Now, the campus is ready to celebrate its centennial.

On Tuesday, Aug. 21, the community is invited to a special kickoff event at the front of campus that will feature several speakers, including Joe West, assistant dean of the UGA Tifton campus, UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Dean Sam Pardue, Tifton Mayor Julie Smith and Tift County Commission Chair Grady Thompson, who will issue proclamations. The event will begin at 4 p.m. with a reception to follow.

Country music artists Keith Anderson and special guest James Otto will perform live in concert on Saturday, Aug. 25, for the University of Georgia Tifton campus Centennial Celebration. The event will be held on the front circle of the UGA Tifton campus, located off Moore Highway.

This is a free, family-friendly event that will begin at 6 p.m. and will also have food vendors.

The intersections at Moore Highway and Rainwater Road and Moore Highway and Davis Road will be closed during the event, and Moore Highway will be closed in front of the UGA Tifton campus.

Parking will be available at the UGA Tifton Campus Conference Center located across the railroad tracks off RDC Road. UGA-Tifton will provide a shuttle service from the conference center to the concert area.

“This is a great moment for our campus,” said West. “To celebrate 100 years in Tifton, we wanted to give back to a community that has been so supportive of the work and research being done at UGA-Tifton. We believe a fun night will be had by all.”

Concertgoers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets.

Anderson’s debut CD, “Three Chord Country and American Rock & Roll,” was certified Gold and garnered two Top 10 hits, “Pickin’ Wildflowers,” and “Every Time I Hear Your Name.”

His second CD led to the biggest hit of his career, “I Still Miss You,” which peaked at No. 2, along with another Top 25 hit, “Sunday Morning in America.”

Otto’s breakthrough hit “Just Got Started Lovin’ You,” was one of the top country singles in 2008.

The concert is the beginning of a months-long celebration, commemorating UGA-Tifton’s 100 years in Tifton and culminating in May 2019.