On Earth Day 2025, Albany State University hosted the AgriTech & AI Innovation Expo—powered by lead sponsors Georgia AIM and Sowega Rising—bringing together visionaries, educators, and entrepreneurs to explore the future of agriculture, AI, and workforce development. At the heart of it all was the Georgia AIM Mobile Studio, a traveling innovation hub co-powered by RICE, the University of Georgia, Kitt Labs, and Technologists of Color, delivering hands-on tech experiences to rural communities across the state.
This milestone event was more than a conference—it was a movement, powered by bold leadership and strategic collaboration thanks to the Georgia AIM Project 3 Team.
Clinton Vicks: Curating Connections, Powering Progress
Leading the charge was Clinton Vicks, Community Engagement Specialist on the Georgia AIM team and a proud native of Albany, Georgia. Clinton is also the owner of The Vicks Estates, Farm, & Fishery, a community-rooted enterprise dedicated to sustainable agriculture and economic development in Southwest Georgia. His deep ties to the region and personal investment in its future made him uniquely positioned to bring this event to life.
From coordinating a powerhouse lineup of speakers and panelists to ensuring a meaningful experience for students and stakeholders, Clinton’s connections and hospitality no doubt played a critical role in the success of the Expo. His leadership reflected RICE’s commitment to delivering uncommon access—and underscored how engagement and exposure can shape the future of Black entrepreneurship in agriculture and beyond.
Powering Progress: The Georgia AIM Team
Behind the scenes, a powerhouse team made this activation possible. The Georgia AIM team, supported through the EDA and grounded in RICE’s values of innovation and community, includes:
- Quia Cunningham, Project Director, EDA
- Sherard Polite, Project Manager, EDA
- Armelia Cartier, Director of Community Engagement, EDA
- Bianca Frails, Community Engagement Specialist
- Jasmine Griggs, Project Manager, EDA
- Lois Atadika, Project Coordinator, EDA
- Breanna O’Neal, Project Coordinator, EDA
- Freda Hendley, Vice President of Marketing & Communications, EDA
Together with Clinton, the team brought the Georgia AIM Mobile Studio to southwest Georgia—cultivating collaboration, capturing impactful moments, and reinforcing RICE’s role as a convener in Georgia’s innovation ecosystem. Their collective leadership exemplifies what it looks like to build tech equity from the ground up, rolling from urban underserved neighborhoods to rural communities.
A Day of Innovation on Earth Day
The Expo opened with powerful remarks from Dr. Lawrence Drake, Interim President of Albany State University, followed by Mr. Abdullahi Hashi, Deputy Consul-General and Head of Economic Affairs at the Consulate General of the Netherlands in Atlanta. Mr. Hashi underscored the importance of international collaboration in sustainable agriculture, applauding Georgia AIM’s role in building bridges between innovation, community, and global impact. Keynoting the event was the Co-Director of Georgia-AIM, Donna Ennis, Associate Vice President of Georgia Tech’s Enterprise Innovation Institute.
Throughout the day, attendees experienced a robust lineup of panels and presentations featuring innovators such as Tiffany Terrell of A Better Way Grocers and Alexander Zanders of UFarmX, the Expo was a showcase of what’s possible when innovation is made accessible and inclusive. The expo tackled everything from digital tools for small farms to AI-powered manufacturing and the economic potential of Blockchain—all designed to spark curiosity and catalyze action for students, entrepreneurs, and community members alike.
Among the standout moments were the Albany State University student presentations, including their groundbreaking project, SkyAcres—a visionary approach to helping farmers work smarter and profit more through AI-driven agricultural tools. These emerging innovators not only shared how AI can revolutionize rural farming but also engaged with the Georgia AIM Mobile Studio to see these innovations in action.
Visitors especially enjoyed the Georgia AIM Mobile Studio’s interactive vignettes, which offered immersive storytelling and demonstrations of AI, AgriTech, and smart manufacturing tools. These exhibits, led by trainers from Kitt Labs and Technologists of Color, helped demystify advanced technologies and gave participants—from students to seasoned professionals—a clearer picture of how innovation can be applied to real-world challenges.
Stakeholder Spotlight: Hillery Goodgame of BHUFS
Among the attendees was RICE Stakeholder Dr. Hillery Goodgame, founder of The Blue Heron Urban Farm & Sanctuary (BHUFS). After reading about the Expo in RICE’s weekly newsletter, Hillery made the trip to Albany to explore how emerging technologies could support her mission to grow sustainably and profitably.
Founded in 2020 with the acquisition of a 12-acre, 52-year-old nature conservatory in Georgia, BHUFS has become a beacon of regenerative agriculture and land preservation. In 2024, through the Working Farms Fund, BHUFS expanded to 74 acres of organic farmland in Chattahoochee, GA, now serving as its primary operations site—including food and sheep farming across 86 acres total.
Hillery attended the Expo to learn how AI and innovation could help her manage operations more efficiently—and walked away with more than insights. “Networking with seasoned farmers and technologists gave me real, actionable ideas,” she shared. “But what stood out most was hearing the global perspective from the Netherlands Consulate. It reminded me that farming is a global movement, and Black farmers have a rightful seat at that table.”
Her presence at the Expo was a powerful example of how RICE Stakeholders are leveraging opportunities to scale, connect, and lead in industries where they have historically been underrepresented.
Learn More & Get Involved
The success of the AgriTech & AI Innovation Expo shows what’s possible when strategic vision meets grassroots activation. To learn more about the Georgia AIM team’s work and how you can get involved in advancing emerging technologies across Georgia, visit www.GeorgiaAIM.org.
