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Support Barrow County 4-H with a $4 gift on April 4

In a friendly competition with other Georgia counties, Barrow County is asking local supporters to make donations of $4 or more on April 4 during an online giving day. Known as “$4 for 4-H,” this annual tradition raises money to directly fund county 4-H programming through the Georgia 4-H Foundation.

The number four is an important symbol to the 4-H organization. An “H” in each leaf of the four-leaf clover logo represents the tenants of the pledge: head, heart, hands, and health. April 4 marks the fourth day of the fourth month of the year. Counties receiving at least four donations will turn green on a Georgia map that is updated throughout the day.

The online giving day was launched in 2019 with support from members of the Georgia 4-H Foundation Board of Trustees. Friends of 4-H have made the initiative a major success each year, and the 2023 goal of $60,074 goal was easily reached with 1,524 individual donors. The 2024 state fundraising goal has been set at $74,444. 

The 2024 goal for Barrow County 4-H is $4000. These funds will go directly to educational opportunities for Barrow County students, including summer activities, public speaking competitions, judging teams, leadership training, & community service workshops. Our office works tirelessly to enrich the lives of Barrow County students through a variety of programming!

Gifts of $44 or $444 are also welcomed, including any amount between or above these benchmarks. Those interested in donating can find the giving form at www.georgia4h.org/four. The form includes a field to designate gifts to a specific Georgia county. To make sure your donation benefits local 4-H’ers, select Barrow County while donating. 

Follow Barrow County's social media to keep track of donation progress on April 4. Click here to go to Barrow County's Facebook page.
A gift to Georgia 4-H results in life-changing opportunities for youth. Programs delivered at the county level provide positive youth development experiences facilitated by caring adults. Contributions made during the $4 for 4-H online giving day directly support county 4-H programs.
Georgia 4-H empowers youth to become true leaders by developing necessary life skills, positive relationships, and community awareness. As the premier youth leadership organization in the state, 4-H reaches hundreds of thousands of people in a typical year through UGA Extension offices and 4-H facilities.

For more information about how to get involved with 4-H as a student, parent, or volunteer, visit georgia4h.org or contact your local Extension office.

Click HERE to give!

_{Barrow County, Georgia}

Barrow County is located in the north-central portion of the state. As of the 2020 census the population was 83,505. The county seat of Barrow County is Winder. Barrow County has a total area of 163 square miles. Barrow County is located in the Upper Oconnee sub-basin of the Altamaha River basin.  Other cities in Barrow County include Auburn, Bethlehem, Braselton, Carl, and Statham.

Our office is conveniently located at 90 Lanthier St., Winder GA. We are near the National Guard Armory(Lee St.) and the Barrow County Senior Citizens Center(Maynard St).

The Barrow County Cooperative Extension Office extends lifelong learning to Georgia citizens through unbiased, research-based education.

Some of our most popular services include:

• Soil and Water Tests
• Soil Test Instructions:  
•  1. Determine the area that you want to sample(1 sample should represent no more than 15 acres)
• 2. Use a sandwich size zip top bag and small spade shovel  or trowel to take a thin vertical slice or core of soil from 10-20 different places in the area to be tested. Mix the sample in the bag thoroughly.
• 3. Bring collected sample to the Barrow County Extension office located at : 90 Lanthier St, Winder GA 30680.
• 4. Upon arrival at the office we will transfer the sample to the official soil bag and collect your information.
• 5. Payment for soil processing and postage will be collected at our office.  Cost is $11 per sample and is payable by cash(exact change preferred), credit card or check.
• 6. Soil Sample results will be emailed to you within 7-10 business days. 
• If you decide to send multiple tests, mark each bag with the area it was taken from. 
• You will also need to know what you will be planting in the area that you're taking the sample from. Examples can include: vegetable garden, bermuda grass, flowering annuals, fescue grass.... etc.
• Sample problem Areas separately.
• If you have more questions about soil samples, please contact our office at : 770-307-3029

• Public and municipal water supplies are routinely tested and must meet standards established by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Therefore, these sources usually do not need to be tested unless in-house contamination is suspected. However, only you are responsible for the safety of your well water.
• When you pour yourself a glass of water to drink, it may appear clean, taste good, and you may expect it to be safe. However, many sources of water we assume are safe may contain dissolved minerals, organic compounds or even live organisms at harmful concentrations. Contaminated water used for drinking and cooking may affect your health. Also, high concentrations of certain minerals in your water can result in quality issues such as unpleasant taste and odors or staining of bathroom fixtures and/or laundry.

• Water test sampling containers and instructions can be obtained through our office. Collected water samples will be delivered to the UGA Soil and Water Lab some samples require processing within 24 hours of being collected, results of those samples will be emailed to you within 7-10 business days. Call our office for details on water testing and what your options are.

Well Water Testing
It is suggested that you test your well water annually, typically in the Spring. The recommendation for routine well water tests are:

Year 1 (initially) – A W2 (Georgia Expanded Water Test) and a W35 (Total Coliform / E. coli test)
Year 2 – W1 (Basic Water Test) and W35 (Bacterial)
Year 3 – W1 (Basic Water Test) and W35 (Bacterial)
Year 4 – Repeat cycle with A W2 (Expanded Water Test) and a W35 (Total Coliform / E. coli test)
This rotation will provide information that will assist in knowing what the water quality of your well water is and will allow you and your Extension Agent to see any trends that maybe occurring over time. However, as mentioned above, if you notice anything out of the ordinary with the well water, contact your UGA Extension Agent to determine what might be the best tests to run to assist in finding a cause and solution.

The water samples collected and processed by the UGA Extension Agents, are sent to the UGA CAES Agricultural and Environmental Services Lab in Athens, Georgia.

Homes with wells will usually require a water test prior to closing. These test can take 7-10 business days to process so please plan accordingly. Some lenders only require a test to confirm that the water is potable/ drinkable, but some require a test for the presence of bacteria.

Steps to determine which water sample you require:
1. ASK the lender. Your lender will let you know which test you need.

For basic water test to prove water is potable/ drinkable: you can have a W1(basic water test) or W2(expanded water test) completed on your well water. W1 test will cover: PH & Hardness Aluminum Iron Nickel Phosphorus Boron Magnesium Manganese Silica Potassium Chromium Sodium Calcium Copper Molybdenum & Zinc
W2 covers: (all of the above) & will test Anions, soluble salts & Alkalinity
Expanded Water Testing
A W1 water test is $25 & a W2 water test is $65

Home Loan Closing test will cover a basic water test as well as a bacteria test. This test must be delivered by the customer to the UGA water lab within 24 hours of taking the sample. (The sooner the better) Samples need to be collected specifically and  may need a 3rd party to collect for you. You will need to obtain the proper collection bottles from our office then, fill in the form & follow the instructions at this link: Home Loan Closing Test Form & Instructions
A home loan Closing Test is $85 paid at the water lab when you drop off your sample.

Collection bottles for all tests can be obtained at no charge from our office located at 90 Lanthier Street, Winder GA 30680

For more information about water testing click this link: Testing your well water

If you have any further questions about well water testing please contact our office at : 770-307-3029 or email Barrow County Extension.
 

• House Hold Water Quality  Publications

• 4-H Summer Camps
  
• Health Programs like Walk Georgia

Have questions or want to know more?

Contact Us!