The Georgia State Capitol turned shades of green on February 9 as it welcomed more than 400 students to 4-H Day at the Capitol. Outstanding 4-H’ers from counties across the state gathered to engage with their legislators, observe leadership in action, and learn about the civic process.

Civic engagement is one of three focus areas that Georgia 4-H provides to youth through in-school programming, after-school activities, project work, and camps. This unique opportunity brings 4-H’ers to Atlanta to experience the civic process in real time. A special partnership with Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation and the Georgia 4-H Foundation makes it possible for hundreds of Georgia 4-H’ers to “learn by doing” with an in-person visit to the Capitol.

Youth began their day with a welcome and orientation at the Georgia Freight Depot. Senator Larry Walker served as the Senate Host for the 4-H delegation and he provided participants with an overview of how bills become laws plus helpful information about what happens at the Capitol each day. Senator Walker is the chairman of the Georgia Senate Agriculture and Consumer Affairs Committee.

County groups spent the remainder of the morning exploring the Capitol building through tours and a scavenger hunt. Numerous 4-H Agents arranged for meetings with senators and representatives from their own districts that allowed 4-H’ers to learn from and ask questions of those who represent them in the Georgia legislature. Georgia’s current slate of elected officials contains many 4-H alumni, 4-H parents, and 4-H supporters who were thrilled to welcome students to the place where government comes to life.

The day concluded with a luncheon that brought students and legislators together for a celebration of Georgia 4-H. Governor Brian Kemp delivered a keynote address and provided 4-H’ers with encouragement and motivation to become the next generation of leaders. Representative Rick Jasperse then acknowledged a group of 4-H honorees that have received state and national recognition for accomplishments throughout the last year. Representative Jasperse served as the House of Representatives Host for the 4-H delegation.

Katie Beth Brewer, Georgia 4-H State President, addressed the crowd to offer thanks to the leaders who dedicate their careers to serving youth. “Although 4-H is an organization by the youth, for the youth, and of the youth, none of our success would be possible without the County 4-H Agents, volunteers, parents, and elected officials who give their time and energy to support us,” Brewer said.

The program also included remarks from Decatur County 4-H’er Corbin Austin and Cobb County 4-H’er Venya Gunjal as they spoke about the impact that 4-H has made on their respective pathways in life. Both of these award-winning students have walked through doors that 4-H has opened for leadership, engagement, and community service.

Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation invests in Georgia 4-H’ers by providing support for transportation, logistics, and lunch during 4-H Day at the Capitol. This event is often the first-ever trip to Atlanta for many of the participants and it makes an indelible mark on those who attend. Students are empowered to become leaders of the future when they are given the opportunity to engage with those who lead in the present.

Georgia 4-H enables youth to become excellent citizens 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 Extension offices and 4-H facilities.

For more information about how to get involved 4-H in your community, contact your local University of Georgia County Extension Office or visit www.georgia4h.org.

Georgia 4-H’ers experienced a day of career exploration and hands-on veterinary demonstrations during 4-H Vet Day at the Tifton Veterinary Diagnostic and Investigational Laboratory (TVDIL) on the University of Georgia Tifton campus on Jan. 26. Students from 10 counties in UGA Cooperative Extension’s Southwest District heard from scientists and veterinarians about career opportunities in animal science.

Laboratory faculty and staff welcomed 4-H’ers in ninth through 12th grades and guided them through a series of workshops and rotations to explore elements of veterinary medicine, including studies of blood, bacteria, DNA, infectious diseases, parasites and pathology, and calving. Participants learned about practical applications for animal science and discovered related career options.

Veterinary medicine is a critical part of Georgia’s agricultural industry and creating a sustainable network of veterinarians who understand the importance of animal health and well-being is essential to the industry’s future. Youth involved with 4-H are exposed to vocational possibilities through programs like 4-H Vet Day and many choose to pursue careers based on these experiences.

This immersive day of learning was made possible through collaboration between the laboratory faculty, the leadership of UGA’s College of Veterinary Medicine, and the Southwest District 4-H staff. Hemant Naikare, director of the TVDIL, and Lee Jones, associate professor of food animal health and management, hosted the 4-H’ers in partnership with Melinda Miller, Southwest District 4-H program development coordinator, and Lindsey Hayes, Decatur County 4-H agent.

The 4-H Vet Day initiative is also supported by Doris Miller, professor and associate director of state government for the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine; Lisa Nolan, dean of the UGA College of Veterinary Medicine; Laura Perry Johnson, associate dean for Extension in the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES), and Nick Place, CAES dean and director.

Dean Nolan said that the event is an excellent opportunity for 4-H’ers who participate — and an essential resource for the future of veterinary medicine. “We are proud to collaborate on such an important venture,” she said. “Many of these students will go on to contribute to the well-being of Georgia’s animal populations as the next generation of animal health professionals and advocates.”

The event was sponsored by a Higher Education Challenge grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute for Food and Agriculture and UGA’s New Approaches grants. The event is also supported by the faculty and staff of the laboratory. Naikare dedicates many hours to writing these grants and planning the annual event, and he hopes to receive additional funding to expand the partnership with 4-H and serve a larger youth audience.

“These workshops serve as a springboard to attract and engage young, inquisitive budding veterinarians, future scientists and entrepreneurs,” Naikare said.

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 4-H in your community, contact your local UGA Extension office or visit georgia4h.org.

The State 4-H Horse Quiz Bowl contest brought teams from across Georgia together on January 29 for a spirited match in which buzzers were hot and stakes were high. Madison County’s senior team took home first place and Alyssa Goldman, Georgia Kane, Clayton Adams, and Elise Parks became the newest Master 4-H’ers in the Georgia 4-H program. The team was coached by Madison County volunteers Shannon McBridge and Sophia Merka.

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 places teams in brackets with double elimination. Fourteen junior teams and nine senior teams competed at the qualifying level, with the top five junior and top five senior teams competing in-person at Rock Eagle. 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 Thomas County included Anna Argo, Paisley Hurst, Kira Jenkins, Dakota Law, and Jenna McBee. They were coached by Cindy Wynn, Thomas County 4-H and Youth Extension Agent, with assistance from scorekeeper Brenda Benton.

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.

Dr. Julia McCann, Extension Animal Scientist for Equine, recognizes the long-term benefits of this program. “Horses always win when their owners are more knowledgeable. The veterinarians that help officiate the contest are very supportive of the students’ and coaches’ efforts,” she says.  “The quest for so much knowledge takes real teamwork, strategy, commitment to excellence, and learning to think fast! Those are handy skills to use in competition and in life.”

Other winners in the contest include second place senior team from Oconee County with team members Emily Coggins, Danica Heeter, Molly Smith, Julia Thomas, and McCall Woodruff; third place senior team from Spalding County with team members Jade Brown, Abbey Deal, Allie Miller, and Nakhia Wolfe; second place junior team from Oglethorpe County with team members Mackenzie Erwin, Abby Gabriel, Camden Huff, and Ava Nimmons; and third place junior team from Cobb County with team members Torie Daniels, Sarah Beth Hembree, Addilyn Henderson, Josy Johnson, and Karma Kilfoyle. The contest includes a test element; the junior test winner was Karma Kilfoyle from Cobb County and the senior test winner was Molly Smith from Oconee 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 Horse Quiz Bowl and Georgia 4-H, contact your local University of Georgia County Extension Office or visit www.georgia4h.org.

Four high school students from Cobb County took home top honors at the 4-H State Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging contest on November 11 at Rock Eagle. Sandhya Rajesh, Kshitij Badve, Haya Fatmi, and Stefan Saboura earned the status of Master 4-H’er with their first-place win at the state level. Alyssa Haag from Oconee County also received Master 4-H’er status as the overall high individual in the contest.

The Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging competitions are made possible by the Georgia Cotton Commission and are part of the Georgia 4-H Healthy Living Program. Participants gain essential critical thinking and public speaking skills and learn the building blocks of consumer economics through decision-making scenarios. Additionally, youth are exposed to the role that cotton plays as an agricultural commodity in Georgia.

The contest includes judging four classes with situations that implore participants to rank choices based on the need of a hypothetical consumer. The 2021 contest included athletic shoes, frozen meals, bicycles, and cell phone plans. Youth are required to present an oral argument that defends their placing of a chosen class.

Each contestant is also required to write and deliver an advertisement that highlights the significant role of cotton in society. Youth are educated on key elements of the importance of cotton and base their presentations on the knowledge they gain.

“Consumer Judging combines all the best parts of 4-H programming into a contest that leaves students with knowledge they can use for their entire lives,” said Dr. Courtney Brown, Extension 4-H Specialist. “I often hear stories of 4-H alumni who utilize skills they learned during this contest to make decisions about college or even when purchasing their own home.”
Prior to the state contest, teams qualified to attend at area contests around the state. The first and second place teams from each area contest are invited attend the state competition, along with a selection of wildcard teams. The state contest is open to Senior 4-H’ers, who are in grades 9-12. Area contests are open to 4-H’ers in grades 5-12.

The first-place team from Cobb County was coached by Brittani Lee, Cobb County 4-H Agent, and Kathleen McElroy, Cobb County 4-H Program Assistant. They will represent Georgia 4-H in the Consumer Decision Making contest at the Western National Roundup in Denver, Colorado next year.
Second place in the team competition went to Robie Lucas, Alyssa Haag, Leah Szczepanski, and Lilly Ann Smith from Oconee County. The third-place team included Lydia Belflower, Lucy Wiegert, and Veronica Lee from Bleckley County.

The second place overall high individual was Robie Lucas from Oconee County and third place went to Sandhya Rajesh from Cobb 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 in a typical year through UGA Extension offices and 4-H facilities.
For more information about how to get involved with 4-H as a student, parent or volunteer, visit www.georgia4h.org or contact your local Extension office.

By Josie Smith

 

The Burton 4-H Center on Tybee Island — an important hub for environmental education and youth development in southeast Georgia — celebrated 75 years of operation on Nov. 1.

The celebration emphasized the impact that Burton 4-H Center has been making on youth in Georgia since 1947. One of six 4-H centers in the state, records indicate that more than 187,000 individuals have participated in environmental education programs at Burton since the programming began 33 years ago. At least 40,000 students have also enjoyed immersive weeks of 4-H camp at the center during that time.

The center is situated on 6 acres next to a tidal creek that is surrounded by marsh, giving visitors and campers at Burton the unique opportunity to experience the salt marsh and beach ecosystems that are a key part of Georgia’s barrier islands. Learners leave the center with an understanding of how their communities impact these ecosystems and vice versa.

“Giving 4-H’ers and K-12 students the opportunity to be immersed in this special place is a real treat and it helps them gain appreciation for Georgia’s habitats while building relationships with their peers,” said Melanie Biersmith, associate 4-H leader for facilities and residential programs.

The 4-H facility on Tybee Island was officially named Burton 4-H Center in 2004 when Bob and Maxine Burton provided support to ensure the center was able to continue operating. Their generous gift to the Georgia 4-H Foundation provided the necessary funding to make vital updates to the facility.

Bob Burton served as a counselor at the camp in the summer of 1968 and Maxine Burton attended the camp as a member of Forsyth County 4-H. At the celebration, Bob Burton recalled fond memories of being a counselor, including eating blueberry pancakes for the first time when a 4-H agent brought so many blueberries to camp that the dining hall staff recruited the counselors to help cook the pancakes.

“When you think about the different parts of Georgia from whence the campers come — the inner cities, the suburbs, the farming districts, the north Georgia mountains and the coastal areas — they all come here under the 4-H umbrella. There is more common bond than differences as they get to know one another and share experiences,” Bob Burton said.

Today, the Burton 4-H Center reaches more than 8,000 students and adults annually through environmental education and summer camp programs.

The Georgia 4-H Environmental Education program provides science learning experiences using the island as a classroom without walls through single-day programming and residential opportunities. Summer camp provides Georgia 4-H’ers with fun and unforgettable five-day adventures.

“The camping experience is a fantastic opportunity for youth from all over Georgia to make new friends, explore the coast and learn things they would otherwise never have access to,” says Paul Coote, director of Burton 4-H Center. “We are so excited to have the opportunity to resume our residential camping programing in summer 2022.”

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 175,000 people annually through University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offices and 4-H facilities.

For more information about the Burton 4-H Center, including information on how to reserve the center for educational opportunities for groups and organizations, visit www.burton4h.org or contact your local Extension office.

Written by Josie Smith

Published on 11/08/21
By Josie Smith

Senior 4-H’er Maggie Payne poses with her first-place winning 650-pound pumpkin at the Union County Extension Office.

 

More than 30 4-H’ers from across Georgia competed in the 2021 Georgia 4-H Pumpkin Growing Contest, with the winning pumpkin weighing in at 650 pounds. The Pumpkin Growing Contest offers students the opportunity to learn and utilize knowledge of agricultural and environmental sciences to produce prize-winning fruit.

The Georgia Fruit and Vegetable Growers Association generously sponsors this important contest that cultivates in young people an appreciation for proper fruit and vegetable growing techniques. In addition to the basics of caring for pumpkins, contestants incorporate mathematical knowledge of space, depth, and irrigation needs for their plants. They also develop problem-solving skills for common agricultural challenges such as insect control.

Magdalena “Maggie” Payne, an 11^th grade 4-H’er from Union County, earned the top honor in the 2021 contest with a 650-pound pumpkin. Second place went to Angelo King-Rallo with a 598-pound pumpkin. King-Rallo is a 9^th grade 4-H’er from Union County. Ava Sharp, a Union County 10^th grade 4-H’er, earned third place with her 529-pound pumpkin. These students received cash prizes and ribbons to recognize their impressive entries.

Union County enjoyed great success in the contest this year. “We are incredibly proud of our 4-H’ers and the way that they have represented Union County,” said Jacob Williams, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Union County. “This season presented unique challenges, as every season does, but they persevered. We hope that next year we will be able to keep building on the success that we have had.” Williams serves as the leader of the Union County Pumpkin Club.

All Georgia 4-H’ers are invited to participate in the Pumpkin Growing Contest and pumpkin weights are verified by local County Extension offices. State winners were celebrated in conjunction with National Pumpkin Day on October 26, 2021.

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 175,000 people annually through UGA Extension offices and 4-H facilities.

For more information about the Georgia 4-H Pumpkin Growing Contest, visit www.georgia4h.org/pumpkin or contact your local Extension office.

 

GEORGIA 4-H YOUTH DEMONSTRATE FORESTRY KNOWLEDGE

Oconee County is 1^st Place Team- (L tob R) Henry Walker, Tree Farm Owner, Coach April McDaniel, Robie Lucas, Lexi Pritchard, Alyssa Haag, Thomas Stewart, Telfair Agricultural Agent Colby Royal, Oconee 4-H Educator Daniel Queen

 

Jacksonville, Ga. (Sept. 25, 2021) – Thirty-four Georgia 4-H’ers participated in the  program year 2022 State Forestry Field Day on Sept. 25 at the Henry Walker Tree Farm in Jacksonville, Georgia.

The Georgia 4-H Forestry program teaches youth to identify up to 70 Georgia tree species, as well as common pests and diseases that impact those trees. The forest field day competition allows youth to test their science-based knowledge, critical thinking skills and skills with specialized forestry tools. Participants can be a part of a county team or compete individually in the state forestry judging contest.

“The Walker Tree Farm was the ideal setting for our state contest. The Walkers led our youth and coaches on a farm tour after the competition concluded. Our 4-H members were able to see real, multiple resource management on a working farm,” said Craven Hudson, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension 4-H specialist. “The setting, the weather and our gracious hosts made for a perfect day.”

The state contest consists of five stations: insect and disease identification, volume estimation, compass and pacing, tree identification and site evaluation. All county teams prepared for the state contest by competing in one of four Area Forestry Field Days held earlier in August and September. Site evaluation is added at the state level and requires youth to consider landowner objectives and make forest management recommendations.

Each county may bring up to 20 senior contestants from ninth through 12th grades. The youth compete individually and as team members. The First Place Senior Team Winners will represent Georgia at the National 4-H Forestry Invitational in August 2022 at the Jackson’s Mill State 4-H Conference Center in Weston, West Virginia.

 

This year’s winners at the State Forestry Field Day are:

 

First place team: Oconee County – Alyssa Haag, Robie Lucas, Lexi Pritchard, Thomas Stewart

 

Second place team: Bulloch County A– Callie Barger, Dorothy Mortimore, Ann Parker, Jackson Thigpen

 

Third place team: Burke County– Emmaline Cunningham, Tony Gray, Abbie Morgan

 

 Senior High Individual: Alyssa Haag, Oconee 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 175,000 people annually through UGA Extension offices and 4-H facilities. For more information, visit georgia4h.org or contact your local Extension office.

 

Source:
Craven Hudson
4-H Extension Specialist
cfhudson@uga.edu

Mitchell 4-H first youth group named to ‘Clean 13’

Davies receives Georgia 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award

Diane Davies, retired University of Georgia Cooperative Extension 4-H specialist and senior public service associate, received the Georgia 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award at the 2021 Georgia 4-H Gala on August 14.

Davies received the award for her “vision, leadership and sustained support of Georgia 4-H.”

“The award was established to recognize individuals who have dedicated time, energy and resources to Georgia 4-H and is considered the highest honor Georgia 4-H can bestow,” said Melanie Biersmith, associate state 4-H leader. “When one considers the contributions of Diane Davies — her many years of outstanding service, the foundation she created, the legacy she developed and the impact her work has had on Georgia 4-H — it’s easy to understand why she is this year’s recipient. Not only is her work a series of considerable achievements, her work for Georgia 4-H actually represents achievements of a lifetime.”

Davies was hired by UGA Extension in 1979 to launch the Georgia 4-H Environmental Education program to serve youth while increasing revenue at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, Georgia. Despite limited funds and time, Davies developed relationships with local schools and youth groups to personally deliver curriculum to more than 2,000 participants in the first year.

More than 1.2 million participants have enjoyed the program — using the outdoors as a classroom without walls to engage K-12 students in experiences that highlight the science, natural resources and natural history of local ecosystems — since its inception. This innovative and award-winning program began with a $300 budget, a six-month timeframe and Davies’ determination.

After years of success, Davies was able to hire additional staff and expand the program to the other Georgia 4-H centers: Camp Jekyll (formerly Jekyll Island 4-H Center) and 4-H Tidelands Center on Jekyll Island, Burton 4-H Center (formerly Tybee Island 4-H Center) on Tybee Island, Wahsega 4-H Center in Dahlonega and Fortson 4-H Center in Hampton. By the mid-1990s, more than 40,000 youth from all over the state were participating in the program each year.

“The importance of having children connect to the natural environment and learn from it all that it has to teach them is so vitally important today in their education,” Davies said. “To be given the chance to start the Georgia 4-H Environmental Education program has been the mission of my life’s work and I am truly honored to be the recipient of the 2021 Georgia 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award. It is certainly the capstone of my professional career.”

After the program was well established, Davies focused on soliciting donations and resources to develop additional educational spaces, including the Rock Eagle 4-H Center Museum of Natural History, Wildlife Ecology Building and Woodruff Aquatic buildings.

Davies remained directly involved in programming until her retirement in 2002, continuing to support the program through philanthropic contributions and service in advisory groups and committees.

“Diane Davies continues to be an advocate for the program she founded and tout its impact to all those with whom she comes in contact. Her work was a strong foundation on which we continue to grow today,” Biersmith added.

In 2013, the Georgia 4-H Environmental Education program celebrated its 1 millionth participant.

In 2019, Georgia 4-H celebrated the program’s 40th anniversary. During that time, the program has served more than a million participants and generated more than $77 million in revenue to support the overall operation of the state’s 4-H centers.

State 4-H Leader Arch Smith states, “Diane Davies’ contributions to 4-H inspired others across America to enhance outdoor learning opportunities. Much of the continued success of the Georgia 4-H facilities is a result of Diane’s efforts to develop the Georgia 4-H Environmental Education program.”

For more information about the Georgia 4-H program, visit Georgia4H.org.

Georgia 4-H announced the 2021-22 State Board of Directors

PUBLISHED ON AUGUST 19, 2021 

ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia 4-H announced the 2021-22 State Board of Directors as part of an in-person statewide event for high school 4-H’ers called “THE Senior Event.”

Nearly 350 eighth- through 12th-grade youth gathered at Rock Eagle 4-H Center in late June to compete in a series of fun and friendly physical and mental challenges, part of the annual Iron Clover Contest, to enjoy some much-needed fellowship with peers and to learn the results of the 4-H State Board of Directors elections.

In the week leading up to THE Senior Event, virtual campaigning — including candidate speeches, candidate question forums, and electronic campaign posters — was used to introduce this year’s slate of 4-H State Board candidates to voting delegates from around the state.

Because capacity at THE Senior Event was limited due to health and safety protocols, campaigning and voting was conducted virtually to engage more youth in the election process. High school 4-H’ers who qualified as state officer candidates were required to present a campaign speech, extemporaneously respond to randomly selected questions, and answer questions submitted online by fellow 4-H’ers as part of a Virtual Candidate Forum.

Hundreds of youth voting delegates from around the state were able to vote virtually over two rounds. Candidates earning the five highest counts in the first round of voting are elected to the at-large positions on the State Board of Directors — president, vice president and three state representative positions. The second round of voting is a district-level ballot to select four district representatives to complete the Georgia 4-H State Board of Directors. Being elected to serve as a state officer is one of the top leadership positions a 4-H’er can hold.

The 2021-22 Georgia 4-H State Board of Directors are:

• President: Katie Beth Brewer, Dodge County
• Vice President: Georgia Simmons, Banks County
• State Representative: Aniyah Hall, Ben Hill County
• State Representative: Jay Lovett, Treutlen County
• State Representative: Willie White, Pierce County
• Northeast District Representative: Davis Slate, Clarke County
• Northwest District Representative: Kaylee Collins, Spalding County
• Southeast District Representative: Ashton Ates, Coffee County
• Southwest District Representative: Hinano Tomlinson, Sumter County

To learn more about Georgia 4-H, go to georgia4h.org.

Published from https://www.morningagclips.com/georgia-4-h-installs-new-board/