Georgia 4-H

It’s National 4-H Week! We are GOING GREEN today and every day this week to celebrate the positive impact 4-H has on young people in Georgia and all across the nation. Show us your Go Green moment and join us in making the best better! 💚🍀

Forestry field days and Forestry Judging empower youth to be good stewards of Georgia's natural resources and wildlife habitats. 🌳 Contestants learn to identify 70 tree species found in Georgia, study the most common insects and diseases that impact our forests, and use pacing, compasses, and other tools to estimate timber volume. Burke County took home first place at the contest last week at the Georgia Forestry Commission in Macon!

Georgia 4-H ❤️'s the Dawgs! We celebrated 4-H Day at UGA Football on Saturday with a tailgate hosted by Dr. Barry Dotson and a big win on the field. Go Dawgs! 🖤❤️🍀

Land Judging kicked off the 2026-2027 4-H program year as our first state contest and Barrow County seniors became this year's first Master 4-H'ers! Land Judging prepares youth to protect and improve land with a focus on soil structure, erosion impact, classification, and proper land treatment. 🍀

Jakyn Tyson, Emanuel County 4-H Agent, is the 2026 state winner of the prestigious William H. Booth Award! With over 18 years of extension experience, Jakyn has mentored 41 Master 4-H'ers, secured $350,000 to support 4-H programming, and piloted state-wide workforce development programs for youth. She manages a dedicated network of volunteers that have expanded program reach with nearly 29,000 hours of service. The William H. Booth Award is given by Georgia EMC and was presented by President and CEO Dennis Chastain. Congratulations, Jakyn! 🍀

Georgia 4-H is honored to present the 2026 Friend of 4-H Award to UGA President Jere W. Morehead. Throughout his 13-year tenure as the university's leader, President Morehead has demonstrated unwavering support for Georgia 4-H. He regularly attends key 4-H events, meets annually with 4-H officers, and amplifies 4-H messaging through his own channels. He celebrates the contributions 4-H makes to the UGA mission, and numerous 4-H alumni have served in his cabinet. Georgia 4-H and GAE4-HYDP extend heartfelt appreciation to President Morehead for his long-standing commitment to 4-H youth and the Cooperative Extension mission. 🍀

Michaela Brown, Madison County 4-H Agent, was named the 2026 Ryles Rising Star Award recipient during State Congress. 🍀 Michaela leads a vibrant 4-H program, serving more than 500 youth with a focus on local needs. Since beginning her tenure in Madison County in January 2025, she has significantly increased 4-H participation, Project Achievement success, extracurricular opportunities, and community involvement. Michaela also supports the Northeast District as a Board Advisor and supports 4-H professional development at the state and national levels. Georgia 4-H is proud to recognize Michaela for her outstanding work in her first five years of employment!

Georgia 4-H and Georgia EMC are honored to recognize Mr. Stephen Shimp as the 2026 4-H Green Jacket Award recipient. Mr. Shimp has been a strong statewide supporter of Georgia 4-H for ten years as the Executive Director of Georgia National Fairgrounds & Agricenter . Under his leadership, GNFA partners with 4-H to host 12 livestock shows each year, along with many other exhibits, contests, and events. GNFA provides an estimated $150,000 annually to support the Georgia Junior National Livestock Show through facilities, awards, bedding, and premiums. Mr. Shimp has expanded opportunities for youth by bringing major 4-H contests to the fairgrounds, including the State Horse Show, State Modified Trap Sh***un Match, and State Indoor Archery Match. Locally, he volunteers as a certified SAFE coach for Houston County 4-H. Georgia 4-H extends sincere appreciation to Mr. Shimp for his dedicated leadership and his commitment to creating meaningful experiences for young people across the state.

We celebrated 53 new Master 4-H'ers last night at the State Congress Announcement of Winners! Each delegate who competed this week logged countless hours of service, learning, and preparation leading up to this moment. Congratulations to all! 🍀