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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

 

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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

 

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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

 

 

 

 

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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.

 

 

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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.

 

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Worth County National 4-H Champion Shotgun Team

 

 

Worth County National 4-H Champion Shotgun Team Honored During School Assembly

All Worth County High School Students assembled in the gymnasium on Thursday, November 29, 2018  to honor their national champions.  State Representative Ed Rynders and State Senator  Gerg Kirk presented and read the Georgia Legislative Resolution honoring their achievement during the ceremony. Picture (L to R) Coach John Fulmer, Coach Andy Oliver, Representative Ed Rynders, Senator Greg Kirk, Dean Oliver, Ambus Powell, John Fulmer III, Coty James.

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2018 Area Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Contest

 

 

Seven area Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Contests were held between October 30th and November 13th in Tifton, Perry, Lyons, Gainesville, Cartersville, Watkinsville, and Conyers. At these contests, 782 4-H’ers from 83 counties participated.

 

Congratulations to all of our area Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Contest winners! The first and second place senior teams will now advance to compete at the state contest on December 8th. The senior high overall individual for each contest will also be eligible to compete at the state contest.

 

Tifton Area Contest:

Junior Teams:

  1. Ben Hill County: Lauren Wixon, Liam Jay, Ashley Braddy, Amelia Lee
  2. Tift County: Lauren Brey, Kiersten Huggins, Bethany Samuel, Katie Keith
  3. Decatur County: Rachel Hayes, Lailae Smith, Jamirica Brown, Kinsey Ward

 

Junior High Individual: Lauren Wixon, Ben Hill County

Junior High Commercial: Janareon Cook, Ben Hill County

Junior High Judging: Ashley Braddy and Lauren Wixson, Ben Hill County

 

Senior Teams:

  1. Ben Hill County : Aaliyah Ross, Carlissa Stewart, Caroline Lord, Isaiah Richardson
  2. Tift County: Amare Woods, Sydney Pridgon, Liz Pridgon, Seth Jones
  3. Seminole County: Jada Brannon, Miranda Brannon, Andra Lundy, Jaylen Brannon

 

Senior High Individual: Aaliyah Ross, Ben Hill County

Senior High Advertisement: Aaliyah Ross, Ben Hill County

Senior High Judging: Miranda Brannon, Seminole County, and Aaliyah Ross, Ben Hill County

 

Lyons Area Contest:

Junior Teams:

  1. Johnson County: Mary Grace Winfrey, Madison Tucker, Chloe Bray, Colton Scott
  2. Long County: Bobby Staudt, Kassie Davis, Josi McGowan, Jaden McGowan
  3. Bulloch County: Ann Parker, Bea Hulsey, Gracie Anderson, Jackson Thigpen

 

Junior High Individual: Mary Grace Winfrey, Johnson County

Junior High Commercial: Jaden McGowan, Long County

Junior High Judging: Mary Grace Winfrey. Johnson County

 

Senior Teams:

  1. Emanuel County: Sarah Beth Kersey, Miranda Simmons, Esmeralda Hernandez, Arham Shah
  2. Laurens County: Zachary Henderson, Logan Bush, Brianne Bracewell, Devin Carnes
  3. Johnson County: Jersey Scott, Samantha Glover, Caitlyn Joiner, Makayla Woodcock

 

Senior High Individual: Sarah Beth Kersey, Emanuel County

Senior High Advertisement: Logan Bush, Laurens County

Senior High Judging: Zachary Henderson, Laurens County

 

Perry Area Contest:

Junior Teams:

  1. Houston County: Sophia Maddux, Kaila Stinehelfer, Rabun Perdue
  2. Harris County: Tate Cox, Max Arnold, Kiera Lowe, Dania Wadley
  3. Bibb County: Matthew Ellington, Jamiah Tolbert, Amauri McCorvey, Rilya Robinson

 

Junior High Individual: Sophia Maddux, Houston County

Junior High Commercial: Joanna Brown, Bleckley County; Kaitlin Neal, Lamar County; Rabun Perdue, Houston County, Maggie Powell, Bleckley County

Junior High Judging: Sophia Maddux, Houston County

 

Senior Teams:

  1. Houston County: Victoria Day, Evelyn Day, Rachel Faulkner, Elizabeth Day
  2. Bleckley County: Caleb Moseley, McKinley Cranford, Lucy Wiegert, Veronica Lee
  3. Dougherty County: Dianah Anderson, Tandria Burke, Mynasia Green, Shelise Byrd

 

Senior High Individual: Victoria Day, Houston County

Senior High Advertisement: Victoria Day, Houston County

Senior High Judging: Victoria Day, Houston County

 

Gainesville Area Contest:

Junior Teams:

  1. Jackson County: Courtney Cameron, Leila Huss, Reese Sorrow, Hannah McEver
  2. Union County: Zachary Lucas, Amanda Boughnou, Magdalena Payne, Forest Zehar
  3. Banks County: Kileigh Carter, Marisa Aguilar, Serenity Wade, Victoria Robinson

 

Junior High Individual: Courtney Cameron, Jackson County

Junior High Commercial: Abeni Hogsed, Union County

Junior High Judging: Courtney Cameron, Jackson County

 

Senior Teams:

  1. Forsyth County: Abigail Stinson, Kirsten Bauer, Bethany Kerrisk, Victoria Kimbari
  2. Habersham County: Tianna Ramey, Mercy Bowen, Christine Budd, Camden Hughes
  3. Union County: Jessie Holbrook, Aliceyn Covington, James Levi, Katie Baxter

 

Senior High Individual: Abigail Stinson, Forsyth County

Senior High Advertisement: Edith Walls, Gwinnett County

Senior High Judging: Tianna Ramey, Habersham County

 

Cartersville Area Contest:

Junior Teams:

  1. Gordon County: Hannah Jones, Hunter Moore, Rachael Harmon, Tyner McGuire
  2. Cobb County: Sandhya Rajesh, Prayushi Padhi, Aarsheya Gunjal, Lindsey Hoffman
  3. Murray County: Daniel Skojac, Payton Caylor, Charsley Richards, Katelyn Blackwell

 

Junior High Individual: Hannah Jones, Gordon County

Junior High Commercial: Charlsey Richards, Murray County

Junior High Judging: Emma Rae Ward, Chattooga County

 

Senior Teams:

  1. Bartow County: Bethany Craven, Audrey Paige, Josh Drexler, Gabriel Craven
  2. Carroll: Amelia Ayers, Nicole Bridges, Lilyanna McDermitt, Meka Hamner
  3. Chattooga County: Lily Thibodeaux, Logan Cesareo, Victor Holzman, Lydia Pence

 

Senior High Individual: Brandon Bagley, Gordon County

Senior High Advertisement: Lily Thibodeaux, Chattooga County

Senior High Judging: Brandon Bagley, Gordon County

 

Watkinsville Area Contest:

Junior Teams:

  1. Oconee County: Lexi Pritchard, Noah Scheuer, Alyssa Haag, Leah Powell
  2. Clarke County: Lucy Crawford, Molly Gershon, Ericka Wilson, August Mixon
  3. McDuffie County: Madelynn King, Raquel Health, Sarah Ward, Londyn Barclay

 

Junior High Individual: Lexi Pritchard, Oconee County

Junior High Commercial: Noah Scheuer, Oconee County

Junior High Judging: Lexi Pritchard, Oconee County

 

Senior Teams:

  1. Oconee County: David Han, Amelia Sale, Clay Baer, Leah Szczepanski
  2. Stephens County: Paige Phillips, Julaina Stinnett, Sarah Isaac, Hanna Bell

3.Clarke County: Samantha David, Davis Slate, Luke Krohn, Malaya Moon

 

Senior High Individual: David Han, Oconee County

Senior High Advertisement: Susan Bishop, Morgan County

Senior High Judging: Clay Baer, Oconee County

 

Conyers Area Contest:

Junior Teams:

  1. Jasper County: Tiffani McClain, Zachary Ramsey, Madelyn Taylor, Samuel Brimberry
  2. Spalding County: Mark Dover, Kaley Wilder, Austin Cain, April Bama
  3. Jones County: Isaac Shivers, Austin Collins, Shekinah Esper, Savannah Fields

 

Junior High Individual: Tiffani McClain, Jasper County

Junior High Commercial: Abi Parnell, Warren County

Junior High Judging: Mark Dover, Spalding County

 

Senior Teams:

  1.  Spalding County: Zaria Owens , Kaylee Collins, Heather Dorn, Shelby Lane
  2. Madison County: Tess Branyon, Parker Varnadoe, Tori Branyon, Kaylie Goldman
  3. Warren County: Ta’khia Reese, Jakalah Andrews, Eve Parnell, Thomas Wilkerson

 

Senior High Individual: Keri Roach, Jasper County

Senior High Advertisement: Heather Dorn, Spalding County

Senior High Judging: Keri Roach, Jasper County

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Harold Darden

 

 

Mr. Harold Darden, Georgia Associate State 4-H Leader Emeritus, passed away September 18, 2018, at the age of 98.

After serving in WW2, Mr. Darden returned to the United States and became a county 4-H agent in DeKalb County, later
transferring to Carroll County. He was asked to join the state 4-H staff after the summer of 1955 and retired in 1975.

He leaves a strong legacy of service to Georgia 4-H and is recognized as one of the eighteen founders of Rock Eagle 4-H
Center. Mr. Darden helped develop the camping program for Georgia 4-H, and he wrote the Citizenship Ceremony that
has been used since 1959 at Georgia 4-H State Council.

In 2010, he was inducted into the National 4-H Hall of Fame, and in 2013 he was awarded the Georgia 4-H Lifetime
Achievement Award.

We are thankful for Mr. Darden’s dedication to Rock Eagle 4-H center and the statewide Georgia 4-H program.

https://www.lordandstephens.com/notices/Harold-Darden