Turning Fallen Trees into Lasting Support for Georgia Farmer

Donor Spotlight: Georgia Woodturner Thom Suddreth

After Hurricane Helene, woodturner Thom Suddreth of Kennesaw, Georgia, drove to the Dublin area to collect pecan wood from a property where 15 trees had been lost in the storm. What began as a routine materials trip quickly became something more.

“While we initially went just to get some pecan wood, seeing all the storm damage in the area left a profound impression on us,” Thom shared.

Inspired to give back, Thom and his wife, Cheryl, created the Helene series, a collection of handcrafted, live-edge pecan bowls made from trees damaged beyond agricultural use. Each signed and numbered piece is sold at art shows across the state, with a portion of proceeds donated to the Weathered But Strong: Hurricane Relief Fund.

This spring, Thom donated the proceeds to support ongoing recovery efforts. Donations to the Weathered But Strong Fund continue to support long-term recovery efforts for farmers, future disaster relief initiatives, and critical programs focused on farmer mental health.

While the initial $1.7 million raised through the Weathered But Strong campaign has been fully distributed to those impacted by Hurricane Helene, ongoing contributions allow us to extend support beyond financial recovery, investing in mental health resources, training, and resilience tools that help farmers weather more than just the storm.

Support the fund at https://www.supportgeorgiafarmers.org/donate-now.

Explore Thom’s work at https://www.georgiawoodturner.com/.

Learn more about the Weathered But Strong Fund https://www.supportgeorgiafarmers.org.

About Georgia Foundation for Agriculture:

The Georgia Foundation for Agriculture is a 501(c)(3) organization that prepares the next generation of Georgia leaders for success in agriculture and also supports programs that address the challenges facing agriculture and works to preserve the future of farming. Donations to the Weathered But Strong: Hurricane Relief Fund go to the Georgia Foundation for Agriculture and are tax-deductible under IRS 170(b)(A)(VI). Learn more at GAFoundationAg.org. GFA is a registered charity under the Georgia Secretary of State (Georgia Registered Charity Number: CH015635; EIN: 47-2035360).