Hannah Jones, high school junior from Gordon County, has been chosen as one of three national spokespeople for the 4-H Tech Changemakers initiative.

The 4-H Tech Changemakers program empowers 4-H teens to teach digital skills to adults to help bridge the digital divide and create economic opportunities. Jones will play a key role in creating awareness for the program’s mission and increasing support for its efforts.

Teen leaders in the program, known as Tech Changemakers, facilitate hands-on workshops for adults with a focus on workforce-related technology. These short courses and events provide practical solutions to increase digital skills and knowledge while creating a connection between generations.

Jones has been a Tech Changemaker in Gordon County since Georgia began participating in the grant in 2018. During the most recent grant cycle, she helped her county reach over 440 adult participants. The 2021-22 statewide cohort surpassed previous record impact numbers by reaching 5,488 adults during the program year, working cooperatively to conduct needs-driven educational programming.

As a national ambassador, Jones will represent National 4-H and Georgia 4-H through multi-platform media engagement, including an upcoming radio tour with RFD-TV. This year-long appointment will allow her to share with widespread audiences and embody the core values of what Tech Changemakers represent.

“Hannah is a gifted young woman with an extraordinary capacity to turn great ideas into tremendous impact,” said Kyra Wharton, National 4-H Council Specialist for the Ambassador program. “She is an exceptional communicator who has created meaningful opportunities as a 4-H Tech Changemaker. I look forward to watching her shine as a National Ambassador.”

Jones is a member of the Georgia 4-H State Board of Directors and was elected by her peers as the Northwest District representative. She has been an active 4-H’er since fifth grade and has earned Master 4-H’er status as a state winner in the Workforce Preparation and Career Development project.

“Hannah has been a leader in our county for years and now she helps train youth at state and regional conferences,” said Allie Griner, 4-H Agent in Gordon County. “She is passionate about Tech Changemakers.”

Beyond 4-H, Jones is involved with the Student Government Association at Gordon County High School and plays varsity tennis.

Jones is the third national Tech Changemakers ambassador chosen from Georgia. Jenna Dekich from Catoosa County served during the 2022 grant cycle and Emily Momberg from Catoosa County served in the 2021 grant cycle.

Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships, and community awareness. As the largest youth leadership organization in the state, 4-H reaches more than 225,000 people annually through UGA Extension offices and 4-H facilities.

For more information about Georgia 4-H, contact your local University of Georgia County Extension Office or visit www.georgia4h.org.

The State 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl contest brought teams from across Georgia together on January 28 for a spirited match in which buzzers were hot and stakes were high. The senior team from Morgan County took home first place. Team members Jennifer Brown, Kimberly Brown, Jamie Nelson, and Natalie Ross became the newest Master 4-H’ers in the Georgia 4-H program.

Horse Quiz Bowl is one of dozens of agriculturally based programs that Georgia 4-H offers to youth with the goal of providing educational experiences that equip participants for their future as citizens and stewards. Contestants prepare by studying industry standard handbooks on equine health, history, management, and care. Participating 4-H’ers gain a practical understanding of equine science and principles of horse management applicable to enhancing horse ownership or other equine related activities.

The contest takes place in a fast-paced quiz bowl style that positions teams in brackets with double elimination. Fourteen junior teams and five senior teams competed at the State Contest in Madison, GA. Junior teams are made up of youth from 4^th grade to 8^th grade and senior teams are 9^th through 12^th grade 4-H’ers; the winners of senior-level state competitions become Master 4-H’ers.

The first-place junior team from Oglethorpe County included Haleigh Baker, Dosie Blount, Abby Gabriel, Annalee Tillman. They were coached by Raven Cooper, Oglethorpe County 4-H Volunteer. The Morgan County senior team was coached by Lucy Ray, Morgan County Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent and Michala Bryant, Morgan County Agriculture & Natural Resources Program Assistant.

The equine industry has a $2.5 billion impact on Georgia’s economy in an average year. The Horse Quiz Bowl program connects students with leading veterinarians and industry specialists as they prepare to compete. These impactful relationships facilitate the successful future of this important part of Georgia agriculture. Participants and their parents gain access to valuable information that can improve their equine operations.

“4-H Horse Quiz Bowl is one of many events offered by our Animal Science Department that allows youth to increase their knowledge of the equine industry,” said Kate Whiting, Georgia 4-H Animal Science Specialist for Equine and Poultry. “Programs like Quiz Bowl enable youth to be a part of a team that builds life skills such as problem solving, critical thinking and decision making through species specific topics. Knowledge and skills gained in this event provide long term benefits for youth in Georgia.”

Other winners in the contest include second place senior team from Coweta County with team members Claire Lummus, Gabriela Luna, Avery Pruett, Josie Roberson, and Elena Williams; third place senior team from Oconee County with team members Danica Heeter, Molly Smith, Julia Thomas, and McCall Woodruff; second place junior team from Houston County with team members Emma Grace Beecher, Haylee Coleman, Olivia King, Emeline Vorisek, and Claire Walter; and third place junior team from Elbert County with team members Bethany Burden, Ayden Evans, Natalie Evans, and Jalyn White.

Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships and community awareness. As the largest youth leadership organization in the state, 4-H reaches more than 225,000 people annually through UGA Extension offices and 4-H facilities.

For more information about how to get involved with Horse Quiz Bowl and Georgia 4-H, contact your locaUniversity of Georgia County Extension Office or visit www.georgia4h.org.

 

Percy Hunter Stone, Georgia’s first Black 4-H state leader in the era of segregation, was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame on Oct. 7, 2022, in Washington, D.C. Stone led the organization formerly known as the Negro 4-H Club. He was recognized for his unwavering dedication to creating equal opportunities for all 4-H’ers.

Stone is credited with the establishment of Dublin 4-H Center, opened as the first state center for Black 4-H’ers in the U.S. in 1957. The center was recently named to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service.

Born in Virginia in 1893, Stone earned an undergraduate degree from Hampton Institute, now Hampton University, before moving to Georgia in 1919 to begin his career as a Cooperative Extension agent in Clarke County. Four years later, he was transferred to Savannah to assume the role of state leader of the Negro 4-H Club.

Upon his arrival in Savannah, Stone began working to remove barriers preventing Black students from participating in 4-H. He strengthened all facets of 4-H programming by incorporating more organization to the club’s framework, including expanded leadership training for members and greater incentives for competing in judging, exhibits, project production and record books.

As membership steadily increased, Stone and his state staff decided to consolidate the girls’ and boys’ programs. The first State Federation for Negro 4-H Club Boys and Girls was established in August 1933 at Georgia State Industrial College, now Savannah State University. An equal number of boys and girls were elected to fill the officer positions.

Stone is credited with nurturing the support of the Savannah business community for 4-H, believing that “the community is the basis of club organization.” Mills Bee Lane Jr., a young Savannah banker, began sponsoring the Negro 4-H Calf Clubs in 1936 by financing 26 steers for participants. Other businesses followed suit and opportunities for Black 4-H’ers continued to improve.

Camping became Stone’s next priority. Black Extension agents dreamed of a centrally located 4-H facility that would be controlled by the Cooperative Extension Service, similar to Camp Wilkins, Camp Wahsega and Camp Fulton, which were available to white 4-H members. In 1939, he assisted with the acquisition of property in Laurens County to begin construction of the Dublin 4-H Center.

World War II and its aftermath slowed the construction of the new facility, but Stone persisted with his initiatives and by 1954 there were 50,000 Black 4-H members in Georgia.

After 37 years of service, Stone retired in 1956 and moved to Washington, D.C. to serve in the Federal Extension Service of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. He returned to Georgia in 1957 for the opening and dedication of the Dublin 4-H Center. Thanks to the work of Stone and other Black Extension agents, the center served Black 4-H’ers and their families until it closed in 1968 after the integration of Georgia 4-H programs.

Stone changed the course of history for Black youth in Georgia by creating opportunities for them to develop and belong as 4-H’ers. “It was only 65 years ago that Dublin 4-H Center was dedicated,” said Fred Harrison, retired director of Extension and dean emeritus of Fort Valley State University. “The 4-H program in Georgia was segregated, we had two separate camps … the reason we can confidently say today that the Extension programs in Georgia are combined is because people like Percy Hunter Stone worked hard and did not quit.”

The history of Dublin 4-H Center and Stone will be commemorated with permanent signage installed at the entrance to the Emery Thomas Auditorium. Replicas have been installed in Sutton Hall at Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, Georgia.

“We are committed to making sure this history is remembered,” said Arch Smith, retired 4-H state leader, who nominated Stone for the National 4-H Hall of Fame. “The 4-H’ers of tomorrow will have the opportunity to learn about the work that was done by those who came before them.”

Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships and community awareness. As the largest youth leadership organization in the state, 4-H reaches more than 225,000 people annually through UGA Cooperative Extension offices and 4-H facilities.

For more information about Georgia 4-H, contact your local UGA Extension office or visit georgia4h.org.

Lexi Pritchard, a 12th grade 4-H’er from Oconee County, won first place individual at the National Poultry Judging Contest in Louisville, Kentucky, held Nov. 15-16 as part of the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference.

Pritchard scored 1350 points out of a possible 1500 and received top honors as an individual competitor. She has been competing as a poultry judger with Oconee County since 2018. Poultry judging is one of the most popular contests in Georgia 4-H, with 560 students participating this year.

Participants judge both live chickens and ready-to-cook market poultry, identify parts of birds already prepared for market, and evaluate eggs for their quality and readiness for sale. Following the evaluation of a live production class, participants are asked to justify their placing decisions through oral reasoning.

Students learn and utilize national poultry and egg production standards to prepare for the contest and employ the standards in decision-making situations that call for critical evaluation. Beyond the contest, 4-H’ers apply the skills they learn as poultry consumers in grocery stores and restaurants.

Pritchard also received first place in the ready-to-cook section of the contest.

Georgia 4-H sent a full delegation to the National Poultry and Egg Conference. Winta Ykeallo from Spalding County placed third in the Turkey BBQ contest. Grant Shuman from Bryan County placed fourth in the Chicken BBQ contest, and Aubrianna Stewart from Bryan County placed fourth in the Egg Preparation contest.

Turkey BBQ, Chicken BBQ and Egg Preparation are cooking competitions in which participants prepare dishes using the respective contest ingredient. Each dish must meet a set of requirements that demonstrate kitchen skills and adhere to food safety standards. Recipes must also satisfy healthy eating guidelines.

The Oconee County Poultry Judging team placed seventh overall with additional members Colin Watson, Conner Watson and Blakely Stewart.

“Poultry production is Georgia’s No. 1 industry, and this contest introduces the importance of agriculture to hundreds of students every year,” said Sue Chapman, Georgia 4-H associate state leader. “County Extension offices are continuously creating opportunities for students to become informed poultry consumers and advocates.”

The contest is sponsored and coordinated by the U.S. Poultry & Egg Association, the Poultry Science Association, National 4-H Council, and University of Kentucky Poultry Extension.

Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships, and community awareness. As the largest youth leadership organization in the state, 4-H reaches more than 225,000 people annually through University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offices and 4-H facilities.

Youth involved with the Georgia 4-H Tech Changemakers program are bridging the digital divide and providing digital literacy education to improve workforce readiness skills in adults. The 2021-22 cohort surpassed previous record impact numbers by reaching 5,488 adults during the program year.

Approximately 1.6 million adults in Georgia lack access to a high-speed internet connection. The 4-H Tech Changemakers project uses an adult-youth partnership model to empower teens as teachers of digital literacy in areas lacking broadband Internet access.

High school 4-H’ers, known as Tech Changemakers, work cooperatively with 4-H faculty, staff and adult volunteers to plan, implement and evaluate needs-driven educational programming in their local communities. These programs are designed to help adults adopt and use technology to improve their economic mobility and access opportunities.

Georgia 4-H Tech Changemakers held 91 hands-on classes, workshops, and trainings led by 88 trained 4-H’ers from 15 counties during the 2021-22 grant cycle. The most popular topics included responsible online behavior, email communication, online safety tips and video conference communication.

Of adult participants surveyed after Tech Changemaker events, 95% reported that they gained new technology skills, 96% said the skills they learned would impact their work and life, and 98% felt that the teen leaders were knowledgeable about the topics they taught.

Funding for the 2021-22 4-H Tech Changemakers grant is coordinated by the National 4-H Council and the Microsoft Corporation, with additional support from Land O’Lakes, Tractor Supply and Verizon. The grant has been renewed for its fourth year in Georgia and the 2022-23 grant program is currently underway.

The Georgia 4-H Tech Changemakers program expanded from 15 counties in 2020-21 to 22 counties for 2022-23.

“We are excited to see the impacts this program continues to have within local communities, and I am encouraged by the growing interest for counties to participate in this grant,” said Katie Bowker, the program’s coordinator.

Nationally, 23 land-grant institutions deliver the Tech Changemakers program, reaching 36,718 adult participants during the 2021-22 cycle. These events were facilitated by 325 4-H’ers nationwide.

Catoosa County 4-H Agent Caleb Millican related the story of a participant who, struggling to find a job, was aided through a resume-building workshop.

“Even though there are websites online for resume building, many ask for money or are hard to navigate. Using our resume template, she was able to help make a resume that suited the job she was applying for and even secured an interview for that job,” Millican said.

Tech Changemakers programming has a profound impact on the student leaders in addition to the adult participants. Worth County 4-H Agent Kristen Ford has seen students’ presentation and teaching abilities improve significantly.

“Teaching others about a topic can be nerve-wracking, but this program gives students a chance to practice these skills. Having adults who are excited about youth teaching has helped 4-H’ers gain confidence,” Ford said.

The program facilitates 4-H partnerships with city and county governments, school systems, and community organizations.

“As broadband expands into rural areas, having community members ready to adopt and use these technologies is so important. Our digital-native 4-H Tech Changemakers are creating a path that leads to an overall digital transformation throughout our state,” says Kasey Bozeman, Extension 4-H specialist for science programs.

Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships, and community awareness. As the largest youth leadership organization in the state, 4-H reaches more than 225,000 people annually through University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offices and 4-H facilities.

Georgia 4-H has selected Melanie Biersmith as the new state 4-H leader. Effective Nov. 1, Biersmith is the ninth state leader in the organization’s 118-year history.

The state 4-H leader provides strategic vision in response to the changing needs of Georgia’s youth and works to support diversity and inclusiveness in youth programming.

Georgia 4-H operates under the scope of University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and reaches more than 240,000 youth in a typical program year.

Biersmith most recently served as the associate state 4-H leader for facilities and residential programs for Georgia 4-H, where she managed operations and personnel at all six Georgia 4-H centers, plus coordination of the Georgia 4-H Environmental Education program and summer camp program.

Her career with UGA Extension began in 2003 as the environmental education coordinator on Jekyll Island. She then served as the director of Georgia 4-H at Camp Jekyll and later as the Extension 4-H specialist for science and environmental education until 2018.

Biersmith holds a bachelor’s degree in biology from Georgia College and State University and a master’s degree in science education from the University of Georgia. She resides in Morgan County with her husband, Andy, her daughter, Drew, and her son, Sam.

“It is inspiring to see the potential in every young person,” Biersmith said. “I appreciate the opportunity to watch their development and see how positive youth development experiences guide them on their journey to adulthood.”

In her role as state 4-H leader, Biersmith will also oversee recruitment and development of 4-H faculty and staff, advocate for extramural funding to support faculty scholarship, and champion the success Georgia 4-H facilities.

Her leadership will impact in-school, after-school and non-traditional delivery models facilitated by approximately 120 county Extension agents, 225 educators, program assistants and AmeriCorps members, as well as thousands of volunteers.

The state 4-H leader guides Georgia 4-H towards the vision and mission of helping youth thrive.

“Melanie will ensure the continued success and stability of Georgia 4-H while also providing a transformative vision for the future of Georgia 4-H,” said Laura Perry Johnson, associate dean for Extension with the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships and community awareness. For more information about Georgia 4-H, contact your local UGA county Extension office or visit georgia4h.org.

The University of Georgia 4-H Program is celebrating National 4-H Week and recognizing more than 100 years of excellence in positive youth development October 2-8. Georgia 4-H’ers find their spark and discover belonging as members of the largest youth leadership organization in the state.

“Opportunity4All” is the 2022 National 4-H Week theme. With over 6 million members and 25 million alumni nationally, 4-H programs touch young people from all backgrounds and communities. Georgia 4-H engages 240,000 students in a standard program year, typically in 4^th-12^th grades.

Young people will play a key role in creating a more promising future for families and communities across the world. Georgia 4-H empowers youth to develop leadership skills, life skills, and responsibility with programming based on research from UGA faculty and other land-grant universities nationwide.

Georgia 4-H is rooted in agriculture, originating with the 1905 Newton County Corn Club for Boys. The program now has additional branches in science, technology, healthy living, and civic engagement. Today, 4-H attracts students from all areas of interests and engages youth from the most urban to the most rural areas.

4-H’ers perform community service, conduct research, compile portfolios of their accomplishments, and learn public speaking skills through oral presentations during 4-H Project Achievement.

Additional 4-H programming includes livestock projects, judging teams, ambassador programs, performing arts, safe and healthy cooking, Project S.A.F.E., and countless other opportunities for learning and growth.

4-H summer camp provides life-changing experiences for thousands of Georgia youth every year. The 2022 camping season brought more than 8,000 campers to five 4-H centers that are scattered throughout the state from the mountains to the sea.

“We are able to provide top-tier opportunities to our students because of partnerships with all Extension faculty and staff in all 159 Georgia counties,” said Sue Chapman, Interim Georgia 4-H State Leader. “4-H is giving youth a safe and welcoming place to thrive that will set them on a path to life-long success.”

Georgia 4-H expands horizons for its members and encourages them to be productive citizens in the world around them. National 4-H Week is a collective opportunity to recognize all the ways that 4-H’ers are living out the organizational motto “to make the best better.”

For more information about how to join, volunteer, or support Georgia 4-H, contact your local University of Georgia County Extension Office or visit www.georgia4h.org.

A loggerhead sea turtle named Belle has returned to her natural habitat in the Atlantic Ocean after five years as a resident of Burton 4-H Center on Tybee Island. Equipped with a tracking device attached to her shell to monitor her journey back to the sea, Belle was released on a Tybee Island beach on Sept. 7 with a send-off from the 4-H center staff and volunteers.

Environmental Education staff at the Burton 4-H Center care for sea turtles that do not successfully make their initial voyage to the ocean as hatchlings through a partnership with the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, which grants permits and permission for these stragglers to be raised at the center until they are ready to live in the wild on their own.

Belle was 3 inches long and weighed just a few ounces when she came to Burton in 2017 and she has been an important part of Environmental Education programs for thousands of Georgia youth.

She was about 52 pounds prior to her release and approximately 20 inches in length.

Visitors to Burton 4-H Center learn about the habitat, diet, life cycle and characteristics of sea turtles, thanks to Belle and other turtles who grow up at the center.

“We usually have sea turtles at various life stages as residents of the center, so students and other guests can observe and learn about them at different points in their development,” said Erine-Fay McNaught, Environmental Education program coordinator at Burton 4-H Center. “It is always our goal for these turtles to return to the ocean and live out their days in their natural habitat.”

GulfStream Aerospace Corporation, a supporter of Georgia 4-H programming, donated the funding to purchase, install and monitor the tracking device that will deliver data on Belle’s whereabouts over approximately 18 months. Signals are sent from the whip antenna on the tracker to satellites when she surfaces to breathe long enough for both copper posts on the tracker to clear the water.

The collected data will be used by teachers and environmental educators to demonstrate the habits of sea turtles to their classrooms. Belle’s progress can be tracked at wildlifecomputers.com.

The longevity and effectiveness of the tracker can be impacted by turtle behavior and environmental factors. Choppy water and rainy weather can prevent signals from reaching satellites. The tracker can be damaged or knocked off the turtle by reefs and other obstructions in the water that the turtle might encounter.

“Even with these challenges, we have a great opportunity here to follow Belle and learn more about the behavior of loggerhead sea turtles in the wild,” said Paul Coote, director of Burton 4-H Center. “We would not have been able to have this opportunity without the generous support of Gulfstream. We so appreciate their support of our efforts to engage and educate the youth of Georgia and everyone else following this project virtually.”

The Georgia 4-H Environmental Education program is available from September through May at six Georgia 4-H facilities every year, providing opportunities for high-quality day and overnight educational experiences. The research-based curriculum correlates to the Georgia Standards of Excellence, providing hands-on learning in the context of the real world.

Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships, and community awareness. As the largest youth leadership organization in the state, 4-H reaches more than 225,000 people annually through University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offices and 4-H facilities.

For more information about Georgia 4-H and the Georgia 4-H Environmental Education program, contact your local UGA Extension office or visit georgia4h.org/ee.

The Georgia 4-H program is one of 25 Georgia organizations to receive AmeriCorps funding to support programming across the state.

Organizations in Georgia received $7,260,916 in AmeriCorps funding from the federal agency for 2022-23. With the agency’s unique model, the grants announced will leverage an additional $5 million from the private sector, foundations, and other sources, further increasing the return on the federal investment.

Georgia 4-H received a grant of $496,800, the fourth-largest AmeriCorps State grant awarded in Georgia. Georgia 4-H will have 33 AmeriCorps State members — 13 full-time and 20 half-time — who will serve a 12-month term, from September 2022 through August 2023. Georgia 4-H has received AmeriCorps State grants each year since 2012, as well as receiving AmeriCorps VISTA grants since 2009. A full list of grant awards is available on the Georgia Department of Community Affairs website.

AmeriCorps members will tackle some of the toughest problems in Georgia, including education, economic opportunities, healthy futures, homelessness, people living with disabilities, financial literacy and environmental issues.

“AmeriCorps State members serve in local Extension offices providing positive 4-H youth development programming directly to youth. Their focus is on in-school educational club meetings, preparing youth for Project Achievement, community service projects and volunteer recruitment,” said Jennifer Cantwell, project coordinator for Georgia 4-H.

Members will serve in Barrow, Ben Hill, Bleckley, Bryan, Bulloch, Burke, Candler, Carroll, Cobb, Cook, Dougherty, Evans, Forsyth, Gordon, Hancock, Haralson, Houston, Jackson, Laurens, Morgan, Oconee, Oglethorpe, Paulding, Peach, Putnam, Spalding, Sumter, Tift, Toombs, Upson, Whitfield, and Wilkes counties.

Positions are open for applications in Jackson, Putnam, Forsyth, Paulding, Upson, Bulloch, and Sumter counties. Visit https://georgia4h.org/get-involved/americorps/ for information about how to apply. Open positions are up-to-date as of publication time.

“The AmeriCorps State program helps Georgia 4-H increase programming capacity through an increase in youth served, expansion of educational opportunities and development of higher quality opportunities. AmeriCorps State members are well-suited to provide positive youth development programming as they show great skill and passion for making a difference in the lives of youth,” Cantwell said. “The combination of their strong public-service motivation, training to work with diverse populations and positive attitudes help expand the reach of Georgia 4-H.”

In return for service, members receive a monthly living allowance, and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) is providing nearly $3 million in Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards for the AmeriCorps members funded by these grants. After completing a full term of service, full-time AmeriCorps Members may receive an award of approximately $6,495 that they can use to pay for college or to pay off student loans. Awards vary based on members’ status such as full-time or less than full-time. Many AmeriCorps members have gone on to employment with UGA Extension and 4-H after their service, Cantwell added.

“This is a great opportunity to promote the mission of Georgia 4-H and recruit individuals into a career with Extension. The Georgia 4-H AmeriCorps program truly helps make the best better,” she said.

Every year, 75,000 AmeriCorps members serve through more than 21,000 schools, nonprofits, and community- and faith-based organizations across the country. These citizens have played a critical role in the recovery of communities affected by disasters and helped thousands of first-generation college students access higher education. They also tutor and mentor young people, connect veterans to jobs, care for seniors, reduce crime and revive cities, fight the opioid epidemic and meet other critical needs.

AmeriCorps is a federal agency that engages millions of Americans in service through its AmeriCorps and Senior Corps programs and leads the nation’s volunteering and service efforts. Since the program’s inception in 1994, more than 1 million Americans have served, providing more than 1.5 billion hours of service and earned more than $3.6 billion in education scholarships, more than $1 billion of which has been used to pay back student debt. More information is available at AmeriCorps.gov.

For more information on Georgia 4-H, visit georgia4h.org.

-Maria Lameiras

The Georgia 4-H STEM initiative hosted 152 middle school 4-H’ers on August 20 for “Mission Make-It,” an immersive learning experience at Rock Eagle 4-H focused on agricultural engineering. This annual event took place on August 20 and offered hands-on engineering experience, with a 2022 theme of “Rooted in Agriculture.”

This unique event allows students to learn about the engineering design process and then build functional examples of the concepts they learn. High school 4-H’ers, known as Teen Leaders, guided their younger peers through interactive workshops centered on wheelbarrows and windmills. These two inventions have impacted agricultural operations across the world for centuries.

Small groups work together to build the engineering projects. These groups also foster teamwork, planning, and communication skills. Teen Leaders were chosen to lead through an application process and each of them created activities for an exhibit fair and art show during the event.

“Engineers plan, create, and improve new products and processes daily. During the Mission Make-It event, middle school 4-H youth replicate these same steps during the engineering challenges,” said Kasey Bozeman, 4-H Extension Specialist for STEM Programs. “Older 4-H’ers gain leadership experience through preparation and teaching, and they always learn something new themselves,” Bozeman added.

The full-day experience kicked off with a drone demonstration led by Teen Leaders. This lesson in technology connected classic engineering models with innovative technology being used by Georgia’s farmers. Students learned the operation basics and then tested out their knowledge by flying drones on the Sutton Hall Lawn at Rock Eagle.

Mission Make-It was created to introduce youth to careers in engineering and expose them to the ways that engineering impacts their lives. Jay Moon, County Executive Director of USDA’s County Farm Service in Putnam County, spoke to attendees about farm loans and career possibilities. Moon also brought a calf from his local dairy farm as a special guest for his presentation.

Agriculture and STEM programs are one of three Georgia 4-H focus areas use hands-on activities to develop problem-solving and critical thinking skills in young people. Other 4-H focus areas include Civic Engagement and Healthy Living.

Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships, and community awareness. As the largest youth leadership organization in the state, 4-H reaches more than 225,000 people annually through UGA Extension offices and 4-H facilities.

For more information about Georgia 4-H, contact your local University of Georgia County Extension Office or visit www.georgia4h.org.

-Josie Smith