Georgia 4-H

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Georgia 4-H was founded in 1904 by G.C. Adams in Newton County Georgia as the Girls Canning, and Boys Corn Clubs.

The mission of Georgia 4-H is to assist youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills, and forming attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. This mission is accomplished, through "hands on" learning experiences, focused on agricultural and environmental issues, agriculture awareness, leadership, communication skills, foods and nutrition, health, energy conservation, and citizenship.

Exploring and discovering, encouraging and challenging, that's what Georgia 4-H is all about. As a program of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension System, 4-H is part of the nationwide Extension network.

4-H'ers are known for sharing their research-based knowledge and technology to people where they live and work. 4-H combines federal, state, and local expertise and resources.

The Georgia 4-H Program is a branch of Georgia Cooperative Extension, which is part of the University of Georgia College of Agriculture and Environmental Sciences, and is funded by the University System of Georgia and private partners.

Contents

[edit] Club Organization

4-H'ers are divided by age groups into Cloverleafs, Juniors and Seniors. Cloverleaf 4-H'ers are 5th and 6th grade students. Junior 4-H'ers are 7th and 8th grade students. Senior 4-H'ers are 9th - 12th grade students. Activities are offered for each age group each month in almost every Georgia county. The current 4-H districts, Northwest, Northeast, Southwest, and Southeast meet in district and statewide events throughout the year.

[edit] Project Achievement

Project Achievement is one of the most prominent 4-H competitions.

Project Achievement helps 4-H'ers develop both oral and written communication skills while giving them the opportunity to investigate or research a topic of their interest.

4-H'ers participating in Project Achievement at the 5th and 6th grade level will investigate a topic and prepare a 4-6 minute demonstration or illustrated talk with posters. These demonstrations are given at an area event where they compete against 4-H'ers from other counties while developing public speaking skills.

Project Achievement for Junior and Senior 4-H'ers is a two part process involving the preparation of a 4-H Portfolio and a demonstration (6-10 minutes for Juniors and 8-12 minutes for Seniors) in one of the many project areas offered through Georgia 4-H. The 4-H Portfolio is a written record of their involvement in their selected project area and other activities. By preparing a portfolio, young people learn the skills needed to complete resumes, college applications and scholarship applications. 4-H'ers compete in Junior / Senior DPA attend Rock Eagle in February against 4-H'ers from surrounding counties.

Senior 4-H'ers winning at district competition attend State 4-H Congress. Congress is the premier 4-H event of the year where Senior 4-H'ers compete for state honors in their project area. This week long event involves donor visits and recognition of all state winners for the year.

This description of project achievement was taken from the Gwinnett County 4-H website (www.gwinnett4h.org).

[edit] Other Competitions

Georgia 4-H has many other competitions to choose from, including animal and consumer judging events, animal, art, and talent exhibitions, and leadership and citizenship competitions.


[edit] Camping & Counselor Progam

Over 9,000 children ages 9-19 annually attend Georgia 4-H Camp for a week each summer.

Georgia 4-H has 5 separate 4-H Centers each with its own camping program. Every camp is a world unto its own, with a theme full of high adventure, friendship and fun.

The 5 Georgia 4-H Centers are

Note: In 2004 Camp Fortson was officially opened to replace camp Truett-Fulton.

The camping program and counselor progam are considered highly effective. The Georgia 4-H Couselor Alumni Association represents 4-H counselor alumni who continue to support Georgia 4-H.

[edit] Notable Georgia 4-H Alumni

  • Lee Berger, State 4-H President 1984, National Geographic Explorer and Paleoanthropologist. Winner of the 1st National Geographic Prize for Research and Exploration
  • Carol Buffard, actress, played the lead role in Junie B. Jones, the Musical
  • Bob Burton, CEO of Flowers Inc. Balloons and burton + Burton, famous for the "greeting card balloon"
  • Maxine Burton, president of Flowers, Inc. Balloons and burton + Burton, famous for the "greeting card balloon"
  • Rosalyn Carter, former first lady and wife of President Jimmy Carter
  • James M. "Bucky" Cook, Former President of Heavenly Ham
  • Nancy Grace, Hosts her own primetime legal analysis program “Nancy Grace” on CNN Headline News as well as “Closing Arguments” on Court TV
  • Bill Gentry of the Atlanta country music club Wild Bill's, located in Duluth, Georgia.
  • Hillary Lindsey, songwriter.
  • Tommy Irvin, Former State Representative for Habersham County and Georgia Commissioner of Agriculture
  • Jennifer Nettles, Grammy Award winning country singer and member of the group "Sugarland."
  • Otis O'neal, Extension Agent and founder of Ham and Eggs Show
  • Kathy S. Palmer, Chief Superior Court Judge of the Georgia Middle Judicial Court.
  • Walter Reeves, The "Georgia Gardener" and host of the "Lawn and Garden Show with Walter Reeves"
  • Tom Rodgers, Head of Georgia 4-H between 1978-1993 and recipient of the Georgia 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Wayne Shackelford, Former Georgia Commissioner of Transportation and recipient of the Georgia 4-H Lifetime Achievement Award
  • Hershel Walker NFL running back 1986-1997,winner of the 1982 Heisman Trophy
  • Paul Wood, President of Georgia EMC
  • Waco O'Guin, actor and producer of MTV's Stankervision and The DAMN! Show
  • Trisha Yearwood, multi-platinum and multi-grammy award winning country music artist from Monticello. Her father was a county agent as well.

[edit] See also

  • National 4-H Council

[edit] External links