Appling County's 4‑H program reports growth, new staff and new offerings

Julie Bacon, Appling County's 4‑H agent, told the Board that the county's 4‑H program has grown and that commissioners' recent funding made a full‑time program assistant possible.

"My name is Julie Bacon. I'm the 4‑H agent," Bacon said as she introduced the extension team and described program activity tied to National 4‑H Week.

Bacon said Georgia 4‑H is the nation's largest state program and summarized the county's local activity: school clubs serving fourth through sixth grades in five schools; monthly junior and senior club meetings that together will total 32 club meetings per month; rising participation at District Project Achievement; and expanded summer‑camp attendance.

Madison Waters, the new full‑time 4‑H program assistant funded by the county, described her local roots and early work since joining the staff in 2025. "I was born and raised in Appling County ... and I was able to turn around and get this full time position in 2025," Waters said, noting she helped at District Project Achievement and attended Rock Eagle 4‑H Center with students.

Bacon outlined six new county offerings added this year, naming a health and wellness ambassador program and a Mercer Medical Experience partnership with Mercer University that lets youth shadow medical students. She also said the county received an agricultural grant and partnered with the Chamber of Commerce to include youth on a farm tour.

The county is starting a horse club as an interest club this year, Bacon said, with plans to expand into state competitions and educational contests. She described future plans to add horse judging teams and hippology — judging and knowledge competitions about horses — to give participants additional competitive and teamwork opportunities.

Bacon and Waters thanked the commissioners for making the program assistant position possible and offered to provide additional materials and copies of program summaries to commissioners.