Georgia 4-H’s 172,354 student members will celebrate National 4-H Week Oct. 2-8.

During the week, the state’s largest youth development organization wants 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.

It’s true that 44 percent of Georgia 4-H members live in rural areas, but just 3 percent live on a farm. Fifty-three percent say they live in the city, in a small town or in another urban or suburban setting.  Here in Fayette County, 946 students in grades 4-12 participate in 4-H.

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

Georgia 4-H under the umbrella of UGA Extension, and 4-H programs are based on research from the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and other UGA colleges. Georgia 4-H agents supplement teachers’ efforts by using after-school lessons and in-school curricula designed to meet Georgia Performance Standards.

Georgia 4-H has always had roots in science, in recent years that emphasis has shifted slightly to include other closely-related 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.”  

“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 youths 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.

Each year, over 30,000 Georgia 4-H youth perform community service, conduct research, compile portfolios of their accomplishments and learn public speaking skills through oral presentations at 4-H District Project Achievement.

According to Tufts University study, 4-H members are:

– Two times more likely to contribute to their communities than youths not in 4-H

– Three times more physically active than youths not in 4-H

– Five times more likely to graduate from college than youths not in 4-H

– Two times more likely to pursue a career in science than youths not in 4-H

The structured learning, encouragement and adult mentoring that young people receive through 4-H plays a vital role in helping them actively contribute to their communities, according to the study.

To learn more about Fayette County 4-H, contact the Fayette County UGA Extension office at 770-305-5412×7 or online at ugaextension.org/Fayette/4h.