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September 11, 2007 - The Georgia Mountain Research and Education Center recently welcomed area kindergarten kids to their spacious 415 acre facility. An estimated 600 children from Union, Towns, and Fannin Counties spent quality time in the fresh air of the center's apple orchards. Friendly faces, exciting activities, and beautiful scenery made the field trip to GMREC extra special.

Johnny Appleseed, the main attraction, delights youngsters every year as he suddenly appears out of the apple trees. Excited faces stare at the bare-footed man with a pot on his head and a Bible in his hand. Little kids listen in amazement as Mr. Appleseed tells about planting seeds all over America and the benefits of using a pot for a hat.

Picking apples, fun games, and wagon rides keep everyone busy while learning all kinds of things about apples. How are apples planted? How are they pollinated by the bees? What foods are made out of apples? By the time these kids head for home they can answer these questions and more. The yearly apple field trip to GMREC is proof that learning can be really fun.

Eddie Herring has been playing the character of Johnny Appleseed for eleven years. Herring fits into the role so well that even the adults start to believe.