Pickens County commissioners honor 4‑H students and volunteers for statewide and national achievements

Pickens County recognized local 4‑H volunteers and students for awards and competition results during the commissioners’ meeting.

Tracy Beckingham, a 4‑H volunteer with roughly 35 years of service, told the board the county program grew about 25% this year and highlighted multiple competitive successes: 11 participants in Cloverleaf DPA all placed first; the junior varsity computer‑quiz team took first in the state and the varsity team placed third nationally; district and state fair exhibits earned numerous first‑place finishes; and several students were selected as state 4‑H ambassadors or to represent Georgia at regional leadership conferences. “I think the more kids we get, the better achievement we’ve made for our county as a whole,” Beckingham said.

Student leaders also addressed the board. Micah (co‑president of the senior club) and Reese Davis (tenth‑grade co‑president) thanked the commissioners for support and called forward individual students for recognition and photos. Several students were named for project awards across categories including bicycle projects, food fair, flowers, target sports and public speaking. The board offered congratulations and allowed the students to leave early after the recognitions.

The recognitions emphasized youth engagement and the county’s role in supporting extracurricular agricultural and leadership development programs; no board action or appropriations were tied to the presentations during the meeting.