4-H club is the nation’s largest youth leadership development organization, empowering nearly six million young people across the U.S. with the skills to lead for a lifetime.

  The state of Georgia has one of the largest state programs in the country, with around 170,000 active 4-H participants across the state. The 4-H program combines federal, state, and local expertise and resources.

  Henry County has over 2,900 students a month participating in the 4-H program. The Henry County 4-H staff conducts educational programming in 125 fifth grade classrooms each month from September through March.

  Local opportunities for students in the fifth-12th grades to participate in 4-H include: County Council, Middle School 4-H Club, 4-H Horse Club, 4-H Dog Club, 4-H Archery Team, 4-H Shooting Sports Team and a variety of weekend events as well as summer camps open to active 4-H members.

  A total of 32 screened volunteers support the 4-H program in a variety of roles. Last year, Henry County 4-H volunteers served over 2,400 hours.

  “My reason for staying involved and being a volunteer leader is an attempt to pay the organization back. I was a 4-H-er when I was in school and then my kids became involved and we started volunteering. You can write a check and donate goods, but sometimes the best thing is to be there as a mentor,” said Ricky Rivers, Henry County 4-H volunteer. “4-H allows kids to get up onstage in front of 800 other kids and give a speech. I mentored a child that was 12 and had never seen the ocean. He was in the camping program as a camper and spent a week at the beach learning about marine science. At Rock Eagle, kids spend a week there learning about lake ecology. 4-H gives kids real world experience.”

  4-H is a major partner in education. Lessons taught, experiences shared and information presented in 4-H is based on the research of the University of Georgia and Fort Valley State University.

  The mission of Georgia 4-H is to assist youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills, and forming attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society.  This mission is accomplished, through ‘hands on’ learning experiences, focused on agricultural and environmental issues, agriculture awareness, leadership, communication skills, foods and nutrition, health, energy conservation and citizenship.

  Jennifer Evans, a 4-H Dog Club leader in Henry County, has around 34 participants that meet monthly. For eight years, she has shared her passion for animals with the students while also fostering their love for animals.

  “We partner with local rescues that come in and bring dogs to visit, talk about different careers in the canine world, and have guest speakers from Piedmont Search and Rescue, local groomers, veterinarians, and the Henry County Police Department Canine unit,” said Evans. “We teach about canine education and canine health in regard to vaccinations and spay and neuter. I use the 4-H Dog Club to bridge the students with the local rescue community so that they are aware of the needs in the community in terms of overpopulation and spay/neuter.”

  Evans said that participation in 4-H boosts participants confidence and gives the students the opportunity to challenge themselves.

  “The empowerment and encouragement that 4-H can provide is extraordinary. I am seeing kids come in with no self-esteem and confidence and are terrified of public speaking,” said Evans. Within a year or two, you can see confidence being built and their whole personality come out. To me, that is neat.”

  Henry County 4-H also introduces public speaking to students beginning in the fifth grade. Henry County 4-H has been recognized for several years with the largest number of competitors at the annual competition.

  “Honestly, without 4-H, I would not be able to make this call,” Ashlyn Donaldson, Henry County 4-H participant, told the Times. 

  “4-H has really helped me with my public speaking, time management skills and responsibility. I definitely feel that participating in 4-H helps you learn different skills that help you for life. 4-H is a really great opportunity and I am so grateful that I got to do it,” said Donaldson. “When I was younger, I was shy and could not talk to others without my mom there to help me. I can now be confident in my future plans. I want to be a member of collegiate 4-H and eventually become a mentor. 4-H is an organization that sticks with you for the rest of your life. It has given me so much, I want to give back to them.”

  Georgia 4-H began in 1904 when Newton County school superintendent, G.C. Adams, organized an agricultural corn club for boys in Covington, Ga.  While Georgia is one of several states that claims to be the birthplace of 4-H, the reality is 4-H didn’t start at any one time or place.

  The four H’s symbolize the development of the HEAD (to think, plan and reason), the HEART (to be concerned with the welfare of others, accept the responsibility of citizenship and develop positive attitudes), the HANDS (to be useful, helpful and skillful) and HEALTH (to practice healthy living, enjoy life and use time wisely).

  To learn more about Georgia 4-H, visit https://georgia4h.org/. To learn more about Henry County 4-H, visit https://extension.uga.edu/county-offices/henry.html or call the 4-H office at 770-288-8421.