Clayton County: Ag & Safety
Agriculture and Safety: Connections in The Metro Area
Clayton County is one of Georgia’s smallest counties by area, but those small county borders are home to nearly 300,000 people, four interstates, two railroads, and the world’s busiest airport.
Agriculture and natural resources may not be everyday topics for Clayton County youth; however, with agriculture continuing to rank among Georgia’s largest industries, learning about these subjects can open doors to valuable career pathways, strengthen workforce readiness, and inspire lifelong success.
While exploring agricultural content and career opportunities, nothing outweighs the need for safety practices. The AGCO Corporation helped respond to this need by sponsoring a youth education program called “Gearing Up for Safety.”
Clayton County Extension Agents Aisha Favors and Sergio Sosa partnered with the Clayton County STEM & Innovation Coordinator to identify Mundy’s Mill High School students as the audience for this program. Earlier this year, thirty high school students participated in two off-site field trips and one in-class, hands-on learning session. The sessions focused on general farm safety, tractor and machinery operations, utility vehicle driving safety, animal safety, farm-related stress management, and emergency response procedures.
One highlight of the program was a field trip to Decimal Place Farm, a 40- acre Saanen dairy goat farm in Clayton County. Students toured the facility, learned about dairy production and the cheese-making process, and engaged in discussions about livestock behavior and safe animal handling.
During their trip to Smith Family Ranch, students got a firsthand look at agritourism and equine safety, as well as practical tips for working with small ruminants and chickens.
These experiences enabled youth to learn about agricultural operations in their own community, making connections to concepts that may otherwise seem distant.
Clayton County 4-H is helping youth develop essential life skills, cultivate respect for agriculture, and build a foundation for a safer, smarter, and more sustainable future in Georgia agriculture.
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (working cooperatively with Fort Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the counties of Georgia) offers its educational programs, assistance, and materials to all people without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, gender identity, sexual orientation or protected veteran status and is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action organization.