The Faces of Quiet Oaks
Second place winner of GHCA "photo in a newspaper" award
Sweet Olive Farm
Kat Howkins co-owns a farm. This farm, though, is not one where the animals are eaten or sold. All the animals at this farm are rescues, and mingle with each other and the many volunteers and visitors that Howkins hosts each day. For months in early 2022, I visited the farm at least once a week to capture the way the community of Winterville, Georgia, grew stronger together with the help of Howkins and the rescues.
"If we could live happy and healthy lives without harming others, why wouldn't we?" -Kat Howkins
A sign by the gate to Sweet Olive Farm Animal Rescue, a nonprofit rescue farm in Winterville, Georgia. Sweet Olive was founded by Kat Howkins and her wife, Susan Pritchett. Kat and Susan rescued dogs in Atlanta, but after owning over eight, they were told they needed a license. So, Kat and Susan moved out to a farmhouse in Winterville to give their dogs a place to roam. While this was happening, a friend asked if they could take in a pig that needed to be rescued. After agreeing, Kat and Susan became the people to take in animals that needed a home. Soon, they realized they needed to register as a nonprofit, and began growing Sweet Olive Farm.
A volunteer cleans out the refrigerator in the barn at Sweet Olive Farm Animal Rescue on March 20, 2022 in Winterville, Georgia. Sweet Olive relies on volunteer work every day of the week to keep the farm running, especially since they can’t afford to hire permanent farmhands. They require $15,000 a month just to keep running, so they make their money through events and fundraising.
Sweet Olive Farm co-founder Kat Howkins lets a mom hold one of the chickens on March 20, 2022 in Winterville, Georgia. The mom brought her husband and three-year-old son to the farm to do a tour before the son’s birthday party there next week. Sweet Olive makes some of its money for feeding the animals by hosting events like birthday parties.
Marianne Harrison, a volunteer at Sweet Olive Farm in Winterville, Georgia, holds a rooster named Keeto on her head on April 3, 2022. Keeto is a rooster who knows his name — he’ll come when you call him and often land on your head. Keeto bonds with the volunteers and visitors alike; there are often smiles when Keeto is around.
Knuckles the Miracle Goat toward Sweet Olive Farm co-founder Kat Howkins on March 20, 2022 in Winterville, Georgia. Knuckles was taken in by Sweet Olive after being attacked by a donkey, and couldn’t get better after months of being nursed back to health. Kat took him in for an MRI, and the vet found he had a spinal injury, and needed immediate surgery, which would cost $4,000. Kat decided the cost was worth Knuckles’ health, and green-lighted the surgery. Now, Knuckles is healthy and happy, despite having some lopsided horns.
Cheyenne Hardy (13) pulls a wheelbarrow of feed while volunteers pet goats at Sweet Olive Farm on March 20, 2022 in Winterville, Georgia. Cheyenne has been coming to volunteer at Sweet Olive since she was 10 years old. Now, she comes every Saturday with her family, including her grandpa, Eddie Mosko. Cheyenne said volunteering is good for her college applications, and Kat keeps her around because she knows so much about what needs to happen on the farm.
Eddie Mosko hugs a pig named Olivia on April 3, 2022 at Sweet Olive Farm in Winterville, Georgia. Mosko has a connection with the pigs, and he can be seen petting them as he walks across the farm. “I’m a pig lover,” Mosko said. “I’m an absolute pig lover. I’ve rescued and adopted nine of my own.”
Kat Howkins hugs Eddie Mosko goodbye on April 3, 2022 at Sweet Olive Farm in Winterville, Georgia. Mosko is Cheyenne’s grandpa, and volunteers every Saturday and Sunday at the farm. Mosko loves pigs, so he loves to volunteer at the farm so he can be around them whenever he can. “Pigs got my heart wrapped around their little hooves,” Mosko said.
Kat Howkins and a visitor feed the llamas and alpacas at Sweet Olive Farm in Winterville, Georgia on April 27, 2022. Kat likes to involve the visitors in the farm life, and the visitor’s toddler was also able to feed the animals. In her position in running for state office, Howkins wants to be able to improve education in Georgia to teach young minds about environmentalism and animals.
Macy wipes her tears while her brother comforts her after giving up her show pig, Elvis Piggsly, at Sweet Olive Farm in Winterville, Georgia on March 20, 2022. Elvis Piggsly started losing 4H competitions, so he was going up for slaughter. Macy didn’t want him to die, so he was rescued by Sweet Olive instead. As Elvis rolled in the mud in his new home, Macy stood watching him, crying. Her brother comforted her with hugs.
Kat Howkins, co-owner of Sweet Olive Farm in Winterville, Georgia, is reflected in her truck mirror as she drives her truck into the farm on April 6, 2022. Howkins hosts volunteers every day, and most new volunteers come on Saturday and Sunday. Without the volunteers, Howkins said, the farm wouldn’t be as successful as it is today.
Kat Howkins, co-owner of Sweet Olive Farm in Winterville, Georgia, prepares to drive her truck into her farm on April 6, 2022. The front license plate on Howkins’ truck reads “TOFU: IT’S WHAT’S FOR DINNER.” Howkins doesn’t eat meat, and through her farm, hopes to teach kids and adults alike that animals are to be related to, and not eaten.
Jamie Sanders carries a dead chicken away from the coop at Sweet Olive Farm in Winterville, Georgia on April 27, 2022. A new chicken coop was constructed at the farm, but since the roof wasn’t on yet, a predator made its way into the chicken coop and killed a few birds. Every animal at Sweet Olive is given the same respect as the humans, so every dead animal is buried.
One of Kat Howkins’ dogs checks up on a pig named Orvillle at Sweet Olive Farm in Winterville, Georgia on April 3, 2022. Orville has skin cancer, so the dog will often lick Orville’s wounds and make sure he’s ok. The animals at Sweet Olive take care of each other just as much as the humans take care of the animals.
Kat Howkins, co-owner of Sweet Olive Farm in Winterville, Georgia, poses for a photo on her farm on April 27, 2022. The volunteers on the farm all talk about how much they love Howkins, and how much the animals mean to them as well. Regarding making bonds with animals, Howkins said: “If we could live happy and healthy lives without harming others, why wouldn’t we?”
Kat Howkins, co-owner of Sweet Olive Farm in Winterville, Georgia, wheels a wagon of feed to another pasture, followed by ducks and chickens, on April 6, 2022. Howkins keeps most animals together instead of separating them by species as a statement about how all humans and animals should coexist. Different animals even become friends with each other, and won’t fight when they follow Howkins like a mother duck.
Redcoats prepare for G-Day
G-Day is the annual scrimmage game that Georgia Football hosts in the spring. Though fans pour into Sanford Stadium to watch the players face off against each other, the Redcoat Band also performs on G-day, and therefore must prepare for this big day. For this G-Day rehearsal on April 12, 2022, the Redcoats broke out into sectionals for the first 30 minutes, where each instrument section practiced with each other before practicing with the whole band for the last 30 minutes. Band members who graduate in the spring and therefore won't play in the fall season may choose to sit out of G-Day, while some, like retiring drum major Abigail McLain, choose to join the marching band in practice one last time.
On assignment for The Red & Black.
Abigail McLain, a retiring drum major for the University of Georgia Redcoats Band, keeps the tempo as the band rehearses for G-Day on April 12, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. McLain didn't conduct as drum major since she is retiring.
Dawson Burnes conducts the mellophone section of the Redcoats Band during a rehearsal prior to G-Day on April 12, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. The band practiced stands tunes and what they will play for halftime during this rehearsal.
The mellophone sections of the University of Georgia Redcoats Band rehearses before G-Day on April 12, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. The band started out in sectionals, then rehearsed as a band to prepare stands tunes and some songs for halftime for G-Day.
Matthew Olson holds his phone to read his music while he plays trumpet on April 12, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. The Redcoats practiced stands tunes and songs for halftime for G-Day.
Brittney Bateman plays mellophone as the University of Georgia Redcoats rehearse for G-Day on April 12, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. The band gathered to rehearse stands tunes, pre-game songs and songs for halftime for G-Day.
Loren Thomas (left) and Courtney Honore (right) practice piccolo before G-Day for the University of Georgia Redcoats on April 12, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. For this G-Day rehearsal, the Redcoats broke out into sectionals for the first 30 minutes, where each instrument section practiced with each other before practicing with the whole band for the last 30 minutes.
Sarah Schluter and the rest of the University of Georgia Redcoat mellophone section practice while lying down on April 12, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. The Redcoats rehearsed before G-Day, and the mellophone section practiced on the ground for a few minutes to practice their air support.
The mellophone and trumpet sections practice with the rest of the University of Georgia Redcoat band before G-Day on April 12, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. The band gathered in a group in front of the drum major to rehearse pre-game songs and stands tunes.
Abigail McLain, a retiring drum major for the University of Georgia Redcoats Band, goes through the motions of conducting the band while it played stands tunes on April 12, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. McLain is retiring as a drum major so she was not conducting the band, but was standing behind the group as they played.
Members of the University of Georgia Redcoats Band dance while rehearsing a stands tune on April 12, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. The Redcoats rehearsed stands tunes and other songs before G-Day.
Drum major Sarah Secrist conducts the University of Georgia Redcoats Band as they rehearse for G-Day on April 12, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. The band practiced some stands tunes and songs to play during halftime of G-Day.
Abigail McLain, a retiring drum major for the University of Georgia Redcoats, relaxes on the practice field after the rehearsal for G-Day on April 12, 2022 in Athens, Georgia. Since McLain is retiring as drum major, she kept tempo in the back of the band while the returning drum major conducted.
Athens Showgirl Cabaret performs at The Soundtrack
Around 50 people gathered in the basement of The Soundtrack in Athens the night of March 18, 2022 to watch drag queens and kings from Athens Showgirl Cabaret perform. Drag queens put on wigs, makeup and heels while drag kings donned facial hair and a variety of clothes to lip-sync for the crowd. Hosts Kellie Divine and Lori Divine interacted with the crowd between numbers, drawing laughs and cheers as they brought guests on stage to dance and drink with them. Athens Showgirl Cabaret, a drag haus founded in 2010, is a group of drag queens and kings who perform throughout Athens and raise money for LGBTQ-related charities.
On assignment for The Red & Black.
Two guests at the Athens Showgirl Cabaret show chat before the show starts in Athens, Georgia on March 18, 2022. Athens Showgirl Cabaret, founded in 2010, is a group of drag queens who perform throughout Athens and raise money for LGBTQ-related charities. (Photo/Julia Walkup)
Drag queen Lori Divine spreads her arms at the beginning of her number at Athens Showgirl Cabaret’s show on March 18, 2022 at The Soundtrack in Athens, Georgia. Lori Divine was one of the hosts of the night, along with Kellie Divine. (Photo/Julia Walkup)
Drag queen Rosie Quartz lip-syncs to “Rainin Fellas” by Todrick Hall at the Athens Showgirl Cabaret show on March 18, 2022 at The Soundtrack in Athens, Georgia. Rosie Quartz, coming from South Carolina, was a guest queen at the drag haus for this show, and brought energy-filled performances. (Photo/Julia Walkup)
Drag king Billy Jean lip-syncs to “Basket Case” by Green Day at the Athens Showgirl Cabaret show on March 18, 2022 at The Soundtrack in Athens, Georgia. Athens Showgirl Cabaret, founded in 2010, is a group of drag queens and kings who perform throughout Athens and raise money for LGBTQ-related charities. (Photo/Julia Walkup)
Drag queen Lori Divine takes tips from the crowd while performing at the Athens Showgirl Cabaret show on March 18, 2022 at The Soundtrack in Athens, Georgia. At a drag show, the way the queens make money is through tips. (Photo/Julia Walkup)
Drag queen Zizi Foxx is silhouetted by the bar lights as she sits on the bar at The Soundtrack in Athens, Georgia, before her performance of “I Kissed a Girl” by Katy Perry at the Athens Showgirl Cabaret show on March 18, 2022. Athens Showgirl Cabaret, founded in 2010, is a group of drag queens and kings who perform throughout Athens and raise money for LGBTQ-related charities. (Photo/Julia Walkup)
Drag queen Zizi Foxx sits on the bar as she lip-syncs “I Kissed a Girl” by Katy Perry at the Athens Showgirl Cabaret show on March 18, 2022 at The Soundtrack in Athens, Georgia. Athens Showgirl Cabaret, founded in 2010, is a group of drag queens and kings who perform throughout Athens and raise money for LGBTQ-related charities. (Photo/Julia Walkup)
Drag king Kai Hudson lifts up a guest on stage at the Athens Showgirl Cabaret show on March 18, 2022 at The Soundtrack in Athens, Georgia. Athens Showgirl Cabaret, founded in 2010, is a group of drag queens and kings who perform throughout Athens and raise money for LGBTQ-related charities. (Photo/Julia Walkup)
Drag queen Kalypso Kamille bends back while lip-syncing to “Heart to Break” by Kim Petras at the Athens Showgirl Cabaret show on March 18, 2022 at The Soundtrack in Athens, Georgia. Kalypso Kamille, one of the newest performers at Athens Showgirl Cabaret, took off their wig and clothes while performing, revealing accessories sporting the nonbinary flag. (Photo/Julia Walkup)
Drag queen Freya Van Damn, out of drag, tips one of the performers at the Athens Showgirl Cabaret show on March 18, 2022 at The Soundtrack in Athens, Georgia. At a drag show, the way the queens make money is through tips. (Photo/Julia Walkup)
Drag Queen Kellie Divine lip-syncs “Easy as Life” at the Athens Showgirl Cabaret show on March 18, 2022 at The Soundtrack in Athens, Georgia. Kellie Divine was one of the founders of Athens Showgirl Cabaret in 2010, and continues to host and perform. (Photo/Julia Walkup)
