Soggy topsoil had to be replaced with bags of dry sand for the groundbreaking ceremony on Monday morning (6 May) at the site of the new Georgia Poultry Laboratory in the Gateway Industrial Centre off Highway 365 in northeastern Hall County, reports AccessNorthGA.

The weekend’s steady rainfall paused long enough for Governor Nathan Deal and Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture Gary Black to join poultry industry leaders and elected county and state officials for the ceremonial turning-of-a-shovel.

"I promised several years ago when we were in that drought that I would never complain about it (the rain)," Governor Deal with a huge grin despite the fact that he almost lost one of his shoes in quicksand-like topsoil while walking across the soft terrain.

"This is just another step in shoring up the importance of poultry to our state," Deal said. "It is one of the investments that will stand us in very good stead for a very long time."

Commissioner Gary Black told the audience of nearly 100 huddled shoulder-to-shoulder beneath the canvas canopy, "With this facility we’ll have the best lab networks on the face of this globe."

"Ladies and gentlemen, do not lose sight of the fact that agriculture is a vital part of our future," Mr Black added.

In an unscripted move, longtime former Executive Director of the Georgia Poultry Federation and current President-Emeritus, Abit Massey, was honoured by the Hall County Commission as he was presented with a street sign emblazoned with the words, 'Abit Massey Way'.

County Commission Chairman Dick Mecum said: "I guarantee you that Abit Massey does not realize what is about to take place … but when this very important project (the new lab) was coming together, Hall County had the opportunity to recognize Abit’s significant contribution…by naming the road adjacent to the facility 'Abit Massey Way'."

Construction of the new laboratory on newly named Abit Massey Way is expected to be finished in August 2014.