Clover Catch-Up: 2025 Cloverleaf Magazine

A collection of shorter updates featuring county programs, dedicated employees, and impressive 4-H’ers

Cover Story: Clovers & Co.

The Georgia 4-H performing arts group Clovers & Co. continued their four-decade legacy of excellence with the 2024-2025 show “Unwritten.” A cast and crew of more than 50 young people performed on a 10-show tour that included state 4-H events, the Georgia National Fair, and the 4-H Volunteer Conference of Southern States. Find archives of past shows and cast members plus the current lineup online at georgia4h.org/cloversandco.

Le

ading at National Citizenship Washington Focus

Georgia 4-H alumni Carter Sampson of Gordon County and Deontavious “Spotlight” Kitchens of Stewart County returned to 4-H in a new way in summer 2025, serving as Program Assistants for Citizenship Washington Focus (CWF). The national program brings together teens from across the country to explore civic engagement, leadership, and community action. Youth become informed and engaged citizens through opportunities for collaboration, innovation, and inspiration. Carter, a student at University of Geor

gia, and Spotlight, who studies at Kennesaw State University, were two of only nine college students selected nationwide to serve. They completed trainings and became certified Washington, D.C. tour guides, preparing them to share the history and significance of the city’s landmarks. “I wanted to make history real,” Carter said. “When students asked questions at the memorials or shared their reflections, I could see them connecting what they learned to their own communities.” Inside the classroom, Spotlight found meaning in guiding students through challenging topics. “We created space for youth to talk about hard things such as gun control, social issues, and local challenges while staying respectful,” he said. “Watching them listen and understand one another was powerful.”

Forsyth County Cloverbuds

In response to growing community interest in 4-H opportunities for younger students, Forsyth County 4-H launched a Cloverbuds program for grades K–3 in 2021. This year, their monthly meetings focused on the Etowah River Basin ecosystem. At the first session, youth sculpted fish from their imaginations. After a year of discovery – from trout to owls and insects to reptiles – they crafted new clay sculptures representing the basin’s complex biodiversity. Each hands-on lesson nurtured curiosity about the natural world and built a foundation for future 4-H adventures, such as Forestry and Wildlife Judging.

2025 Georgia 4-H National Champions

National Consumer Decision Making Contest Team: Ben Hill County
Team Members: Thomas Holt, Nandini Patel, Landon Sinyard, Ruby Witt
January 2025, San Antonio, TX

National Recurve Archery Team: Morgan County
Team Members: Catie Malcome, Haley Schaefer, Catherine Smith, Evan Tennant
June 2025, Grand Island, NE

National Air Rifle Individual: Walton County
Bethany Shirley
June 2025, Grand Island, NE

Middle School on a Mission

Three hundred and fifty middle school youth and adults from 37 counties gathered at Rock Eagle 4-H Center for Mission Make-It: The Georgia 4-H Engineering Challenge on September 14, 2024. Mission Make-It allows youth the opportunity to develop teamwork, communication and critical thinking skills while completing engineering challenges.
Georgia 4-H began offering this program in 2016 to provide young people with opportunities to gain engineering skills through hands-on learning experiences.
The 2024 theme, “We’re Not Pollen Your Leg: Come Bee an Engineer,” focused on the importance of pollinators in the ecosystem. Participating 4-H’ers worked in small groups and used the five-phase engineering design process – ask, imagine, plan, create, and improve – to complete engineering challenges.
“Mission Make-It was a great opportunity for youth to practice the ‘learn by doing’ approach,” said Abbie Salmon, Floyd County 4-H Agent, who brought Floyd County youth to the event. “Teen leaders also gained instructional and leadership skills through mentoring younger youth and helping them realize that STEM is all about trying new things and making changes.”

Glynn County 4-H Environmental Science Field Study

Glynn County 4-H coordinated a field study for local Advanced Placement Environmental Science students at Mission Mine. The mine is located in Charlton and Brantley Counties and is operated by The Chemours Company. Outfitted with hard hats, safety goggles, and neon vests, students toured the multi-story floating mine used to harvest titanium, zirconium, and other minerals. They learned about Chemours’ environmental stewardship principles and explored diverse career opportunities through conversations with company staff. Teachers and 4-H leaders reflected that the experience was highly engaging and valuable in reinforcing the importance of sustainable environmental practices.

Remembering Allie Griner

Allie Griner (1988-2025) was recognized posthumously as a William H. Booth Award honoree in 2025 during State Congress. Griner, who served most recently as the Gordon County 4-H Agent, is remembered for her passion for youth development. Her work as a 4-H agent combined her agricultural roots, her academic background in family and consumer sciences, and her unwavering commitment to empowering young people. She took pride in seeing her 4-H’ers recognized for their hard work and perseverance. Her ability to connect with and support these young people in achieving their personal goals was an inspiration to all who knew her.