4-H Week is Oct. 2-8

Over 170,000 Georgia 4-H student members will celebrate National 4-H Week Oct. 2-8. During the week, the state’s largest youth development organization hopes to raise awareness of the program that started as a club for farm kids and has grown into a place that helps youth become successful and confident adults.

While 44 percent of Georgia 4-Hers live in rural areas, only three percent live on a farm. Records show 53 percent live in the city, in a small town or in another urban or suburban setting.

Georgia 4-H is available to children in all of Georgia’s 159 counties. In Walker County, 1000 students in fourth-12th grade participate in 4-H. Local University of Georgia Cooperative Extension 4-H agent Casey Hobbs and program assistant Emily Williamson lead the 4-H program.

The four ‘H’s stand for head, heart, hands and health and are represented by the four-leaf clover. Participating youth develop life skills through hands-on projects involving volunteer work, health, science, engineering, technology, leadership, agriculture and communication.

Georgia 4-H has always had roots in science, but in recent years that emphasis has shifted slightly to include other closelyrelated disciplines, known as STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics). The more strategic inclusion of engineering and technology programs has been a natural fit as Georgia 4-H’s slogan is “Learn by Doing.” STEM subjects are presented to 4-H members through new projects at 4-H Project Achievement, new in-school club meeting curriculum among many others.

“The idea of bringing UGA research and resources to Georgia students through the use of county agents throughout the state was a cutting-edge idea in 1904 and remains so even today,” said Arch Smith, state 4-H leader. “The most important work of 4-H is to help young people become better citizens and enable them to grow into responsible, active adults.”

When asked, “attending 4-H camp and making lifelong friends” continues to top of the list of Georgia 4-H members’ favorite things about being in 4-H. High school age Georgia 4-H youth say their 4-H experience provided them with opportunities to travel, learn leadership skills, give back to their communities and overcome their fears of public speaking.

Students also learn responsibility through livestock projects, programs and judging. Every year, close to 2,500 students complete a year-long process to prepare more than 4,500 animals for exhibition at the Georgia Junior National Livestock Show and other competitions.

In Walker County, 4-H’ers show goats, lambs, heifers, steer and chickens. Walker also participates in judging competitions such as wildlife, consumer and land judging.

To learn about Georgia 4-H, visit georgia4h.org or contact your local UGA Extension office at 706-638-2548 or at ugaextension.com/walker.