Burke County at an outdoor exhibition sponsored by Classic South Travel Association of the Georgia Department of Economic Development tourism division. The event, which was held at Enterprise Mills in Augusta, attracted writers from across the country and gave local tourism representatives a chance to showcase their communities. Burke County was represented by Waynesboro City Councilman Dick Byne and Chamber of Commerce director Ashley Roberts, below, and Waynesboro Downtown Development Director Andrea Stein, above, with a little help from "Girl" - a 4-month-old English Setter who won the affections of more than a few writers. The group focused on the history of field trials in the community, Harold Ray's induction into the Field Trial Hall of Fame, agriculture and local growers/ producers of products including Byne blueberry products and Abrams BBQ sauce. Other communities in the CSRA exhibited their arts and crafts, pottery, food products, professional bass boats (for this week's tournament held in Augusta) and other tourism attractions. The emphasis of this year's marketplace was the Georgia Made-Georgia Grown program, which is part of the state's new Creative Economies Initiative. For more information go to: www.georgia.org/ Creative+Economies.htm