by Christine Hong

a business profile written by Christine Hong

Whether it’s soy, organic, added calcium or with Omega 3, most milk brands try to sell the rich and creamy quality of their product. Instead, their additives alter the milk to taste sweet and flavored.

So, what really makes milk great? How do you know you’re getting exactly what you want and expect? Where is it being produced? These questions swirl in consumers’ minds as they choose products for their family. Luckily, Sparkman’s Cream Valley milk takes the guesswork out of choosing. For the past forty-five years across Georgia, Florida and now South Carolina, their customers know exactly what they are getting. Labeled clearly, “No Artificial Hormones. All Jersey Cows.”

In the city of Moultrie, GA Ross Sparkman created his company, Sparkman’s Cream Valley, in 1967. His infamous product has been approved by milk aficionados, labeling it “heavenly.” Today, both the milk and the response remain the same. Now, that’s a classic product. When I first tasted Sparkman’s Cream Valley 2%, I was instantly transported to my school yard cafeteria in San Diego, CA.. Our pint sized whole milk was a private, unknown local brand and was unlike any other school milk I had tasted. It had a medium consistency full of indiscernible flavor, neither creamy nor sweet. The aftertaste was so milky I just knew cows had to be lined up in the cafeteria kitchen. Sparkman’s Cream Valley milk is exactly that, milk that tastes like it just came from the farm.

Ross Sparkman’s two sons Ricky and Terry spurred the growth of the dairy farm in the past two and a half decades. Terry and Ricky attribute the quality and success of the milk to their ‘All Jersey’ cows and the proprietary supplemental feed they are fed. Without disclosing all the secrets of this successful local dairy farm, it is safe to report this much. All Jersey cows are slightly smaller and have a medium dark brown hide. They’re known for their milk cream production of 42%. Their popular white and black spotted friends create 38% milk cream. The milking herd receives a proprietary grub of sorghum (a widely cultivated slightly sweet grain feed), millet based silage (grass or green fodder), natural minerals and a citrus pulp base.

Sparkman’s method of pasteurization is the common flash or HTST (Higher Temperature Shorter Time) pasteurization of 168ºF for approximately 20 seconds and rapidly cooled at 33ºF. Their above average 450 milking herd of 900 cows in total deliver 50,000 pounds of milk a week.

If you were to visit Sparkman’s Dairy Farm in Moultrie on any week day, you would meet a steadfast salt-of-the-earth group working seamlessly together. Sparkman’s involvement spans over five generations. The matriarch, Nana, at the spritely age of 74 generously cooks a famous country breakfast and lunch for workers. In between the work day starting at 6am and ending at 4:30pm, Ryan and Dustin, Ricky Sparkman’s two sons, prep and maintain the farm grounds and the parlor for the herd. Matt, Ricky’s other son, checks in at the plant facility while Terry gathers and feeds the cows. Steve Hargrove pours over the sales for the week and assists on the grounds as well. His aunt also coordinates and carries the production as the General Manager. Their farm is truly a family affair.

“At the time we were doing 60 customers and wanted to do another 60 but decided to concentrate back into more local markets,” Steven explains. “Instead of route trucks to bigger end customers, we wanted to focus on catering to those closer to us.”

When you pick up a gallon or half gallon of Sparkman’s Cream Valley milk, there’s a real sense of Georgia pride. A quality assurance that you’re about to drink naturally delicious milk from a farm in Moultrie, GA.

For the listing of the farmers markets and stores which carry Sparkman products, visit http://www.sparkmanscreamvalley.com/

NGL would like to welcome our newest writing intern, Hannah Yu.

Writing offers a glimpse in the human mind and soul and evolves with the writer. In middle school, I wrote in my sticker-decorated journals about tween babble. In high school, I wrote (cringe-worthy) poems and fictional short stories. In college, I started at a community college and worked for a small student newspaper. Now, I have transferred into the University of Georgia.

My hero and muse has been Hunter S. Thompson. With that inspiration, I want to combine creativity and journalism into articles that take Athens and turn the overwhelming events into digestible words.

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Beyond the Battle of the Gridiron

Scented steam billowing from hot grills, hoards of college students cheering and chanting, and the predicted partying that ensues after. That’s right, college football has arrived. Here in Athens we paint the town red…and black.

From miles away the roaring sound of an anxious crowd inside Sanford Stadium can be heard. Each voice is united in their team spirit, yet individual cheers from a different perspective.

As Time Goes By

UGA student Kathleen Webber distinguishes the unique shift from being an underclassmen to an upperclassman. Gradually, she notices a difference in how she tailgates.

As a sophomore, tailgating revolved around the active Greek life on campus. It’s no secret that each organization creates their own traditions on game day throughout the years.

“It was a big deal to go to fraternity and sorority houses and sit in the Greek sections in the stadium,” Webber said.

As she progresses through UGA, her tailgating has slowly begun to revolve around family and friends.

“It’s nicer and a little bit tamer,” she notes. “Most of my friends graduated in 2011 and they want to avoid the rowdy side of tailgating.”

Webber has five years of undergraduate learning under her belt. She has been through many tailgates, numerous wins, and even three UGA dogs! Russ, the current mascot, will bid her adieu as she transitions out of collegiate life this year.

Although each student tailgates differently, the sense of family and camaraderie stays with them even after they leave UGA.

The After Party

The Capital Room, 247 East Washington Street, has the biggest capacity in Athens, according to bartender Adrienne Kitchens. Capital Room attracts a diverse crowd. Among them are young alumni and various campus organizations.

Kitchens has worked at Capital Room for a couple of months and reveals the bar staff’s special meetings before UGA game days, similar to an army preparing for battle.

“They tell you to eat before you come,” she said. “And eat Powerbars.”

Another frequently visited after-game spot is Allgood Lounge located on 256 East Clayton Street . Bartender Ann Pierce lets us in on a little secret. Contrary to what most would think, she actually prefers to work a shift during the crazy game day rush compared to regular nights.

“Customer service is easier [when] there’s so many people and I don’t have to sit one on one,” she said.

“Also, people want to have a good time,” she added.

Allgood draws in an older crowd including young professionals, graduate students and parents.

Local Athens bartender, Justin Powers, remarks that Allgood “stays classier” since they use glassware on game days as opposed to the infamous red solo cups.

The After-After Party

The Grill, located on 171 College Avenue , is open 24 hours.

If tailgating was a party and a night downtown was the after party, The Grille is a place for the after-after party.

Owner Mike Bradshaw has seen it all. He even has a term for some of the late night customers.

“We call it ‘pinballing’ when wasted people bounce off the door,” he said. “We have to police the door.”

The downside of UGA coming out with a loss? You can feel the disappointment downtown when the dawgs don’t perform well.

“Die hard fans care too much and their day is ruined,” Bradshaw said. “All they want to do is go home and not have fun.”

Tradition Strong

Although downtown Athens is affected by the results of the game, some UGA traditions are constant. There is something everyone, from students to alumni to families, can recognize on game day. UGA Grad student Jeff Gardner enjoys people watching. He loves seeing how people interact during game days. His major, as expected, is in sociology.

“People bark at each other,” Gardner observes. “Everyone understands the rituals by observing and mimicking them.”

Athens Local Mike Bodio sits in Mad Hatter, located 400 E. Clayton St, and drinks a beer while talking about game day traditions.

“Walking to the stadium 40 minutes before the game in a mass crowd is a tradition,” Bodio states proudly.

Another tradition is the ringing of the chapel bell when UGA wins the game. Though always recognized, some people have mixed feelings about it.

“I like to ring that bell regardless of victory.” Bradshaw said. “I take my kids.”

“I would rather them not ring that bell,” Pierce said. “There’s a long line and it rings until 3:30 in the morning.”

No matter if game days are experienced from the perspective of a student, bartender, restaurant owner or a local resident, Saturdays in Athens are about building a Bulldog Nation and having a good time.

“I’m not a football fan…just a UGA football fan,” Bodio testifies.

Situated in the heart of Thomaston, Georgia, just across the square from the courthouse with its chiming clock, and cat-a-corner from the Ritz Theater, Allie David Formal Wear gives middle Georgia a huge selection of formal gowns for the ladies and outfits the men in the best of Tuxedos.

Owners Todd and Wendy Chamblee keep the store well staffed and well stocked, and manager Maria Salter is more than accommodating to the patrons’ needs.

Southern Influence Marketing Group paid them a visit recently, in an effort to get a team of models started in the region. Maria and her staff kept things moving, and allowed us to put the candidates in various gowns, and even allowed us to shoot photos outside.

Upon entering the store, it was blatantly apparent that anyone who needed formal wear need only stop at Allie David! The gowns were gorgeous, and the service phenomenal!

Thank you, Allie David, for helping us get our start in Middle Georgia!

The Southern Influence team highly recommends Allie David for all your formal wear needs!

Allie David is located at 115 West Gordon Street in Thomaston, and can be reached by phone at 706.647.5558 .

They are open Mon – Wed:10:00 am-6:00 pm, Thu:10:00 am-7:00 pm and Fri – Sat:10:00 am-6:00 pm

Check them out on Facebook here.

Here is a preview of our Middle Georgia Model Team, as photographed by Joni Becerra of 3@21 Photography:

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