May 13, 2011

The Georgia Association of Extension 4-H Agents held their annual meeting at Rock Eagle 4-H Center on April 19-21. Nearly 100 4-H professionals from across the state of Georgia participated in the two-day professional development conference. Many 4-H agents, 4-H specialists, county secretaries and program assistants received awards in recognition of their outstanding programs. The keynote speaker for the meeting was LT. General Russel Honore, US Army (Ret), who is a native of Louisiana. General Honore was appointed by the Army to lead Task Force Katrina in the aftermath of the devastating hurricanes that struck New Orleans and much of the Gulf Coast of the United States. The Association also elected new officers and board of directors for the coming year. The new president will be Monte Stephens of Oconee County; President-elect is Lynn Davis of Turner County; Vice President-elect is Stacey Ellison of Houston County; Immediate Past President is Al Parker, Northeast District 4-H Program Development Coordinator.

Georgia 4-H held its 4-H Program Preview April 26-27 which provided over 20 training opportunities for 4-H agents and 4-H program assistants to participate in a two-day training that will help paid Extension staff improve the local 4-H programs. Dean Andy Horne of the University of Georgia College of Education was the capnote speaker. Dean Horne is recognized for his teaching and research on troubled families. His presentation helped the 4-H leaders understand more about aggressive behavior and ways to prevent bullying in 4-H Club settings.

During the month of April, 4-H’ers continued to be busy with many local and state activities. We congratulate the State 4-H Dairy Judging team from Putnam County who had the first place senior team consisting of Jessica Moore, Jordan Davis, Macey Cooper and Cole Leftwich. Also, the first place junior team was from Morgan County and included Constance Johnson, Jay Moon, Ben Porter, Will Porter. We appreciate the support of the University of Georgia Extension Animal and Dairy Science Department for their support and the University of Florida for their financial support of the State 4-H Dairy Judging contest.

Throughout the month of April, the Area Poultry Judging contests were held culminating with the State Poultry Judging contest on May 3. Tift County was the senior winning team at the state contest. The team was comprised of Conor Dunn, Anna Johnson, Sara Johnson, and DeAnn Taylor.  Conor Dunn was the High Individual in the contest. This is the third consecutive year that Tift County has won the State 4-H Poultry Judging contest. We appreciate the support of Perdue Farms, the Georgia Poultry Federation, and the Georgia Department of Agriculture for funding they provide for the State 4-H Poultry Judging contest.

In mid-April, the State Target Challenge Weekend for Pistol, Air Rifle and BB Gun was held at Rock Eagle 4-H Center. The 4-H Shooting Sports program is one of the fastest growing programs offered by Georgia 4-H and it is led almost entirely by volunteers. We appreciate their commitment to Georgia 4-H.

In early April, Helen Clark of Camden County, Katlyn LaVelle of Spalding County, Lauren Morris of Oconee County, Matthew Pace of Chattooga County, Chelsie Restrepo of Bacon County, Will Walker of Turner County, volunteer Brenda Straub of Bacon County, and Charlie Wurst, State Staff, were delegates to the National 4-H Conference in Washington, DC which was held at the National 4-H Center. The delegates visited Capitol Hill and met with Georgia’s senators and congressmen, and also had an opportunity to share ideas with other delegates from across the United States. Serving as a National 4-H Conference delegate is one of the highest honors that a Georgia 4-H member can achieve.

On May 7th the State 4-H Hippology Contest was held at the University of Georgia, Animal and Dairy Science Department Arena in Athens in conjunction with the 2011 State 4-H Horse Judging Competition. The first place overall Senior Team was from Newton County.  Newton County has the opportunity to represent Georgia at the Quarter Horse Congress in Columbus, OH.  Newton County Team members were Trent Fowler, Lindsay Frost, and Morgan Worley.  The first place overall individual was Lindsay Frost of Newton County.  The first place overall Junior Team is from Forsyth County.  Forsyth County team members were Madison Maavere, Kelly Moore, Alyssa Pawlik, and Kadie Sanford.  The first place overall individual was Shelby Quakenbush of Banks County.

Private funding is an important component in providing awards, incentives and scholarships for youth who excel in the 4-H program. The Georgia 4-H Foundation is the private partner at the state level, but each county office is also involved in local fund development. Recently, ten county 4-H programs in Georgia were fortunate to receive Monsanto America’s Farmers Grow Communities Program grants of $2,500 each this year. These grants are being used at the local level and will make it possible for underprivileged children to attend summer 4-H camp, support archery and shotgun teams, and provide equipment for livestock programs. One county plans a robotics camp for fourth through eighth grade 4-H members and a Georgia history tour for ninth through twelfth grade 4-H members. Another county even has a plan to plant a vegetable garden at a local elementary school. These funds are greatly appreciated and are being put to use where they’re most needed - at the local level in communities across Georgia, and will benefit young 4-H members in those local communities. Monsanto is to be commended for their support of 4-H across the United States but particularly for their resourcefulness and creativity in finding ways to support 4-H in the local communities in which their customers live and work. We appreciate the $2,500 grants given to the following ten Georgia counties: Bleckley, Brooks, Bulloch, Burke, Grady, Irwin, Screven, Terrell, Wilcox and Worth

The Terrell County Robotics Team, which began in August of 2010, had the opportunity to compete in the National 4-H Council’s 4-H Robotics video contest.  They created a video outlining what they had learned in the areas of science, technology, engineering, and applied math.  The team won Voter’s Choice and as a result was awarded with a $1000 grant which will enable Terrell County 4-H to divide the group into 2 teams, a Cloverleaf and Junior 4-H Robotics Team.  Congratulations to the Terrell County Robotics Team.

Summer camp is just around the corner. In our previous newsletter, we encouraged those interested in spending a week at summer camp to sign up on our volunteer website. We had some response to that request and volunteers are now making themselves available to attend camp. As we pointed out, a critical need is for adult male volunteers to register and help us chaperone male campers during a week of camp.

We appreciate your continued support of the Georgia 4-H program and hope you will make plans to join us at our annual alumni event which this year will be “Twilight on the Lake” at Rock Eagle 4-H Center on August 13.

Until next time, continue "To Make The Best Better."

Sincerely,