The theme for Georgia 4-H this year is “I am Georgia 4-H.” In Bibb County, we have more than 1,400 4-H’ers who know they are Georgia 4-H.
Local 4-H’ers help our community through community service projects, but they also need help from the community. They need support through funding, volunteers and guidance in their project areas.
Bibb County 4-H programs offer so much to our youth. There is a project in 4-H to interest almost everyone. Participants find what’s for them through learning and judging events, leadership opportunities and activities, fun activities, community volunteering and statewide competitions.
Our local 4-H’ers range in age from 9-19, with most of them starting their 4-H experiences in the fifth grade. In Bibb County, 4-H program assistant JoAnn Middleton meets monthly with 4-H’ers in 17 schools, the Georgia Academy for the Blind and County Council, a club for students who do not have 4-H in their schools.
In 2010, more than 155,000 youths participated in Georgia 4-H programs.
Along with participating in projects and competitions, members can go to special camps and exciting events throughout the state and nation. Special University of Georgia football and basketball days, camps at the beach, in the mountains, in the city and at Rock Eagle, and even trips to Washington, D.C., offer exciting ways to learn while having fun.
In Bibb County, our 4-H activities this past year have included: 4-H officer training and Halloween costume contest party; Cotton Boll/Consumer Jamboree; Junior Conference; Senior Fall Forum; 4-H Leadership and Day at the Capitol; UGA basketball game; trip to the Georgia Aquarium and Underground Atlanta; Senior 4-H Conference; Weekend in the Classic City; awards reception and recognition event; and a summer skating event.
Our 4-H’ers give back to the community by participating in community events. This year they assisted our community by ringing the Salvation Army’s Kettle bell so they could assist those less fortunate, and participating in the Toy for Joy Shop, Junior Optimist Olympics and March of Dimes Walk America — 4-H’ers raised money and walked. They also collected pop tabs to support the Ronald McDonald House.
The biggest 4-H event is participation in District Project Achievement (DPA). Participating youths prepare a presentation in their chosen project area and present it during competition at Rock Eagle against other county 4-H’ers. This is a fun learning experience for the kids, who learn organizational and presentation skills, and experience speaking to a group of strangers.
Bibb County 4-H’ers travel to Rock Eagle for DPA competition and a day of fun spent with new friends. We had 26 fifth- and sixth-graders participate in DPA, and 26 juniors and seniors gave their DPA demonstrations.
Fifth- and sixth-graders have the opportunity to attend Cloverleaf Camp, while the older youth attend Junior or Senior Camp. They camp at one of Georgia’s 4-H centers, which are located at Rock Eagle, Wahsega in the mountains, Fortson in the city, Burton at Tybee Island and Jekyll Island. This year, 36 Cloverleaf students enjoyed a week at Rock Eagle.
But the 4-H’ers aren’t the only ones having fun. Adult volunteers work with the youths, helping the 4-H’ers prepare for competitions, sharing their knowledge with them, and most importantly, spending time with the youths.
Many volunteers are 4-H alumni, so they recognize the benefits of 4-H.
I don’t know what we’d do without our volunteers. They work with our 4-H’ers on so many projects, teams and fundraisers. They even recruit 4-H’ers and bring them to events. We have a volunteer who loves to accompany the Cloverleaf children and Juniors to camp.
The 4-H program helps to build tomorrow’s productive adults.
If you want to find why you are Georgia 4-H, call the Cooperative Extension Office at 751-6338 or come by our office at 736 Riverside Drive.
Jan Baggarly is Bibb County Extension Coordinator with the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension working in the field of Family and Consumer Sciences.
