Georgia 4-H has named Ambassadors to represent the organization in the program areas of Healthy Living, STEM, Tech, Wildlife, and Pollinators. Sixty-two Ambassadors, representing 42 Georgia counties, were selected through a competitive application process and attended a comprehensive training weekend June 4-5 at Rock Eagle 4-H Center.

Ambassadors are given opportunities to learn and lead within their chosen discipline. Subsequent to their intensive subject training, these high school students will spend the 2022-2023 academic year planning activities to share their knowledge with peers, younger children, and adults. They will make a difference in their communities and represent Georgia 4-H as ambassadors in the field.

Healthy Living ambassadors will learn and share about food and nutrition, food access and security, preparing budget-friendly meals and snacks, and general health and well-being. Pollinator Ambassadors teach about the importance of pollinators and easy conversation efforts, with learning and sharing activities focusing on building awareness about pollinators and taking action to help preserve pollinator habitats. Tech Ambassadors work within their communities to empower others to increase their digital literacy and grow their digital skills.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Ambassadors provide other youth with opportunities to engage in hands-on STEM projects in their home counties and surrounding areas. Wildlife Ambassadors become certified Project WILD Educators as part a national environmental education program coordinated by the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. Their goal is to teach people in their communities about the importance of wildlife conservation throughout Georgia.

The Georgia 4-H Ambassador Program has a rich history of success and impact. The inaugural program launched in 2005 and featured more than 30 youth working in their communities “to make the best better,” in keeping with the 4-H pledge. Each key area is coordinated by specialists on the Georgia 4-H state staff and 4-H personnel from County Extension offices. These adults invest in youth and provide them with applicable and relevant subject knowledge, empowering them to educate others.

“The Georgia 4-H Ambassador Program is unique in that youth get to learn specialized content through an in-depth training experience,” said Kasey Bozeman, Extension 4-H Specialist for Georgia 4-H Science Programs and Ambassador Program Coordinator. “Under the direction of their local 4-H leader, they get to continue to learn through interviews, tours, and research, but they also get to teach others through exhibits, articles, and workshops. I’m always amazed to see their creativity and passion shine,” Bozeman went on to say.

The Healthy Living Ambassadors include Shannon Schlegel from Burke County; Dayleigh Beard, Brailyn Boyd, Khanijah Mitchell, and Markaliyah Mitchell from Calhoun County; Isaiah Farrow from Cobb County; Anna Cook from Cook County; Jacob Bennett from Grady County; Lily Earle from Madison County; Maci Dawson from Mitchell County; Molly Hooker and Ryan Johnson from Pickens County; Carter Hewitt from Stephens County; Megan Miller from Tattnall County; Bethany Samuel from Tift County; Brittney Bryant and Grace Holt from Toombs; Olivia Walker from Union County; Christopher Kuhbander from Ware County; and Lori Bell from Wayne County.

The STEM Ambassadors include Hannah Hunt and Erica McLocklin from Barrow County; Lucy Evans from Bartow County; Lee Jay from Ben Hill County; Madison Hudgins from Bryan County; James Schlegel from Burke County; Aarsheya Gunjal and Venya Gunjal from Cobb County;Kyra Burmeister from Liberty County;  Rae McBride from Oglethorpe County;Micah Newton from Pickens County; Hailey Perez from Pulaski County; Carolyn Thomas from Putnam County; Leila D. Rimes from Tift County; and Bailey Hutchins from Toombs County.

The Tech Ambassadors include Quinn Stoy from Bulloch County; Chanthony Andrews, Jr. from Glynn County; Hannah Jones from Gordon County; Jeremiah Florence from Mitchell County; Kingston Ryals from Toombs County; Mary Laura Tippett from Toombs County; and Tami Gonzalez from Toombs.

The Wildlife Ambassadors include Katy Stinson and Kiwi Waller from Barrow County; Grant Shuman from Bryan County; Catherine Puchala from Bulloch County; Emmaline Cunningham from Burke County; Tony Gray from Burke County; Presley Douglas  from Candler County; Landon Fay from Cherokee County; Connor Watson from Oconee County; Reese Davis from Pickens County; and Addy Winchester from Pulaski County.

The Pollinator Ambassadors include Aubrianna Stewart from Bryan County, Agatha Grimes from Candler County, Lesley Nichols from Fayette County, Zoey Parks from Jasper County, Makayla Nash from Liberty County, Mia Burnett from Mitchell County, Sophia Scott from Pickens County, Esteban Contreras Jr. from Pulaski Couny, Nortrayvious Brown from Terrell County, Emma Barber from Ware County, Landon McDonald from Toombs County.

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 the Ambassador Program and Georgia 4-H, contact your local University of Georgia County Extension Office or visit www.georgia4h.org.

Written by Josie Smith, Georgia 4-H

Georgia 4-H recognized the historical significance of the Dublin 4-H Center on May 14 with a program at the Emery Thomas Auditorium, which was recently named to the National Register of Historic Places by the National Park Service.

The Dublin 4-H Center opened in 1957 and became the first state center for Black 4-H Club members in the United States. Thanks to the dedication of Percy Hunter Stone and other Black Cooperative Extension agents, the center served Black 4-H’ers and their families until it closed in 1968.

The event honored the contributions of Stone and other leaders who worked towards representation and equality for Black 4-H’ers during segregation. Stone was born in Franklin County, Virginia, in 1893 and later received his college degree at Hampton Institute in Virginia. He began his career as a county Extension agent in Clarke County, Georgia, in 1919 and then moved to Savannah in 1923 to become Georgia’s first Negro State 4-H Club leader.

In 1939, Stone assisted with the acquisition of property in Laurens County to begin construction of the Dublin 4-H Center. World War II slowed the construction of the new facility for Black 4-H members, but Stone continued his efforts, and by 1954 there were 50,000 Black 4-H members in Georgia.

Stone retired from Extension 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 dedication of the Dublin 4-H Center. In April, Stone was announced as an inductee to the National 4-H Hall of Fame.

The Emery Thomas Auditorium is the only building that remains at the Dublin 4-H Center. Emery Thomas served as the Laurens County Extension agent and was the first Black alderman to serve on Dublin’s city council. His granddaughter, Tonya Thomas Berry, attended the May 14 event. “I was so thrilled to be a part of this special recognition,” Berry said following the program.

Dorothy Graves, retired University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent, reflected on her experiences at the Dublin 4-H Center.

“As a young 4-H’er growing up in Georgia, coming here to camp was truly the highlight of my summer,” Graves said during her remarks. “Not only did the 4-H motto instill in me the (idea) ‘to make the best better,’ it also extended the rights to help me live out that motto,” she added. Graves commented that 4-H helps young people become citizens who contribute to their communities, just as Stone did during his tenure as a 4-H leader.

Fred Harrison, retired director of Extension and Dean Emeritus for Fort Valley State University (FVSU), discussed the importance of including the history of Dublin 4-H Center in the story of Georgia 4-H. “It was only 65 years ago that this camp was dedicated,” Harrison recalled. “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.”

Harrison also acknowledged the progress that has been made since. “There is much work to be done, but Georgia has led the way, and Georgia has a story to tell,” he said in his closing comments.

The history of Dublin 4-H Center will be commemorated with permanent signage installed at the entrance to the Emery Thomas Auditorium. Replicas of the displays 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, Georgia 4-H state leader and director. “The 4-H’ers of tomorrow will have the opportunity to learn about the work that was done by those who came before them.”

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the nation’s historic places deemed worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.

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 UGA Extension office or visit www.georgia4h.org.

By Josie Smith, Georgia 4-H

The senior team from Burke County won first place at the Georgia 4-H State Dairy Quiz Bowl contest on May 20 at the UGA Animal Dairy Science Complex. Team members Emmaline Cunningham, Tony Gray, Abby Joyner, Susanna Murray, and Holt Sapp were coached by Burke County 4-H Agent Meridith Meckel.

Dairy Quiz Bowl is a fast-paced competition that utilizes buzzers as contestants accurately answer questions related to the dairy industry. The quiz bowl content covers all topics related to dairy production and dairy foods, as well as dairy industry statistics, breed information, and dairy organizations. Confidence, independence, and compassion are life skills that result from participating in 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl.

According to Georgia’s Department of Agriculture, animal agriculture is the largest sector of the agriculture industry and contributes over $5.8 billion to the state economy. University of Georgia Animal Science faculty and industry experts contribute to the curriculum used to train 4-H’ers and help connect youth with pertinent applications of the skills they learn.

Heather Shultz, Georgia 4-H Extension Specialist for Livestock Programs, is grateful for the partnership with UGA. “We would like to extend sincere thanks to Dr. Jillian Bohlen, University of Georgia-Dairy Specialist, and the numerous UGA Animal Dairy Science staff and volunteers that helped facilitate the contest,” Shultz said. “In addition to the fun they have at Dairy Quiz Bowl, students gain critical thinking skills and knowledge of how agriculture in Georgia impacts their lives.”

Burke County 4-H will represent Georgia in November at the North American Invitational 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Contest in Louisville, Kentucky.

Three junior teams and three senior teams participated in the state contest. 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 first-place junior team from Oconee County included Sawyer Mathis, Tyson Mathis, Molly Ann McLean, and Bryson Woodruff.

Additional winners in the contest include second place senior team from Coweta County and third place senior team from Monroe County. The second place junior team was Burke County Team A and the third place junior team was Burke County Team B.

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 Dairy Quiz Bowl and Georgia 4-H, contact your local University of Georgia County Extension Office or visit www.georgia4h.org.

By Josie Smith

Oconee County 4-H captured first place at the Georgia 4-H State Poultry Judging contest held May 6 at the Oglethorpe County Livestock Facility. Team members Blakely Steward, Lexi Pritchard, Connor Watson and Thomas Stewart earned 3,979 of an overall 4,200 points and became the newest Master 4-H’ers in Georgia.

Poultry judging is the largest judging event in the Georgia 4-H program, with 560 students participating across the state this year. Fifty-three 4-H’ers qualified to compete in the state contest, advancing from five area-level contests.

Participants judge both live chickens and market poultry during the event, identifying parts of birds already prepared for market and evaluating eggs for quality and readiness for sale. Following the evaluation of a live production class, participants must justify their placing decisions through oral reasoning.

To prepare for poultry judging contests, students learn standards used in poultry and egg production and marketing and apply those 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.

Oconee County will represent Georgia at the 2022 National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, November 16-17. The students will continue to expand their knowledge of the poultry industry and what it means for Georgia consumers throughout the year.   

Georgia 4-H partners with specialists at the University of Georgia for all its livestock programs. The UGA Department of Poultry Science has a vital and long-standing relationship with 4-H, with poultry science faculty preparing the area-level and state contests, taking care to provide consistent and accurate classes for every 4-H’er.

“Poultry judging reinforces the importance of agriculture to hundreds of students every year,” said Heather Shultz, Georgia 4-H Extension specialist for livestock programs. “Every 4-H’er who participates in poultry judging through their county UGA Cooperative Extension office gains an appreciation for how our poultry supply is produced and how safety and quality are maintained. We appreciate the UGA poultry science department for supporting this important initiative for youth.”

Winning teams in the contest include the second-place team from Ben Hill County with team members Lauren Wixson, Allie Braddy, Amelia Lee and Jay Lee; and the third-place team from Gordon County with team members Breana Manning, Joshua Carr, Sophia Westbrook and Rebekah McElrath. Additional winners include first place high individual Lexi Pritchard from Oconee County, second high individual Lauren Wixson from Ben Hill County, and third high individual Avery Pruett from Coweta County.

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 Poultry Judging and Georgia 4-H, contact your local UGA Extension office or visit georgia4h.org.

Article and Photo by Josie Smith

The senior team from Jackson County earned top honors at the Georgia 4-H State Livestock Judging contest on March 19 at the Georgia FFA-FCCLA Center in Covington. Team members Morgan McDaniel, Bella Chandler, and Jesse Chronic were coached by Dr. Joshua Whitworth and Dr. Jacob Segers.

Livestock Judging equips participants with critical thinking skills as they select the best animals from classes of beef cattle, hogs, and sheep. Contestants prepare by learning the industry standards for each breed and they gain knowledge through research, training sessions, group activities, and hands-on experiences. Problem solving, decision making, and public speaking are other key elements of livestock judging.

The state event incorporates both individual and team competition with opportunities to win in both levels. Seven junior teams and three senior teams participated in the contest . 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.

Jackson County 4-H will represent Georgia at the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest in Louisville, Kentucky this fall.

The first-place junior team from Madison County included Mallory Lee, Maggie Moon, and Olivia Lee.

According to Georgia’s Department of Agriculture, animal agriculture is the largest sector of the agriculture industry and contributes over $5.8 billion to the “farm gate value” of the state. UGA Faculty and industry experts contribute to the curriculum used to train 4-H livestock judgers and help connect youth with pertinent applications of the skills they learn.

Dr. Dylan Davis, Extension Youth Livestock Specialist, recognizes the long-term benefits of this program. “Livestock judging is a great way for students to learn how to confidently make quick decisions and defend them with facts,” Davis said. “Just like any other sport, Livestock Judging opens up a world of opportunities for college funding and career goals if students are passionate and work hard.”

Other winners in the contest include second place senior team from Gordon County with team members Rebekah McElrath, Hunter Petty, Roberto Romero and Kyle Hurd; third place senior team from Madison County with team members Emily Strickland, Audrey Brown, and Matthew Highfill; second place junior team from Franklin County with team members Clifton Certain, Jentsie Cabe, Deacon Cabe, and Hadley Floyd; and third place junior team from Gordon County with team members Lowry Duggin, Matthew Worley, William Parish, and Henry Duggin.  Additional winners include first place high individual senior Morgan McDaniel from Jackson County; second high individual senior Bella Chandler from Jackson County, and third high individual senior Emily Strickland from Madison County. The top junior individual was Mallory Lee from Madison County; second high junior individual went to Maggie Moon from Madison County, and third high junior individual went to Lowry Duggin from Gordon County.

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 Livestock Judging and Georgia 4-H, contact your local University of Georgia County Extension Office or visit www.georgia4h.org.

Catoosa County 4-H’er Jenna Dekich has been selected to serve as a National Tech Changemakers spokesperson on behalf of Georgia 4-H. She will serve as one of nine youth leaders chosen from across the country to further the mission of the Tech Changemakers program. Dekich is a twelfth-grade student at Ringgold High School.

The 4-H Tech Changemakers program places youth at the forefront of increasing digital inclusion in their communities. Involved students act as technology liaisons through collaboration with corporate partners, local elected officials, nonprofits, educators, and businesses.

Young leaders, known as Tech Changemakers, learn about the impact of the digital divide between generations and work to provide adults in underserved populations with practical skills to master relevant technology. The initiative focuses on providing tools to broaden employment opportunities for these adults through expanded access to digital skills training.

Katie Bowker, Georgia 4-H Program Coordinator for Tech Changemakers, works with county programs across the state to facilitate their community efforts. “Dekich’s work as a national spokesperson will shed light on the efforts of our Georgia counties,” Bowker says.

As a face for the program, Dekich will provide leadership and media opportunities throughout the year. She will participate in speaking engagements, social media campaigns, regional storytelling, and act as a liaison with donors. She was recently selected to participate in an interview with RFD-TV and Local News 3 to share her story and promote 4-H Tech Changemakers.

Dekich cites her upbringing in rural Georgia as a major influence on her passion for the Tech Changemaker’s mission. Reflecting on growing up in Catoosa County, Dekich says, “Living in rural Georgia, internet access comes few and far between. I wanted to be a part of a program that helps aid in this problem… which is exactly [the issue] the Tech Changemakers program aims to solve. ”

Her work with the Catoosa County Senior Center was lauded by Catoosa County 4-H agent Caleb Millican. “Our participants constantly rave about Jenna’s kindness, passion, and teaching ability,” Millican says. Dekich was instrumental in the establishment of the senior center’s internet literacy program. The program allows seniors to access the internet and learn how to use programs and services that can aid them in their everyday lives. “Jenna has been instrumental in helping us to transition from one grant to the next by using her previous Tech Changemaker experience to help train our newest members,” Millican goes on to say. Her selection as a National Tech Changemaker spokesperson is a testament to the time and effort she is continuing to put forth to help both the local population and her community at large.

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 as a volunteer with Georgia 4-H, contact your local University of Georgia County Extension Office or visit www.georgia4h.org.

Georgia 4-H is recognizing the vital role adult volunteers play in delivery of the 4-H programming to thousands of youths who benefit from the educational, recreational and community service opportunities the organization provides during National Volunteer Appreciation Week.

A Georgia 4-H SAFE volunteer helps an Emanuel County 4-H’er with his scores during an indoor archery match in Perry, Georgia.

More than 5,000 adult volunteers contribute approximately 156,000 hours of service in Georgia each year. Volunteer Appreciation Week includes a celebration of current 4-H volunteers and an invitation to community members to become new volunteers with Georgia 4-H. Avenues for volunteer service with 4-H include coaching judging teams, leading special interest projects and chaperoning summer camps.

Madison County volunteer Shannon McBride was honored with the Georgia 4-H Salute to Excellence Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer award in 2021. She has spent more than 15 years as a volunteer coach for the Horse Quiz Bowl, Horse Judging and Hippology teams and also serves a judge for county Project Achievement.

“I had never heard of Horse Quiz Bowl before my daughter came home and asked to join the team,” McBride recalled of her first volunteer experience with 4-H. “If you want to see joy on the face of a young person and feel warmth in your own heart, there is no greater reward than being a 4-H volunteer.”

University of Georgia Cooperative Extension provides youth development education and risk management training to each screened volunteer to prepare them to “make the best better” for every 4-H’er. Volunteers serve as coaches, mentors, cheerleaders and friends to the students they serve. Volunteer involvement in 4-H programs allows for more diverse programming to be offered statewide and enables 4-H’ers to have positive interactions with caring adults who are invested in their futures and their success.

Stewart Thigpen, who has volunteered with Bulloch County 4-H since 2016, received the 2021 Georgia 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer of the Year award. He and his wife, Karen Thigpen, are certified archery coaches with the Georgia 4-H Shooting Awareness, Fun and Education (SAFE) program, and they coach the Bulloch County Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging team.

“This organization builds skills like leadership, civic responsibility, public speaking and self-confidence,” Thigpen said. “Volunteering is rewarding because you can immediately see the difference that you are making in the life of a child.”

McBride, Thigpen and numerous other volunteers were recognized at the Volunteer Salute to Excellence award ceremony in December at Rock Eagle 4-H Center. Georgia 4-H values the selfless contributions these individuals make and the lasting impact they have on hundreds of thousands of youths each year.

Festivities throughout this week include social media spotlights, digital recognition and local county initiatives to thank volunteers for their service.

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 as a volunteer with Georgia 4-H, contact your local UGA Extension office or visit georgia4h.org.

Seven Georgia 4-H’ers earned a shot at the 2022 VEX Robotics World Championship after competing at the Georgia VEX IQ Challenge Robotics competition. The Walker County 4-H Robotics Team earned the final Georgia spot at the world championship event this May in Dallas, Texas.

The VEX IQ division of robotics competition involves building and operating a robot that competes in the “Pitching In” challenge. Pitching in requires the robots to earn points by moving or throwing balls in an obstacle course. The challenges incorporate pre-coded movement, joystick driving and team strategy. Teams earn points based on how well their robots move or throw balls within the robotics grid.

Four middle school 4-H’ers and three elementary school 4-H’ers make up the Walker County team known as the “DawgBytes.” Team members include Sam Brown, Mike Hardinger, Gregory Hobbs, Liam Logan, Chyanne Martin, Brendan Matteson and Grant Matteson. These students span six different schools in Walker County. The DawgBytes are guided by adult volunteers who offer support as students lead the charge. Volunteer coaches include Jason Hobbs, Joe Matteson and Wendy Matteson.

Walker County 4-H DawgBytes are a unique team in that they are not school-based. Weekly practices help the team prepare for competition, and students work independently on specific aspects of the design outside of practice. Working together, team members held individual leadership positions including designer, builder, programmer, notebook recorder, tester, driver and leader.

Named for the beloved UGA running back James Cook, “Cook” is the latest robot designed by the DawgBytes. Cook is a push bot design with a slide mechanism to allow the robot to hang.

Previous robots from the season include “Stetson” and “JT,” as the team attempted both flywheel and catapult designs to throw the balls. In addition to physical robots, the Walker County team created an engineering notebook that received a design award earlier in the year.

Casey Hobbs, Walker County 4-H agent, is excited that the DawgBytes are the first Georgia VEX IQ team to qualify for the world championship. “Kids are transformed when they participate in 4-H robotics,” Hobbs reflects. “It opens their eyes to careers in STEM, it validates their intelligence, provides self-confidence, and it empowers them to create. Our goal is to make engineering and robotics accessible to all the youth we serve.” Walker County 4-H plans to expand its robotics program to include a robotics camp and greater coding and building capacity to increase opportunities for students of all ages.

Walker County competed in two regional matches before qualifying for state and then the world championship.

The 2022 VEX Robotics World Championship is presented by Northrop Grumman Foundation, uniting the robotics community to compete and celebrate STEM excellence. Student-led teams ranging from the elementary to university levels will showcase their game strategy, design and teamwork skills to be crowned champions at this world-class global event.

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 240,000 people annually through UGA Cooperative Extension offices and 4-H facilities.

For more information about STEM and robotics in Georgia 4-H, visit georgia4h.org or contact your local Extension office.

By: Josie Smith

Catoosa County 4-H received a $15,000 Digital Education Grant from Spectrum that will support the work of the Georgia 4-H Tech Changemakers program. This grant is part of a multimillion-dollar commitment by Spectrum to provide digital education to communities nationwide.

The 4-H Tech Changemakers program connects 4-H youth with adults to teach essential skills in using technology safely and effectively. Students across Georgia participate in this initiative and provide hands-on learning for adults in areas such as resume building, online shopping safety, phishing awareness and email etiquette.

Funding from the Spectrum grant will enable the 4-H Tech Changemakers to outfit the Catoosa County Senior Center with a technology lab that will be used to equip older adults with comprehensive digital literacy skills. The lab will include computers and other digital equipment, as well as a space for guided learning opportunities.

“Due to the generous funding from the Spectrum Digital Education grant, we can provide new and needed technologies to the Catoosa County Senior Center,” said Johnathan Barrett, executive director of the Georgia 4-H Foundation, which received the grant on behalf of Catoosa County 4-H. “Our 4-H youth are seen as technology experts in this project, teaching the center’s patrons practical digital skills. Being able to replace old, outdated equipment allows the seniors to continue to receive high-quality educational experiences led by our 4-H Tech Changemakers.”

It is the first time Spectrum has awarded a grant of this type in Georgia.

“We applaud the Georgia 4-H Foundation for their broadband education initiatives and for helping us support efforts that promote digital literacy in the Catoosa County and Ringgold communities,” said Rahman Khan, vice president of community impact for Charter Communications Inc., which operates the Spectrum brand of broadband connectivity products. “Through this partnership, the Spectrum Digital Education program is able to bring essential resources to those in need, and we look forward to working with them on this transformative project.”

This cross-generational approach to technology is unique to the Georgia 4-H Tech Changemakers program. Kasey Bozeman, Extension 4-H specialist for STEM initiatives, is excited about the expanded opportunities this grant will provide.

“Making online purchases, paying bills electronically, connecting with family and friends, and accessing new information are some of the many things we do daily with the internet and our devices,” Bozeman said. “Time and time again we’ve seen many people who lack digital literacy skills run into problems because they have weak passwords, fall for phishing attempts, or share false information they’ve found online. Programs like 4-H Tech Changemakers allow digital-native 4-H youth to teach adults valuable knowledge and skills. This intergenerational project allows youth to contribute to their community in a meaningful and much-needed way.”

Charter Communications is a leading broadband connectivity company and cable operator serving more than 32 million customers in 41 states through its Spectrum brand. Over an advanced communications network, the company offers a full range of state-of-the-art residential and business services including Spectrum Internet®, TV, mobile and voice.

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 240,000 people annually through UGA Cooperative Extension offices and 4-H facilities.

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

By: Josie Smith