The Georgia Master 4-H Club announced a new group of Additional and Honorary “Master 4-H’ers” and the “Outstanding Master 4-H’er” at their banquet on June 23, 2018.
L to R: Tim Cannon, Cindy England, Julia Lucas, Rep. Terry England, Kasey Hobbs, Terri Camp, and Martha Morris.
Congratulations to Worth County 4-H team members: Ambus Powell; Dean Oliver; John Fulmer, III; Coty James; and Volunteer Coach Andy Oliver who won the National 4-H Shooting Sports Championship in shotgun in Grand Island, Nebraska today!
Georgia 4-H’ers celebrated the “sliming” of State 4-H Leader, Arch Smith, at the annual State Council Meeting at Rock Eagle 4-H Center. He had challenged the 4-H family to donate $4 on the 4th day of the 4th month (April 4th) to raise a total of $4,000. He vowed to allow 4-Her’s to “slime” him if the goal was reached. Georgia 4-H’ers, alumni, and supporters not only met the challenge, but more than tripled the original goal with a total of more than $13,000 being raised. Thank you to each of you that helped surpass the goal and provide valuable funds for Georgia 4-H.
2019 Board of Directors
Georgia 4-H focuses on teaching kids about their heads, hearts, health and hands. When 4-H clubs started offering Yoga for Kids three years ago, the program was a perfect fit.
Jean Sumner is a third-generation rural doctor. As a child, she watched her grandfather and father care for the residents of Washington County, Georgia. She followed in their footsteps and became a “small-town doctor,” the kind who knows your mother, sits behind you in church and roots for the local football team.
Georgia 4-H Leadership in Action (LIA) recognizes 4-H’ers who identify needs in their communities and then conduct service projects, activities, or awareness programs that they believe will help meet those needs. Most commonly, Leadership in Action participants are the driving force behind and have ultimate responsibility for these service projects, with county Extension staff and fellow 4-H members providing support. One way LIA recognizes and rewards deserving 4-H members is through the awarding of grants each year to help 4-H’ers further develop or expand their service project. 4-H’ers must apply for the grant and detail how they intend to use the funds. It is impressive and inspiring to hear how Georgia 4-H’ers are using their Leadership in Action grants to make a difference around the state.
Evie Woodward, an 11th grade 4-H’er from Coffee County, was surprised to learn that one out of every four children in Georgia belong to a family that is food insecure. She knew she had to take action, though, when she discovered that 99.4% of students at a local school were considered economically disadvantaged and often didn’t have enough food when away from school. So, Evie founded “Bagging Hunger.” She organized fellow 4-H’ers to collect snacks, assemble bags of food, and deliver them to that school for kids to take home. Since the project’s inception, Evie has distributed thousands of food bags, or “tickets to a full stomach,” as Evie calls them.
This past summer, Evie was awarded a LIA grant of $500. An actress and musician, herself, Evie wanted to showcase local talent in a variety show that would serve as a platform to raise community awareness about the issue of food insecurity and increase community participation in her project. She used her wits, negotiation skills, and the $500 grant to secure a venue, recruit lots of talented acts, and garner the support of local businesses.
Evie said, “I had no idea how much work putting together such an event would actually take, but I couldn’t be more pleased with the results!” A massive crowd turned out to enjoy the show, and by the end of the night, Evie had managed to turn that $500 grant into more than $7,600 that she intends to use to buy more food and materials to reach more students, especially through the summer. She may also have inadvertently discovered another community need, adding, “I lost count of how many audience members came up to me after the show, saying that the area could use more fun community events like this.”
Beck Glover, an 11th grade 4-H’er from Coweta County, saw a need for new backstops for his local 4-H BB team. He discussed plans with his coach, researched how to build backstops, and determined supplies needed. Beck sought and received sponsorship from local organizations and individuals, promoting target sports in the process. He and fellow 4-H’ers built 30 adjustable, easy-to-store target boxes that have proven invaluable to his team.
Like Evie, Beck went on to apply for and received a $500 LIA grant to help him continue his project. At the same time, the Fulton County 4-H Club at the Atlanta History Center was trying to start a BB team at that location but was having trouble figuring out where to find the funds and expertise needed to buy or build target boxes. Beck realized this was the perfect opportunity to help spread the joy of S.A.F.E. shooting sports and share the unique skills he had already developed through his service project.
With help from his father and the LIA grant award, Beck was able to buy necessary materials and begin constructing backstops. In the end, he donated 14 target boxes to the Atlanta History Center’s 4-H BB Team. Laurie Murrah-Hanson, Fulton County 4-H Agent, noted, “Honestly, I really don’t know what we would have done without Beck and his dad. Those target boxes were just what we needed.”
The awarding of grants is but one way that the Georgia 4-H Leadership in Action program encourages young people to become more actively engaged in addressing community needs. Leadership in Action also offers opportunities to receive local, district, and state recognition, to compete for scholarship money or a trip to Washington, DC, and to earn Master 4-H’er status. Georgia 4-H would like to thank Mr. Jayson Dukes, Brantley County 4-H Alumnus, whose generosity supports Leadership in Action. To find out more, contact your county Extension office.
Georgia 4-H recognized 8 exceptional volunteer finalists for the Volunteer of the Year and Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Salute to Excellence Awards at the 4-H Volunteer Dinner. Recipients included Cassandra Eidson, Douglas County; Cisco Damons, Gwinnett County; Denny Kuhr, Fayette County; Jackie Ellett, Jackson County; Josie Smith, Tift and Bacon Counties; Kris Khlifi, Columbia County; Stephen Ely, Polk County; and Todd Cliett, Terrell County. Collectively, they have served Georgia 4-H for 105 years! Georgia 4-H appreciates their many contributions and hours of dedication to Georgia’s young people.
Congratulations to Volunteer of the Year Finalists:
Jackie Ellett, Jackson County volunteer for 10 years, serves with the Robotics team, camp, Project Achievement, office support, and the 4-H Llama Club.
Josie Smith, Tift and Bacon counties’ volunteer, has served as chaperone and coach for Poultry Judging, Consumer Judging, BB team, and other events for 3 years.
Stephen Ely, Polk County and Northwest District volunteer has served 18 weeks of summer camp and 10 weekend conferences and competitions over the last 6 years.
Cisco Damons, a Gwinnett County volunteer for 9 years has chaperoned youth for over 2,120 hours at 4-H events and camps and donated 506 hours of bus driving services.
Congratulations to the Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Finalists:
Cassandra Eidson has volunteered with Douglas County 4-H for 16 years – leading Douglas 4-H’s Horse Quiz Bowl Team to master three times!
Denny Kuhr has served as a 4-H SAFE Shotgun Coach for 25 years, was instrumental in developing a shooting range, and serves as a Georgia 4-H SAFE instructor.
Todd Cliett, Terrell County volunteer is a certified National 4-H Archery Coach Trainer where he has coached 80 youth and trained 250 4-H Archery Coaches over 11 years.
Kris Khlifi has served over 25 years – leading in-school club meetings and a 4-H Craft Club and chaperoning many 4-H events with Columbia County 4-H.
The 4-H Salute to Excellence Volunteer Awards are presented annually at the Volunteer Awards Dinner held at 4-H Fall Forum. The Volunteer of the Year State Award is given to honor one volunteer who has served Georgia 4-H for 10 years or less, and the Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award is given to honor one volunteer in Georgia 4-H who has served over 10 years. Congratulations to all Salute to Excellence finalists.
Georgia 4-H is pleased to announce Cisco Damons of Gwinnett County as the 2017 Georgia 4-H Volunteer of the Year and Kris Khilifi of Columbia County as the 2017 Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer. Their applications will be submitted to National 4-H Council for consideration as the Southern Region Winner with the possibility of advancing to nationals. For more information on the Salute to Excellence Awards visit: https://4-h.org/get-involved/salute-excellence-awards/ .
Picture attached.
Pictured: (L-R) Arch Smith, State 4-H Leader; Josie Smith, Tift and Bacon County Volunteer; Jackie Ellett, Jackson County Volunteer; Denny Kuhr, Fayette County Volunteer; Kris Khlifi, Columbia County Volunteer; Cisco Damons, Gwinnett County Volunteer; Stephen Ely, Polk County Volunteer; Todd Cliett, Terrell County Volunteer; and Keri Hobbs, Georgia 4-H Volunteer Specialist
Over 135 participants accepted the challenge and joined the third annual event, Mission Make-It: Georgia 4-H Engineering Challenge on Saturday, April 14, 2018. This exciting event was held at Rock Eagle 4-H Center and involved an action packed schedule. This year’s event was themed around the centennial of World War I, and after hearing an engaging guest speaker from Atlanta History Center, the 4-H’ers learned how to design ships and planes around specific objectives. Lunch was served, and the day wrapped up with a visit to several engaging exhibits at the showcase and overall reflections. The middle-school aged participants wrote reflections about their day such as the sample of comments found below.
What STEM skills did you practice and//or learn today?
Because of today, how do you feel about STEM?
The program was made possible because of funding support from Lockheed Martin via National 4-H Council
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.