December 19, 2011

The year 2011 is coming to a close and Georgia 4-H has had another great year.

A delegation of nearly 50 4-H’ers and adults attended National 4-H Congress in Atlanta November 25-29. The 4-H’ers had a great time and participated in service projects all around metro Atlanta. The National Congress delegates also celebrated the completion of the second Habitat for Humanity home that has been constructed by the National Congress delegates in recent years.

Georgia 4-H’ers continue to be successful and in the spotlight, as the Tift County 4-H Poultry Judging team won the National 4-H Poultry Judging Contest. It was the second consecutive year that a Tift County team has won the National 4-H Poultry Judging Contest in Louisville, Kentucky. Team members included Conor Dunn, Anna Johnson, DeAnn Taylor, and Sara Johnson.  Conor Dunn was the high individual. We congratulate the Tift County team and their coach, Brian Tankersley, for their success.

In addition, Georgia 4-H has their first ever National Chicken Barbecue Contest winner. Tess Hammock of Monroe County won first place honors at the competition held during the National 4-H Poultry and Egg conference in Louisville, KY. Tess was coached by her mother, Kathy Hammock and assisted by Monroe County FACS Agent, Dana Lynch.

Gordon County 4-H Livestock Judging team attended the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest in Louisville, Kentucky, and was the second overall high team. The team members included Lea Crum, Timothy Hubbard, Taylor Langford, and Krissi McCurdy and they were coached by Kurt Sutherland, Lee Crump, and Melissa Hubbard. This is the first time that a Georgia team has placed in the top ten of the National 4-H Livestock Judging Contest in many years. Congratulations to the Gordon County team.

We also want to congratulate the Tift County Cotton Boll and Consumer Jamboree team made up of  Anna Johnson, Miles McDonald, Ben Branch and Conor Dunn and coached by Miles Drummund, 4-H Program Assistant, as they won the State Cotton Boll and Consumer Judging Contest during 4-H Fall Forum at Rock Eagle in early December.

Former Georgia 4-H member, Jennifer Nettles, will be honored this coming April with the 4-H Distinguished Alumni Medallion.  Nettles is the lead vocalist of the international super duo Sugarland, and has become one of the most popular singer-songwriters in music today.  During her tenure as a Coffee County 4-H'er, Nettles was a member of Clovers & Company, Georgia's official 4-H performing arts group, for seven years. During her time with Clovers & Company, she performed at National 4-H Congress in Chicago and National 4-H Conference in Washington, DC.  She also served as a camp counselor at Rock Eagle 4-H Center from 1993-1995.  Nettles has previously spoken at the National Association of Extension 4-H Agents in 2007, testified before the Georgia General Assembly in March 2010, and performed with Clovers & Company as an alumni member.  Georgia 4-H is proud to have our second alumni awarded the 4-H Distinguished Alumni Medallion (former Georgia 4-H member Nancy Grace received the honor in 2011).

While at Fall Forum, Georgia 4-H was fortunate to be able to dedicate the fourth new cabin at Rock Eagle 4-H Center. The funding for this cabin was made possible by the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation and we were extremely pleased to have many representatives of the Georgia Electric Membership Cooperatives from across the state present for the dedication. We were particularly happy to have Mr. Paul Wood, President and CEO of Georgia Electric Membership Corporation, and Miss Alice Mallory who was chairman of the Georgia EMC Board of Directors. In mid-January 2012, construction will begin on five additional cabins at Rock Eagle. We are pleased with the progress we’ve been able to make in building new cabins at Rock Eagle.  Over 700 4-H’ers enjoyed a performance by Clovers and Company during Fall Forum. It was another great weekend at Rock Eagle for Georgia 4-H.

As we close out 2011, we want to say “thank you” to all our elected officials at the national, state and local levels who provide funding for the 4-H program in Georgia. We’re also appreciative to the many private donors who support 4-H with their personal gifts to the Georgia 4-H Foundation throughout the year and make possible scholarships, award and incentive trips, and improvements at our facilities each year. Without your private gifts, Georgia 4-H would not be able to provide appropriate recognition for successful 4-H members.

We also want to thank our many volunteers who support the local Extension 4-H staff in all our county programs in Georgia.

Thanks again for your support of Georgia 4-H. We hope that 2011 has been as good to you as it has been to Georgia 4-H. We wish for you and your families a successful and prosperous 2012, and we in Georgia 4-H are planning for the same.

Sincerely,