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Paulding County Extension reports expanded tests, volunteer hours and 4-H participation in 2024
Summary
Paulding County Extension told commissioners that 2024 saw growth in diagnostic testing, volunteer contributions and 4-H participation, and outlined upcoming programs including public speaking, Arbor Day giveaways and a Journeyman Farmer certificate.
Mary Carol Sheffield, a Paulding County Extension representative, told the Board of Commissioners on Jan. 28 that the county's Cooperative Extension activities expanded in 2024 and outlined plans for 2025 programming.
Sheffield reported that in 2024 the office processed 271 soil tests, 61 water tests, 2 forage tests and 352 insect and plant diagnostic samples. Extension volunteers — 16 master gardeners who reported last year — contributed 1,276 volunteer hours and supported 25 public gardening programs. The county's 4-H program meets monthly with every fifth-grade classroom in Paulding County; Sheffield said that amounts to roughly 99 club meetings each month and is the baseline for ongoing youth engagement.
Sheffield highlighted specific accomplishments from 2024: the county hosted its fourth annual project achievement public speaking contest with 141 fifth-grade participants, the BB (BB gun) team competed at the Daisy BB Nationals in Arkansas, the shotgun team qualified for the state 4-H match and a senior 4-H member, Savannah Blaylock, was selected as a state 4-H healthy living ambassador. The extension awarded three local scholarships last year to students now studying horticulture and agriculture at the University of Georgia and Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College.
Upcoming events and programming Sheffield noted included Journeyman Farmer certificate registration (small-ruminant focus), 4-H summer camp registration, the county public speaking contest on Feb. 15 in Dallas, and an Arbor Day tree giveaway organized with Keep Paulding Beautiful on Feb. 21. Sheffield also described the county's ongoing partnerships with local schools, libraries and Paulding Enterprises, and invited volunteers to serve as judges for upcoming public speaking contests.
Sheffield credited volunteers and county support for the program's reach and said extension staff will continue to bring University of Georgia resources to local residents. A commissioner asked for clarification about Paulding Enterprises during the Q&A; Sheffield described it as a local organization serving developmentally disabled adults with daily programming and activities.
The extension report was delivered as an informational presentation; no board action was recorded in the provided transcript excerpt.
