National 4-H Dairy Conference

Georgia 4-H’ers Attend National 4-H Dairy Conference

On September 28th, three Georgia 4-H delegates, Mary Anna Bentley Addison Bridges (Chattooga County) and Morgan Patterson (Jasper County) boarded a plane to Madison, Wisconsin to attend the 65th Annual National 4-H Dairy Conference. The conference allows youth interested in dairy to interact with one another and build industry bridges. They also have the opportunity to learn more about careers in agriculture, attend seminars on dairy topics and interact with 4-H’ers from across the country.

Each day, they heard from multiple speakers on different aspects surrounding the dairy industry and potential careers. They had hands-on experiences, such as creating their own ice cream with the use of liquid nitrogen. The youth experimented with cheese and learned the science behind many of the existing dairy products, including learning about the effects of coagulation on the digestive system.

Participants toured area dairy farms, witnessed the usage of robotic dairy machines and learned the logistics of the daily operations on a dairy farm as well as a variety of ways to market milk.

They saw firsthand how Crave Brothers Dairy takes milk and ships it across the street to their cheese factory. During a tour of Hoards Dairy Farm and its publishing company, participants were able to practice composing, editing and publishing an article.

The youth compared and contrasted dairy with nondairy products in today’s market as well as explored their future possibilities in the agriculture industry.

Addie, Mary Anna and Morgan had the chance to spend time exploring the World Dairy Expo, where they spoke with leading researchers, technical experts and sales representatives from around the world, and view one of the best-known dairy cattle shows.

The National 4‑H Dairy Conference helped these three 4-H’ers connect, learn and engage while focusing on the impacts of agriculture in their communities and world, and how they can be involved in the future.

 

Source(s): Caleb Millican, 4hcaleb@uga.edu
Author: Roberta Pepper, roberta.pepper@uga.edu

Madison 4-H’ers at Great American Seafood Cook Off

Madison County 4-H Team represents Georgia 4-H at Cook Off

Madison County 4-H’ers represented Georgia 4-H in the Great American Seafood Cook Off (GASCO) on August 4, 2019. Co-Captains Tiger Rupers and Parker Varnadoe were joined by Alyssa Goldman and Kaylie Goldman. The team was  interviewed and participated in the national video, tours, restaurant dinner and participation in the contest where they highlighted Georgia Grown Products including catfish. Congratulations to the Madison County 4-H Seafood Cook Off Team and their adult leaders!

Source(s): Courtney Brown, courtms@uga.edu

Georgia 4-H Forestry Judging Team Competes Nationally

Hart County 4-H Forestry Judging Team competes at the National 4-H Forestry Invitational

Georgia was one of 13 states that competed in the 40th annual National 4-H Forestry Invitational from Sunday July 28 through Thursday August 1. Teams from Arkansas, Mississippi and Alabama placed first, second and third, respectively.  Florida, Indiana, Kentucky, Louisiana, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah, Virginia, and West Virginia also competed in this year’s Invitational.

The Georgia team members were James Turpin from Bowersville, Hailey Jones, Ben Tellano, and Adam Walters all from Hartwell.  The team coach was Ruth Daniel from Hartwell. Hailey Jones was the tenth highest scorer.

Photographed: Robert Harrison, Anna Marie Harrison, James Turpin, Ben Tellano, Hailey Jones, Adam Walters, and Ruth Daniel (Coach)

Source(s): Craven Hudson, cfhudson@uga.edu

2019 State Council Announcements

Georgia 4-H Youth, Alumni, Volunteers and Leaders Honored at State Council

More than 500 Georgia 4-H 8th-12th grade youth members gathered for the annual State 4-H Council Meeting at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, Georgia. This year’s “Rooted in the Classics” theme focused on the original purpose of State Council and civic engagement. During this constitutional meeting, 4-H youth vote on proposed amendments to the 4-H constitution, elect Georgia 4-H state officers, participate in competitions and enjoy fun and games.

Serving as a Georgia 4-H state officer is one of the highest offices a 4-H youth member can hold. The delegates vote for five statewide representatives, with the top two vote-getters serving as president and vice president. After the top five are determined, the delegates vote again for representatives for their districts. The 2019-2020 state board representatives are:

Arham Shah, Emanuel County, President
Deontavious Kitchens, Stewart County, Vice President
Taylor Wells, Clinch County, State Representative
Kimberly Rios, Emanuel County, State Representative
Madison Clemente, Paulding County, State Representative
Sarah Isaac, Stephens County, Northeast District Representative
Hope Steward, Spalding County, Northwest District Representative
Ty Poole, Washington County, Southeast District Representative
Douglas Hopkins, Thomas County, Southwest District Representative

No amendments were brought forward or voted on this year. Youth participated in a variety of workshops on preparedness, democracy and high learning. Youth prepared for the hurricane season by creating emergency plans and starting their home preparedness kits under the supervision of MyPI Georgia instructors and AmeriCorps Volunteers In Service To America (VISTA) summer associates. On Saturday, 13 adult leaders graduated as certified forestry judging coaches.

The State Council meeting includes a citizenship ceremony, during which all 4-H’ers who are turning 18 take the pledge remain engaged voters throughout their lives. Randy Nuckolls led the ceremony this year.

State 4-H Leader and Director of 4-H Arch Smith honored his pledge to get “slimed” after all 159 Georgia counties participated in $4 for 4-H giving day, raising more than $35,000. Chattooga County had the most donors and Fulton County raised the most money for their county.

All 4-H’ers participated in the Iron Clover Competition. The Iron Clover Award is given to the district that excels in basketball, softball, volleyball and musical chairs tournaments and other activities. This year, new competitions were introduced including giant Jenga, extreme tic-tac-toe and the Great Canoe Race. The Northeast District won the 2019 Iron Clover for the second year in a row, excelling in ultimate Frisbee, basketball, volleyball, watermelon eating and the Great Canoe Race.

At this year’s Master Club Banquet, Smith was proud to announce that African American 4-H’ers who won state honors in project work during segregation will now be recognized as Master 4-H’ers and the Master 4-H Club has extended membership to those individuals. Several former Newton County 4-H members who won state honors at Dublin 4-H Center from 1951-1964 were recognized. Lottie Johnson, who began her career as an Extension Agent in 1955 during segregation, was named an Honorary Master 4-H Member for her service to 4-H youth from 1955 until her retirement in 1986. The University of Georgia 4-H program plans to recognize the work of the Black Extension 4-H Program during segregation with historical plaques at the site of the Dublin 4-H Center, which was closed in 1968. The banquet also recognized youth that Mastered in the past year as well.

The State and District Board of Directors and Clovers & Co. Alumni Reception, hosted by the Georgia 4-H Foundation on Saturday afternoon, honored 4-H’ers who currently serve or once served on the state or district boards as well as Clovers & Company alumni. Saturday morning, AmeriCorps VISTAs were honored at the volunteer breakfast.

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 the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offices and 4-H facilities. For more information, visit georgia4h.org or contact your local Extension office.

Author: Cristina deRevere, stinafig@uga.edu
Source(s): Jeffrey Burke, jburke@uga.edu

2019 State 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl

Georgia 4-H youth test their dairy knowledge

 

Last week, 57 youth participated at the 2019 Georgia 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl supported by The Georgia Dairy Youth Foundation and Milk Check-Off on June 7, 2019 at the University of Georgia Animal and Dairy Science Complex in Athens, Ga.

Youth participating in the quiz bowl not only receive a better knowledge of dairy-related topics and learn to demonstrate that knowledge in a competitive and thought-stimulating environment, but they also receive important life skills, such as confidence, independence and compassion. They have the opportunity to strengthen their decision-making and leadership skills in an environment which allows contribution to a group effort, encouraging teamwork and collaboration with a diverse group of peers.

“Dairy Quiz Bowl is such an exciting event where our youth have the opportunity to share their wisdom of all things dairy while working as a team and as individuals,” said Dr. Jillian Bohlen, UGA Dairy Science Specialist. “I am continually amazed at the wealth of knowledge these young people possess. The 2019 contest was exciting and one of the most competitive I’ve had the pleasure of moderating.”

Two divisions of teams compete during the quiz bowl, Junior Teams and Senior Teams. Junior Teams consist of 4-8 grade youth, and Senior Teams consist of 9-12 grade youth. Each county was permitted two teams in each division.

The panel teams compete in double elimination brackets. Points are awarded to teams with correct answers after indicating with button signals. Prior to the contest, each participating county was required to submit 25 questions based on Hoard’s Dairyman or any other dairy publication, which were used to create the quiz bowl trivia questions.

All participants received an award card and pin. A team plaque and will be presented to the top three placing Senior and Junior Teams. The winning Senior team will represent Georgia at the North American Invitational 4-H Dairy Quiz Bowl Conest in November 2019, in Louisville, KY.

Coweta County Senior Quiz Bowl Team A
Coweta County Senior Quiz Bowl Team A

Results from the Senior Competition: First place team went to Coweta County-Team A with team members: Kitty Yeager, Madison Dyar, Nicole Hillebrand and Jennifer Brinton. Second place team was Tift County with team members: Lydia Connell, Jordan Daniels, Seth Jones, Dana Wells and Amare Woods. Third place team was awarded to Coweta County-Team B with team members: Alex Hillebrand, Michael Whitlock, Bella Fisk and Katie Nolan.

 

 

Results from the Junior Competition: First place team went to Burke County with team members: Emmaline Cunningham, Tony Gray, Abby Joyner, Alaina Olson and Holt Sapp. Second place team was Coweta County Team A with team members: Benton Burnett, Emmeline Burnett, Lila Jane Burnett and Colton Swartz. Third place team was awarded to Oconee County with team members: Alyssa Haag, Campbell Patterson, Thomas Stewart, Clara Wilkes and McCall Woodruff.

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 the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offices and 4-H facilities. For more information, visit georgia4h.org or contact your local Extension office.

Author: Cristina deRevere, stinafig@uga.edu
Source(s): Heather Schultz, hkalino@uga.edu

 

2019 Georgia 4-H State Council

Hundreds of Georgia youth will focus on civic engagement at annual meeting

 

Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become productive and contributing members of society by providing life and leadership skills, encouraging civic engagement. On June 21-23, 2019, hundreds of Georgia 4-H 8th-12th grade youth members will meet at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center for the annual State 4-H Council Meeting. This year’s theme is “Rooted in the Classics,” focusing on the original purpose of State Council and civic engagement. This is the constitutional meeting of the Georgia 4-H Council, where 4-H youth vote on proposed amendments to the 4-H constitution and elect Georgia 4-H State Officers.

“Serving as a page for the United States Senate has helped me to witness the democratic process firsthand,” said George Moore, State 4-H Representative from Stephens County. “It is imperative that young people take part in the process. That’s why, every year, State Council offers a citizenship ceremony, in which all 4-H’ers who are turning eighteen, take the pledge remain engaged voters throughout their lives.”

Some 4-H’ers will also be participating in Dean’s Awards and State Congress Food Labs and Performing Arts categories. However, it’s not all business. The Iron Clover Award is given to the district that excels in basketball, softball, volleyball, musical chairs tournaments and so much more. This year, there will be new competitions, including Giant Jenga, Extreme Tic-Tac-Toe and the Great Canoe Race. There will also be performances from Clovers & Co. and evening dances. The meeting will end with a pool and dance party to celebrate a successful weekend.

Also, State 4-H Leader and Director of 4-H Arch Smith will be getting slimed as a result of the $4 for 4-H giving day receiving full 159 Georgia county participation and raising over $35,000. If 850 Georgia 4-H delegates attend the State Council meeting full-time, the entire State Board of Directors will be pied. To see a special message from the State Board about this year’s State Council meeting, visit https://youtu.be/SqMDr10K3N8.

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 the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension offices and 4-H facilities. For more information, visit georgia4h.org or contact your local Extension office.

Author: Cristina deRevere, stinafig@uga.edu
Source(s): Jeffrey Burke, jburke@uga.edu

 

National Healthy Living Summit 2019

Georgia 4-H youth participate in national healthy living summit

Georgia 4-H representatives attended the National Youth Summit on Healthy Living hosted by the National 4-H Council on Feb. 15-18, 2019, at the National 4-H Conference Center in Washington, DC.

The National 4-H Council and National 4-H Conference Center partnered with professionals in family consumer sciences and healthy living to address nutrition education, physical fitness, wellness and emotional wellbeing for high school students.

“Being part of the National Youth Summit on Healthy Living was a fantastic experience for our Georgia team,” said Courtney Brown, University of Georgia Extension 4-H Specialist of Healthy Living Programs. “I was impressed before the summit by how these young people are working to help their communities become healthier. Attending the summit gave them the chance to meet other youth with similar interests, be inspired by leaders in several health-related fields, and learn new information, skills and strategies that they can take back to Georgia and share.”

The 4-H’ers participated in hands-on workshops, service projects and health breaks, as well as a guided nighttime tour of the monuments and memorials in Washington, DC. During the summit, the Georgia team created an action plan with the goal of helping their community become healthier.

Brown and Elyse Daniel, Educational Program Specialist, lead two workshops, “Food Bank Recipe Contest: Addressing childhood obesity and hunger through a 4-H contest” and “The Community Food Experience: A hunger/poverty simulation.” Georgia youth assisted in leading both of these workshops.

The six students that attended were selected via an application process from Georgia 4-H Healthy Living Ambassadors and Healthy Rocks Actions Leaders: Carlissa Stewart and Caroline Lord, Ben Hill County; Kaleigh Jordan, Johnson County; Kennedy Deveaux and Kayla Faulks, Cobb County; and Tianna Ramey, Habersham County. Two collegiate Georgia 4-H members also participated in the summit. Sophia Rodriguez, 2018 Youth in Action Healthy Living Pillar Award winner, was featured as a speaker and also led workshops on her “Tie Dye for Troops” program. Angel Austin served as a collegiate facilitator for the event and was involved in the planning and leadership.

“I made numerous new friends from different states and even some from my own state,” said Kaleigh Jordan, a senior from Johnson County. “I learned a lot of new and fascinating information about different aspects of healthy living, including the dangers of Juul’s and vapes, adolescent mental illnesses and ways to help spread awareness about some of them, and creative activities to inform younger children of these illnesses and inform them that ‘it’s okay to not be okay.’”

For more information on Georgia 4-H and the Healthy Living Program, visit https://georgia4h.org.

Author: Cristina deRevere, stinafig@uga.edu
Source(s): Courtney Brown, courtms@uga.edu; Elyse Daniel, elyse.daniel@uga.edu

 

Georgia 2019 LifeSmarts Championship

Georgia LifeSmarts Championship quizzes Georgia 4-H youth on consumer literacy skills

Last week, eight Georgia 4-H Junior Varsity and Varsity teams competed at the 2019 Georgia LifeSmarts Championship on Feb. 18, 2019, at the Georgia Agricenter Miller Murphy Howard Building in Perry, GA.

LifeSmarts, a National Consumers League program, is celebrating 25 years of empowering middle and high school students across the United States to develop consumer literacy skills needed to succeed in today’s marketplace.

“LifeSmarts teaches students critical thinking skills and expands their knowledge on real-world issues to prepare them for life after high school,” said Brittani Lee, Georgia 4-H County Extension Agent and Georgia LifeSmarts Co-coordinator. “The life skills that LifeSmarts students gain through the program will aid them in being well-rounded, knowledgeable and prepared adults in tomorrow’s world. Not only are they preparing for the future, but they are having fun too.”

The competition quizzes the participants on five categories: Personal Finance, Consumer Rights and Responsibilities, Technology, Health and Safety, and the Environment. The student teams, under the guidance of an adult coach, participated in an online qualifying competition series. The highest-scoring four Junior Varsity and Varsity teams were invited to compete in the state championship.

“This year, we had sixteen varsity teams and eight junior varsity teams competing online for a chance at the championship,” said Courtney Still Brown, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension 4-H Specialist of Healthy Living Programs and Georgia LifeSmarts Co-coordinator. “It is really encouraging to see these students at the championship understanding and explaining concepts such as budgeting, consumer rights, online safety and much more. They certainly have a head start on how to navigate the complex consumer issues that we face today.”

 

 

 

The Oconee County team won the Junior Varsity championship. The Floyd County team placed second, followed by Johnson and Columbia County teams.

The Bartow County team won the Varsity championship. The Oconee County team placed second, followed by Gwinnett and Chattooga County teams.

The Bartow County Varsity Team will represent Georgia in the National LifeSmarts Championship, in hopes of being the national champions in April in Orlando, FL. Additional Georgia teams may win the chance to compete at the National Championship as well through a wildcard bid process.

 

For more information on Georgia 4-H and the Georgia LifeSmarts Program, visit https://georgia4h.org.

Author: Cristina deRevere, stinafig@uga.edu
Source: Courtney Still Brown, courtms@uga.edu; Brittani Lee, bkelley@uga.edu

 

 

 

 

Project GROWL

Currently in its final year of a five year grant cycle, Project GROWL (Growing Real Opportunities in Work and Life) enables youth to acquire work-based life skills to equip them for a knowledge-based and creative economy.  Based in south Fulton and north Clayton counties, participants are exposed to an accurate, deeper understanding of the food, fiber, agricultural and natural resource systems affecting their urban communities, and visualize themselves as contributing members of society.

 

 

Ben Hill County 4-H Poultry Judging Team

 

Four Ben Hill County girls are the new National 4-H Poultry Judging Champions. They won the honor last week at the National 4-H Poultry Judging Contest held in Louisville, KY. Pictured are, from left, Caroline Lord, Ericka Lord, Ben Hill County Extension Coordinator Jeri Gilleland, Carlissa Stewart, and Aaliyah Ross. Twenty-three states competed in the contest which took five hours evaluating the three divisions of judging hens and giving oral reasons, quality grading broiler, roaster, and turkey carcasses, and quality grading eggs.

 

The Ben Hill County 4-H poultry judging team brought home the national championship title for Georgia 4-H last week in Louisville, KY. Team members Caroline Lord, Ericka Lord, Aaliyah Ross, and Carlissa Stewart took first place overall in a five-hour contest that included 80 contestants from 23 states.

Each member of the team received a trophy and a gold pin for winning and the team received a plaque. The top 10 teams and the top 20 individuals overall in the contest were recognized. Georgia brought home the following awards for individual placings: Ericka, third high overall, plaque and $200 cash award; Aaliyah, seventh high overall, silver pin and $100 cash award; Caroline, eleventh high overall, bronze pin and $25 cash award. Ben Hill County Extension Coordinator and 4-H agent Jeri Gilleland received a plaque in recognition for coaching the winning team.

The National 4-H Poultry Judging Contest included three divisions: production hens and oral reasons, ready-to-cook carcasses and parts identification, and interior, exterior and broken-out egg quality grading.

Prior to the announcement of the overall awards, the top five teams and top eight individuals received awards in each of the three divisions. The Georgia team placed first in the production hens and oral reasons category for which each member received a trophy and a gold pin, and Aaliyah received a silver pin for being the fifth high individual. The team placed second in the ready-to-cook carcasses and parts identification division, and Ericka received a gold pin as the second high individual.

The team will be recognized in front of the Georgia General Assembly during 4-H Day at the Capitol in February.  The poultry judging contest is considered one of the premier national 4-H team competitions.

The national poultry judging contest was held in conjunction with the National 4-H Poultry and Egg Conference which also included competitions in egg preparation, chicken and turkey barbecue, and avian quiz bowl. While there, conference attendees toured Churchill Downs, the Louisville Bat Factory, and had a social evening of bowling and pizza.