Georgia 4-H has named Ambassadors to represent the organization in the program areas of Healthy Living, STEM, Tech, Wildlife, and Pollinators. Sixty-two Ambassadors, representing 42 Georgia counties, were selected through a competitive application process and attended a comprehensive training weekend June 4-5 at Rock Eagle 4-H Center.

Ambassadors are given opportunities to learn and lead within their chosen discipline. Subsequent to their intensive subject training, these high school students will spend the 2022-2023 academic year planning activities to share their knowledge with peers, younger children, and adults. They will make a difference in their communities and represent Georgia 4-H as ambassadors in the field.

Healthy Living ambassadors will learn and share about food and nutrition, food access and security, preparing budget-friendly meals and snacks, and general health and well-being. Pollinator Ambassadors teach about the importance of pollinators and easy conversation efforts, with learning and sharing activities focusing on building awareness about pollinators and taking action to help preserve pollinator habitats. Tech Ambassadors work within their communities to empower others to increase their digital literacy and grow their digital skills.

STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) Ambassadors provide other youth with opportunities to engage in hands-on STEM projects in their home counties and surrounding areas. Wildlife Ambassadors become certified Project WILD Educators as part a national environmental education program coordinated by the Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies. Their goal is to teach people in their communities about the importance of wildlife conservation throughout Georgia.

The Georgia 4-H Ambassador Program has a rich history of success and impact. The inaugural program launched in 2005 and featured more than 30 youth working in their communities “to make the best better,” in keeping with the 4-H pledge. Each key area is coordinated by specialists on the Georgia 4-H state staff and 4-H personnel from County Extension offices. These adults invest in youth and provide them with applicable and relevant subject knowledge, empowering them to educate others.

“The Georgia 4-H Ambassador Program is unique in that youth get to learn specialized content through an in-depth training experience,” said Kasey Bozeman, Extension 4-H Specialist for Georgia 4-H Science Programs and Ambassador Program Coordinator. “Under the direction of their local 4-H leader, they get to continue to learn through interviews, tours, and research, but they also get to teach others through exhibits, articles, and workshops. I’m always amazed to see their creativity and passion shine,” Bozeman went on to say.

The Healthy Living Ambassadors include Shannon Schlegel from Burke County; Dayleigh Beard, Brailyn Boyd, Khanijah Mitchell, and Markaliyah Mitchell from Calhoun County; Isaiah Farrow from Cobb County; Anna Cook from Cook County; Jacob Bennett from Grady County; Lily Earle from Madison County; Maci Dawson from Mitchell County; Molly Hooker and Ryan Johnson from Pickens County; Carter Hewitt from Stephens County; Megan Miller from Tattnall County; Bethany Samuel from Tift County; Brittney Bryant and Grace Holt from Toombs; Olivia Walker from Union County; Christopher Kuhbander from Ware County; and Lori Bell from Wayne County.

The STEM Ambassadors include Hannah Hunt and Erica McLocklin from Barrow County; Lucy Evans from Bartow County; Lee Jay from Ben Hill County; Madison Hudgins from Bryan County; James Schlegel from Burke County; Aarsheya Gunjal and Venya Gunjal from Cobb County;Kyra Burmeister from Liberty County;  Rae McBride from Oglethorpe County;Micah Newton from Pickens County; Hailey Perez from Pulaski County; Carolyn Thomas from Putnam County; Leila D. Rimes from Tift County; and Bailey Hutchins from Toombs County.

The Tech Ambassadors include Quinn Stoy from Bulloch County; Chanthony Andrews, Jr. from Glynn County; Hannah Jones from Gordon County; Jeremiah Florence from Mitchell County; Kingston Ryals from Toombs County; Mary Laura Tippett from Toombs County; and Tami Gonzalez from Toombs.

The Wildlife Ambassadors include Katy Stinson and Kiwi Waller from Barrow County; Grant Shuman from Bryan County; Catherine Puchala from Bulloch County; Emmaline Cunningham from Burke County; Tony Gray from Burke County; Presley Douglas  from Candler County; Landon Fay from Cherokee County; Connor Watson from Oconee County; Reese Davis from Pickens County; and Addy Winchester from Pulaski County.

The Pollinator Ambassadors include Aubrianna Stewart from Bryan County, Agatha Grimes from Candler County, Lesley Nichols from Fayette County, Zoey Parks from Jasper County, Makayla Nash from Liberty County, Mia Burnett from Mitchell County, Sophia Scott from Pickens County, Esteban Contreras Jr. from Pulaski Couny, Nortrayvious Brown from Terrell County, Emma Barber from Ware County, Landon McDonald from Toombs County.

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 225,000 people annually through UGA Extension offices and 4-H facilities.

For more information about the Ambassador Program and Georgia 4-H, contact your local University of Georgia County Extension Office or visit www.georgia4h.org.

Written by Josie Smith, Georgia 4-H