Let me just say this: I love coffee.

And I love trying new coffee shops. Atlanta is full of them, but as unique as each one is, they essentially are all sort of the same… with their beautiful and unique hand-written menus, music from artists you’ve never heard of, cozy couches and an assortment of coffee flavors. And yes, I buy into it.

So this week, my job assignment brought me back to Moultrie, Georgia.

I got to explore this part of the state a little bit more. This being my second trip here, I came back with more treasures. This time instead of football notes from Rush Propst, it came in the form of my favorite liquid goodness: coffee.

But it wasn’t any ole trendy coffee shop.

“Beans and Strings” read the sign above me. “What?” I thought to myself. What kind of name is that for a coffee shop? Is this even a coffee shop? I must’ve gone to the wrong place.

I walked in, greeted by a woman standing behind the counter. I looked around. There were all the usual suspects: couches, tables, high school girls gossiping about high school boys, and then the opposite, adults reading the paper.

Oh, and then there were guitars. You know, the usual.

I became extremely intrigued. I placed my order and took a walk around. There were burlap curtains, farm style tables, large leather couches. In the middle of the place was a stage and a chair.

I truly thought I was in Nashville, but it felt more authentic. More real.

You see, “Beans and Strings” isn’t really a coffee shop… well hold on: it is a “music school with a full service espresso bar.”

TRUTH: We are living in a world where artistic outlets are fading. In recent years the funding to support the arts programs in schools around Georgia and nationwide has dropped.   

According to the Georgia Budget and Policy Institute, approximately 42 percent of the districts in Georgia are minimizing or cutting out their music and arts programs.

Listen, I’m no artist. I can barely color inside the lines. But I appreciate the diversity that art brings to a community. You might think that you don’t, but I will assure you, art caters to every environment you’re in. You just don’t realize it.

Here in Atlanta, I use the Belt Line every day. And every day I’m enamored by the culture it brings to the city. And I often think to myself: “who has the creative mindset to bring all this together?”

And even as I sit in a coffee shop, right now back in Atlanta with a tulip shaped design on the foam of my latte, I think: “who does this?”

Art is everywhere but the support to maintain it in local communities is disappearing.

In my world, I live and breathe sports, but for a moment in Moultrie I was taken into another dimension where I was faced with the reality that places like “Beans and Strings” are to be valued.  

So here’s the thing- creative people are getting more creative. That’s what “Beans and Strings” is doing by creating an atmosphere that supports artistic development in the community.

It is a Moultrie-original establishment.

They offer guitar lessons, music classes and camps. Many big name country artists were developed right here in Georgia (Nashville, who?). Oh and by the way, according to tasteofcountry.com, specifically South Georgia dominates. Jason Aldean, and Luke Bryan are just two household names of artists who grew up in South Georgia. Oh hey…

And it’s places like “Beans and Strings” that cater to the creative ones and offer an outlet for artistic growth.

As someone whose first dream was to be a country singer in Nashville, I am seriously impressed by this treasure.

“Beans and Strings” literally rocks.

The environment is distinctive. It’s unique. It’s creative. It’s tailored to give the innovative students a thriving and welcoming atmosphere that allows them to be comfortable pursuing their passion.

So what does this have to do with football?

Nothing.

But as a little boy stood next to me, guitar in hand, I asked him what his shirt said.

“Packers vs. Hoover” he said, barely able to annunciate his “Rs.” And on the back it read: “we got this.”

Then I was reminded: yes, this is Colquitt County, the land of football.

But with a little bit of culture and flavor.

And I personally liked the hazelnut latte with almond milk.

Thanks for more memories, Moultrie! We’ll see you next week for an epic matchup between the Colquitt County Packers and the Valdosta Wildcats. We’re broadcasting the game LIVE at 7:00 PM only on GPB and GPB.org. Download the FREE app (GPB sports) to keep up with us and get scores from around the state. Let me just say this: I love coffee.