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Page 8B — Wednesday, October 5, 2016, The True Citizen
National 4-H Week
October 2 - 8, 2016
Judging Teams are Fun, Educational, and Rewarding!
Judging Teams are one of the highlights of the Burke County 4-H program. 4-
H'ers have the chance to learn to do something new that they might not learn in
the classroom, and then get to compete with their new knowledge and skill in a
contest! Judging Teams teach students to evaluate a situation, make a decision,
and provide reasons for their decision...all through looking at plants and
animals!
Burke County 4-H competes in:
• Forestry Judging • Dairy Quiz Bowl
• Wildlife Judging • Dairy Judging
• Cotton Boll and • Poultry Judging
Consumer Judging • Horse Judging
Each contest is different but teaches students something new and exciting!
Many students will tell you that competing on the judging teams are some of the
most fun they have in 4-H. We would love to have you join us!
Leadership Prepares Students for the Future
Poultry Judging
Dairy Judging
v *V
Forestry Judging
Project S.A.F.E. Teaches Responsibility
This year Burke County 4-H was once again able to offer a shotgun team for
4-H'ers. Students involved in the Project S.A.F.E. (Shooting Awareness, Fun
and Education) are taught safe and responsible use of firearms based on
sound decision-making, self-discipline and concentration. The program
promotes the highest standards of safety, good sportsmanship and ethical
behavior.
Leadership development is essential to
youth development - after all, the youth
are the future! Burke County 4-H is
training tomorrow's leaders through
officer positions, teen leadership, and
leadership conferences. At the local
level, officers are elected in every club to
run the meetings, starting in the 4 th
grade and going up through high school.
Officers are trained on how to conduct
their duties, but also how to serve as an
example to their peers.
Students also have the opportunity to
run for District and State Office positions
and serve in a leadership role at a high
level. This past year, Lelan Eberly was
elected to serve the Southeast District
on the Senior 4-H Board of Directors.
Above, 4-H
Day at the
Capitol.
Right,
Lelan Eberly
was elected
to serve on
the
Southeast
District
Senior Board of Directors.
Once 4-H'ers reach the 7 th grade and older, they are eligible to begin serving as
teen leaders at various 4-H events. Many Burke County 4-H'ers served as teen
leaders at summer camp, project achievement, reward trips, and other local
activities. Serving as a teen leader teaches students responsibility, how to be a
good example, and how to help younger students.
Leadership conferences are very popular in 4-H, and many students attend
several each year. Some conferences include Fall Forum, Junior Conference,
Senior Conference, and State Council. These conferences will often include
speakers, workshops, service projects, and recreation. The District and State
Officers plan and run the conferences, so students get to see their peers in
action.
4-H Encourages Students to Help Out
Livestock Teach Life Lessons
Showing an animal takes a lot of hard work and
dedication, but it is also a lot of fun. Burke County 4-
H'ers have the opportunity to show Dairy Cattle, Goats,
and other livestock. Showing an animal does not
require students to have any previous experience - just
a willingness to learn! Animals must be fed and cared
for each day, but they also must be trained for the
show. Training an animal for a show requires patience;
they must learn how to walk on a halter, set their legs
in the right place for the judge, and stand still. 4-H'ers
then take their animals to several shows each year to
compete against other students in showmanship,
where everyone is judged on their ability to present the
animal, and either weight or breed class where the
animals are judged based on their conformation. 4-
H'ers wash and clip their animal and fit their hair for
the show. Regardless of what animal a 4-H'er chooses
to show, students learn patience, diligence,
responsibility, and sportsmanship.
4-H Pledge
I Pledge my Head to
clearer thinking, My Heart
to greater loyalty, My
Hands to larger service,
And my Health to better
living - For my club, my
community, my country,
and my world!
Jiles Coble exhibits his
Market Goat at the
Georgia National Fair.
Michaela Pollex became a Master
4-H'er after winning 4-H Dairy
Showmanship.
'The most profound thing about4-H i® that it i® this incredible organization that
unites all kinds of different people from all facets of life who have varied
interests and personalities, it connects you with people who serve as teachers,
mentors, peers, and friends, and it allows you to explore interests you never
knew you had. 4-H teaches you to strive for the best, to set goals for yourself,
and to never give up until you’ve made your best effort to achieve those goals.
My involvement in the Georgia 4-H program has enhanced my leadership skills,
taught me valuable lessons of determination, perseverance, and acceptance,
and has motivated me to continuously promote growth not only in myself but in
those around me as well. I’ve learned to take advantage of every moment and
seize every opportunity for all it is worth."*'
- Michaela Pollex, former Burke County 4-H'er
Burke County Extension Staff:
Peyton Sapp, CEC & Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent
Katie Burch, Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent
Terri Black, Family & Consumer Science Agent
Meridith Franks, 4-H & Youth Agent
Samantha Lord, AmeriCorps 4-H Program Assistant
Louise McClain, Secretary
For more information about how to get involved in
Burke County 4-H, call the Burke County Extension
Office at (706) 554-2119 or visit our website at
www.ugaextension.org/county-offices/burke.html
Caring for the community and people around you is an
important lesson for youth to learn. 4-H focuses on teaching
students the value of community service through monthly
in-school service projects.
Each month, 4-H'ers collect service items in their classes to
donate including pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House,
canned food and personal care items for the needy, and
writing letters for our troops.
Musical Talents Unleashed
Through the state 4-H musical group, Clovers & Company,
three Burke County 4-H'ers get to use their talents by
performing all over the state. Kelly Carter, Tripp Carter,
and Lelan Eberly are among 50 4-H'ers who were selected
to be in this performing arts group.
Clovers & Company will be performing at the Burke
County Office Park Saturday, April 29 th as part of the
Waynesboro-Burke Concert Series.
4-H Summer Camp - The Highlight of the Summer!
Summer camp is the highlight of every kid's summer, and 4-H camp is a
tradition for many across the state. With five 4-H centers in Georgia, campers
have the chance to experience something new from the mountains, to the big
city, to the beach. This year, Burke County took 51 fifth and sixth grade 4-H'ers
to Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, Georgia. Campers spent the week
cheering on their tribe, swimming, and taking classes on anything from
canoeing to entomology. There was plenty of time for playing sports, wearing
out the dance floor, and making tons of new friends.
Burke County also took 12 seventh and eighth graders to Camp Burton on
Tybee Island. 4-H'ers spent their week learning about crabs and critters,
playing at the beach, going on a ghost tour in Savannah, participating in service
projects, and dancing the night away on a Savannah Dinner Cruise.
Senior 4-H Camp was held at Rock Eagle with 12 ninth thru twelfth graders
from Burke County attending. Campers took classes that ranged from yoga, to
commercial making, to more traditional camp activities like canoeing. The
highlight of the week was the Thursday trip to Athens to the University of
Georgia, where campers had the opportunity to attend workshops taught by
University professors in categories that ranged from Dairy Lactation Physiology,
Anthropology, and Early Childhood Education.
On the Beach at Junior Camp
Cloverleaf Camp Counselors at Rock Eagle
This Community 4-H News
is Sponsored by Frank Carter, M.D.
& Senator Jesse Stone