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Published on 10/04/22

National 4-H Week celebrates excellence in positive youth development

By Josie Smith
Ware County 4-H'er Amiyah Elam delivered an address to the 2022 Georgia 4-H State Congress delegation and shared the story of how 4-H molded her into a successful young leader.
Ware County 4-H'er Amiyah Elam delivered an address to the 2022 Georgia 4-H State Congress delegation and shared the story of how 4-H molded her into a successful young leader. (Photo by Josie Smith)

Georgia 4-H is celebrating National 4-H Week and recognizing more than 100 years of excellence in positive youth development Oct. 2 through 8.

“Opportunity4All” is the 2022 National 4-H Week theme. With over 6 million members and 25 million alumni nationally, 4-H programs touch young people from all backgrounds and communities.

Georgia 4-H the largest youth leadership organization in the state, engaging 240,000 students in a standard program year, typically in fourth through 12th grades.

Young people will play a key role in creating a more promising future for families and communities across the world. Georgia 4-H  helps members find their spark and discover belonging, empowering youth to develop leadership skills, life skills and responsibility with programming based on research from UGA faculty and other land-grant universities nationwide.

Georgia 4-H is rooted in agriculture, originating with the 1905 Newton County Corn Club for Boys. The program now has additional branches in science, technology, healthy living and civic engagement, attracting students from all areas of interest and engaging youth from the most urban to the most rural areas.

4-H’ers perform community service, conduct research, compile portfolios of their accomplishments and learn public speaking skills through oral presentations during 4-H Project Achievement. Additional 4-H programming includes livestock projects, judging teams, ambassador programs, performing arts, safe and healthy cooking, Project S.A.F.E., and countless other opportunities for learning and growth.  

4-H summer camp provides life-changing experiences for thousands of Georgia youth every year. The 2022 camping season brought more than 8,000 campers to five 4-H centers located throughout the state from the mountains to the sea.

“We are able to provide top-tier opportunities to our students because of partnerships with all Extension faculty and staff in all 159 Georgia counties,” said Sue Chapman, interim Georgia 4-H state leader. “4-H is giving youth a safe and welcoming place to thrive that will set them on a path to lifelong success.”

Georgia 4-H expands horizons for its members and encourages them to be productive citizens in the world around them. National 4-H Week is a collective opportunity to recognize all the ways that 4-H’ers are living out the organizational motto “to make the best better.”

For more information about how to join, volunteer or support Georgia 4-H, contact your local University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office or visit georgia4h.org.

Josie Smith is the public relations coordinator for Georgia 4-H.

Authors:
Josie Smith
Experts/Sources:
Sue W. Chapman
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