Appling County 4‑H reports participation gains, new full‑time assistant funded by commissioners

Julie Bacon, Appling County 4‑H agent, told the board that the county’s 4‑H program has grown after the commission funded a full‑time 4‑H program assistant.

“Madison Waters is new to our team this year, and she is our 4‑H program assistant full time thanks to these lovely commissioners,” Bacon said, describing staff roles and the Cooperative Extension relationship with the University of Georgia.

Nut graf: Bacon said county 4‑H has increased participation across multiple activities and restored fourth‑grade school club meetings after the new hire. She described statewide context — Georgia has one of the nation’s largest 4‑H programs — and linked local growth to county funding and extension staff work.

Madison Waters, the new program assistant, said she joined the position in January 2025 and has worked on District Project Achievement and summer camp activities. “I was able to travel to Rock Eagle 4‑H center where I worked alongside the children as they competed,” Waters said, noting one senior advanced to state 4‑H congress and placed third in the state in her event.

Staff provided a program summary at commissioners’ seats listing core county offerings: monthly club meetings, district project achievement, summer campus and state council participation. Bacon said the county now serves five schools with fourth‑through‑sixth‑grade school club meetings and that junior and senior club meetings total 32 club meetings per month.

The presenters described six new county offerings added this year, including a health and wellness ambassador program, a Mercer University medical‑experience partnership for youth interested in medical careers, an agricultural grant supporting a farm tour with the local Chamber of Commerce, and plans to start a horse club and a livestock judging team.

On the horse club, Bacon said membership need not require horse ownership and that the club will begin as an interest group with a safety meeting planned for November and riding opportunities before Christmas. She said competitive and educational options such as state horse shows, essay contests and future judging teams would be offered as the club develops.

The presentation noted growth in district project achievement entries, state council representation (from one to three participants) and summer camp participation; staff said county numbers were up across those measures but did not provide a single consolidated enrollment total.

Ending: Bacon and Waters thanked commissioners for the funding that created the full‑time position and asked the board to contact extension staff if it wanted further program details or additional copies of the program summary.