Leadership came to life for the largest-ever Georgia 4-H Day at the Capitol delegation in Atlanta as 4-H’ers engaged with the civic process. Elected officials joined nearly 800 youth, staff, volunteers and supporters on Feb. 25 to celebrate the impact of 4-H in Georgia. State Sen. Larry Walker and Georgia Rep. Rick Jasperse served as legislative hosts for the 4-H delegation. County 4-H groups explored and toured the Capitol building, and many 4-H leaders arranged direct meetings with senators and representatives from their districts. Georgia’s current slate of elected officials includes many 4-H alumni, parents and supporters who welcomed students to the place where government comes to life.

Angela Dupree’s office is overflowing with elfin magic. Her office mate is Ernie the Elf, the Hollow Tree conference room is around the corner, and it’s her job to make sure the cookies you buy in the store are perfect, batch after batch. Dupree, who graduated with a bachelor’s degree in environmental health and a minor in environmental soil science from the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences in 1992, is the food safety and quality manager at Ferrero Bakery in Augusta, Georgia.

Over a Zoom call from Switzerland, University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences alum Consuelo De Moraes shows a video of a bumblebee nibbling on a leaf in a semicircular motion, a behavior that accelerates the flowering process when pollen is scarce. As she explains the movements of the bumblebee, she is wide-eyed and fascinated. This insect behavior is one of the latest discoveries for De Moraes, a chemical ecologist and professor who directs the Laboratory of Biocommunication and Entomology at ETH Zürich.

From the small village of Batloun in the mountains of Lebanon to the American University of Beirut, Jouman Hassan carried the lessons her parents instilled in her. Their guidance has served her well at the University of Georgia. At the graduation ceremony for the UGA Griffin campus in December, Hassan shared powerful wisdom from her mother. “Jouman, the word ‘impossible’ doesn’t exist in my dictionary — I erased it,” Hassan recalled her mother saying to her, and she has used the words as a talisman throughout her academic journey. 

Starting seeds indoors can give you a jump on the growing season, helping you stay ahead of the stifling summer heat and the inevitable wave of insect pests. While the cold lingers, plenty of garden prep can be done indoors, including ordering seeds, mapping out your garden and purchasing supplies online or from your local gardening store. With mild afternoons upon us, you’ll be ready to tackle outdoor preparations. To help you get the best results when starting seeds, we turned to three top experts from University of Georgia Cooperative Extension to set you up for success.

Seventeen University of Georgia students received Fulbright offers for the 2024-25 academic year, placing UGA among the top-producing institutions for Fulbright U.S. students. This is the third year in a row — and the seventh time in 12 years — that UGA has been named a top producer of Fulbright U.S. students. Leah Whitmoyer, Fulbright recipient and recent College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences grad, is in Tunisia working on agricultural research projects addressing compost production, well water sampling for salinity and aquifer monitoring.

Antibiotics are commonplace — used to treat minor and major infections, prevent infection post-surgery, and treat our pets and livestock. But what happens if these life-saving drugs lose their efficacy? Issmat Kassem, assistant professor at the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, has asked this question for nearly two decades.

The future of farming depends on the health and success of farmers. The public needs farmers and farmers need support from the public — it's a mutual relationship essential to the long-term health of agriculture and humanity. This is the principle that drew doctoral student Elizabeth Abati to the University of Georgia to advocate for farmer well-being alongside Anna Scheyett, a professor in UGA's College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Cedric Knight never underestimates the power of hard work. Knight transferred to the University of Georgia his junior year. After graduating, he served two decades in the Navy and retired as commander. In 1995, at the cusp of the internet age, he launched New Directions Technologies Inc., an IT, software, engineering, and cybersecurity services company, where he’s still CEO.