UGA Cooperative Extension
Toombs County Extension Office:
News & Events
For the current edition of the Clover Times 4-H Newsletter visit the newsletter page.
Toombs County Takes Top Honors at Cloverleaf Project Achievement
Toombs – Vidalia 4-H Brings Home Top Honors at Fall Cloverleaf Project Achievement
On November 12, 2011, fifty six 5th and 6th grade Cloverleaf 4-H members traveled to Blackshear, Georgia for the District Project Achievement contest. Almost three hundred members from eight southeast Georgia counties attended the event. As participants in the contest, members present a short demonstration about a subject matter of choice. Members choose from one of over sixty project areas dealing with each of the 4-H core values of Agriculture, Citizenship, Communication, the Environment, Family and Consumer Sciences and Leadership.
Also this year, Toombs –Vidalia 4-H was awarded four county participation awards. The group received first place for Most Participants (56), first place for Most Improved Participation, second place for Greatest Percentage Participation and third place for Most First Place Winners.
4-H members from five area elementary and middle schools attended the contest. Members are listed by school, placing and project.
There were three participants from J.R. Trippe Middle School. Brionna Conner received 2nd place in Clothing and Textiles, Ivan Brinson received 2nd in Public Speaking and Savyor Wiggins received 4th place in Outdoor Recreation.
Nineteen students from Lyons Upper Elementary School attended. First place participants included: Takara Thomas (Food for the Family), Cari Eason (General Recreation), Karyah Furman (Housing Equipment and Environment), Breannah Hutcheson (Outdoor Recreation), Edgar Hernandez (Archaeology) and Cynthia Hernandez (Cat Care). Members receiving second place included Yarami Lopez (Conservation & Recycling), Sadie Kelly (Flowers, Shrubs & Lawns), Katelyn Jenkins (Food for Fitness), Alejandra Ortiz (Fresh Water Fish & Shellfish), Angel Summerville (Outdoor Recreation) and Abigail Hutcheson (Photography). Those receiving third place included: Jonathan Williams (History), Cheyenne Dow (Safety) and Dylan Flowers (Target Sports). Fourth place particiants included: Faith Futch (Sports), Maddie Drake (Wildlife), Abigail Perez (Crafts) and Dawson Love (Safety)
Toombs Central Elementary School had thriteen participants. Those who received first place included Shymeria Eady (Computers), Allena McCoy (Dairy Foods), Gage Holland (Electric/Electronics), David Morales (General Science), Rachel Mead (Interior Design), Emilee Robertson (Ocean Ecology), Herminio Avila (Plants, Soils & Fertilizer) and Kacey Scarboro (Workforce Preparation & Career Development). Second place participants included: LiliAnn Pittman (Entomology) and Carlie Morgan (Sports). Autumn Hutley received third in the Dog Care & Training project. Bret "Ashlyn" White received 4th in the Horse Project.
There were eight participants from Toombs County Middle School. Receiving first place were: Ashley Houston (Cat Care) , Ky'Lee Fields (Health) and Destinee McCloud (Workforce Preparation & Career Development). Marissa Lightsey (Performing Arts-General) and Brianna Berry (Conservation & Recycling) received second place. Fourth place participants included MacKenzie Thompson (Wildlife), Emmett Denmark (Between Meal Snacks) and Jordan Mosley (Dog Care & Training).
Teen Leaders for this year’s contest were Alexis Dillard, Samantha Houston, Courtney Johnson, Clay Morgan, Hunter Morris, Erin Ricks and LaShanna Williams. Senior 4-H members Katie Denmark, Alex Dismuke, Emily Earls, Brittany Garcia, Jacob Rowland and Samantha Shatto served as Teen Judges for the contest.
Toombs County Extension staff members Jason Edenfield, Lesli Garrett and Cheryl Poppell, along with a host of parent volunteers served as chaperones for this year’s event. The staff would like to congratulate each member on their achievement.
For more information about 4-H in Toombs County, contact the Toombs County Extension /4-H office at 526-3101.
National 4-H Week is October 2-8, 2011
Join in as we celebrate National 4-H Week in Toombs County. We have a host of activities planned and there is something just for you. This year, our piece in The Advance will feature yesterday's 4-H'ers who are today's leaders. To take a sneak peak, click here.
Toombs County Forestry Team Competes
Toombs County Forestry Judging Teams participated in the Southeast District Forestry Field Day August 31, 2011 at the Reidsville Park. Both the junior and senior teams placed third. Cintestants included (front row) Erin Ricks, Courtney Johnson and Hannah Roberts and (back row) Brittany Garcia, Gracie Braddy, Katie Denmark, McKinsey McCoy and Samantha Shatto. Congratulations!
Toombs 4-H'er Attends State Congress
Toombs County 4-H member Mikayla Harden traveled to Atlanta on July 19, 2011 for Georgia State 4-H Congress. Held annually, 4-H Congress is the end of the year highlight for many of Georgia’s youth. Over 250 members were joined by hundreds of staff and University specialists for the four day event. While at State Congress, members competed in project competitions and also attended banquets, educational tours and visited Six Flags for the announcement of winners.
4-H Summer Programs Offer Fun for Youth
The Toombs County 4-H Office offered a variety of summer programs for youth. four sessions were held which included 4-H is Going Wild, CloverFest 2011, Healthy Eating for a Lifetime and Teen Life Skills—Learn By Doing.
GSU Wildlife Center
Clover Fest 2011
Cooking Class
Project SAFE Shotgun Wraps up Successful Season and Gives Back to Tornado Victims
The Toombs-Vidalia 4-H Project S.A.F.E. (Shooting Awareness, Fun and Education) Program recently finished its fifth year of competition. The program is curriculum based and designed to assist young people in personal development, establish a personal environmental ethic and explore life-long vocational and recreation activities. In 2011, the team competed in the Southeast District Qualification Match with eight members advancing to the State match. To read more, click here.
Toombs County Hosts Area Poultry Judging Event - Flys Away with Third Place
The Toombs Agri-center was the host location for the 2011 Southeast Poultry Judging contest held Thursday, April 14, 2011. Teams from across Southeast Georgia attended the event. Toombs County was represented by a Junior and Senior team. Toombs county Junior and Senior teams placed third. Click here for the full story.
4-H Project Achievement
Toombs County 4-H members traveled to Rock Eagle for the annual Project Achievement weekend. This year’s theme was “4-H: Rolling Out the Green Carpet.” During the event, twenty-nine members competed for top honors in their individual project area. The weekend was filled with project competitions, officer elections, special award presentations and recreation.
The project competition was two part. First members were scored on a project portfolio detailing activities completed during the 2010 calendar year. Second, members presented a demonstration in their project area. The scores from the two segments were combined for the total score. Senior first place winners received a trip to State 4-H Congress to represent the District in the State competition.
Thirteen Toombs County senior members in (grades 9 – 12) attended this year’s competition. Earning first place honors and a trip to State Congress was Mikayla Harden (Photography). Receiving second place was Brittany Garcia (Physical, Biological and Earth Science), Kayla Webb (Companion Animals), Katie Earls (Target Sports). Those who received third place were Tyler Chancey (Workfoce Preparation), Kayla Jackson (Festive Foods for Health) Christina Johnson (International) and McKinsey McCoy (Computers). Other participants included Alex Dismuke (Conservation of Natural Resources), Meghan Hadley (Performing Arts General, Risa Childs (Food Fare), Micaela Long (Textiles, Merchandising and Interiors) and Amber Mosley (Outdoor Recreation).
Sixteen junior members (grades 7-8) attended. Six students received first place. They included Katie Denmark (Better Breakfast), Emily Earls (Companion Animals), Shelby Harville (Photography), Clay Morgan (Safety), Hannah Reddish (Communications) and Robert Riner (Power & Energy).
Erin Ricks (General Recreation) and Hannah Roberts (Workforce Preparation & Career Development placed second in their project areas. Third place participants were Courtney Johnson (Dog Care & Training), Jacob Rowland (Dairy Foods) and LaShanna Williams (Physical, Biological & Earth Science). Other participants were Alex Dillard (Sports), Alexis Dillard (History), Matthew Hadley (Performing Arts - Instrumental), Emily Russell (Human Development) and Jacob Stallings (Safety).
The Toombs County delegation was recognized for having the largest increase in participation numbers as compared to 2010. Extension staff members who accompanied the group included: Cheryl Poppell, County Extension Coordinator; Jason Edenfield, County Extension Agent and Program Assistant Lesli Garrett. Volunteer Leaders Christopher Earls and Shirley Earls also attended the event.
Cloverleaf Project Achievement
Cloverleaf Project Achievement
Congratulations to our Cloverleaf Project Achievement Participants: Barren Mosley, Riley Adams, Heaven Bacon, Donnie Barrow, Taylor Beasley, Regan Benton, Brianna Berry, Saviyah Brantley, Ivan Brinson, Casandra Castro, Heaven Cowart, Lucas Dees, Bailey Dixon, Kailey Eudy, Blake Fields, Ky'Lee Fields, Marriah Fields, Karrie Galbreath, Brandi-Joe Graham, Ebony Hardy, Ashley Houston, Jennifer Johnson, Brittany Jones, Meredith Jones, Marissa Lightsey, Justin Lowe, Haley Mayes, Easton McGowan, Rena McKenzie, Kiara McLendon, Zeel Mehta, Christine Mobley, Carla Morales, Jordan Mosley, Elizabeth Pearson, Cameron Phillips, Hannah Ray, Dylan Reynolds, McKensie Thompson, Silvia Valenzuela, Cheyenne Walden, Donna Watson and
Karlie Wright.
National 4-H Week 2010
The "I AM GEORGIA 4-H" slogan is the theme for 2010 4-H Week. This week, we highlight 4-H in Georgia. 4-H members from the past, present and future will celelbrating the difference that 4-H made and is making in their life. To learn more about the I am Georgia 4-H Campaign, please visit the I am Georiga 4-H Webiste.
Toombs County ATV Safety Team Participates in Safety Saturday
Toombs County 4-H members and Extension Staff members participated in the second annual area Safety Saturday Event held at Lowe's in Vidlaia on Saturday, September 25, 2010. Students demonstrated proper ATV safety gear and discussed ATV Safety rules.
Forestry Juding Teams Bring Home Second Place Honors at District Contest
Front row pictured (L to R) are Junior Team members Erin Ricks, Summer Ramsey, Trenton Stephens, Katie Denmark and Carley McCoy. Back row pictured (L to R) are Senior Team members Kayla Webb, Brittany Garcia and McKinsey McCoy
On Wednesday, September 1, 2010 4-H members from five Southeast Georgia counties gathered at Gordonia - Altamaha State Park in Reidsville for the Southeast 4-H Forestry Field Day. In preparation, students spent the last month learning trees, insects and diseases common to Georgia forests and forestry skills.
Students competed in a total of four contest events testing their knowledge and skill level in the Forestry area. Events included: tree identification, insect and disease identification, timber volume estimation and pacing or compass exercises.
In the senior division for grades 9-12, the top three teams were Burke County, Toombs County and Appling County. In the junior division for grades 6-8, placing of counties were identical with Burke County in first, followed by Toombs County and Appling County. The Toombs County senior team will now advance to the State Contest, September 18, 2010, at Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton, Georgia.
At the awards ceremony, individual members were also recognized for their efforts. In the senior division, Brittany Garcia, McKinsey McCoy and Kayla Webb were recognized as the 6th, 7th and 8th place individuals in the overall contest. Junior team member Erin Ricks placed 6th in the junior contest.
The Toombs County team was coached by Cheryl A. Poppell, Toombs County 4-H Coordinator and Lesli D. Garrett, Toombs County 4-H Program Assistant.
Toombs County 4-H is a part of Georgia Cooperative Extension, promoting Learning for Life. For more information about forestry judging or other Toombs County 4-H programs, please contact the Toombs County Extension Office at 526-3101.
Toombs 4-H’ers Attend State 4-H Congress
Toombs County 4-H members Brittany Garcia and McKinsey McCoy traveled to Atlanta July 20, 2010 for Georgia State 4-H Congress. Held annually, 4-H Congress is the end of the year highlight for many of Georgia’s youth. Over 300 members were joined by hundreds of staff and University specialists for the four day event. While at State Congress, members competed in project competitions and also attended banquets, educational tours and visited Six Flags for the announcement of winners.
To attend State Congress, members must advance by winning top honors at the District contest which took place earlier in the year. Each member represented the Southeast District as project winners. Brittany Garcia competed in the Physical, Biological and Earth Sciences project and McKinsey McCoy competed in the Computers project. There were two parts of the competition: portfolio interview and demonstration. The demonstration and interview scores were combined for a final score.
Brittany Garcia placed third and McKinsey McCoy placed fourth in the Computers project and Courtney Jackson took fifth place honors in the History project.
The delegates were accompanied to State Congress by Toombs County Extension Program Assistant Lesli Garrett.
Georgia 4-H is a partner in public education where youth and adults are growing and working together to experience and accomplish the extraordinary.
Toombs County 4-H Shotgun Team Attends District Match 
The Toombs County 4-H shotgun team competed in the 2010 Southeast District 4-H Shotgun Match and State Qualification Event on Saturday, April 17, 2010 at Bay Gall Sporting Clays in Bulloch County. The team from Toombs County competed against over 280 shotgun shooters at this district match.
Local 4-H’ers who competed was: Ethan Brown, Will Brown, Ryan Copeland, Chase Corbin, Emily Earls, Katie Earls, Anthony Gibbs, Meghan Hadley, Nick Hester, Seth Moser, Caleb Parker, Trenton Stephens Christopher Warren, Kimberly Warren and Mitch Williamson.
The team practiced weekly since January to prepare for the competition. Each team member was also required to successfully complete the Georgia Hunter Safety Program.
Each of the team members performed well accumulating a team score of 112 at the event. The team score is comprised of the five highest individual scores from each county. Teams are identified and broken into sets of Junior (7th and 8th graders) and Senior (9th – 12thgrade) 4-H’ers.
Caleb Parker and Christopher Warren were the top shooters on the team at our Area District Match hitting 25 of the 25 clay targets. Parker and Warren then proceeded to the doubles round to determine individual winners in the district.
To advance to the state match on May 8, 2010 at Rock Eagle 4-H Center, Junior 4-H members had to break at least 16 of 25 targets and Senior 4-H member must break 20 of 25 targets. Team members Ethan Brown, Katie Earls, Nick Hester, Seth Moser, Caleb Parker, Christopher Warren and Mitch Williamson advanced to the state competition.
The Georgia 4-H Shooting Awareness, Fun and Education Program (S.A.F.E.) is sponsored by The Georgia 4-H Foundation. The Toombs County program is in its fourth year. Local sponsors of this year’s team included Friends of the NRA, Lasseter Implement Company, Liberty Baptist Church, Southern Steel Detailing, Inc., Toombs County Farm Bureau, Vidalia Federal Savings Bank, Georgia Small Business Council, Clarke Appliance, and McLain Farms.
The team is coordinated by Project S.A.F.E. Certified Coach David Garrett. Other coaches include John Hadley, Wendell Harvey and Dover Williamson.
Newly Formed BB Team Attends State Qualification Match
The Toombs County 4-H Project S.A.F.E BB Team competed in the Southwest Area BB match on Saturday, April 10th in Tifton. The team from Toombs County was one of approximately thirty teams in the competition.
The BB Team is through the Project S.A.F.E Program in 4-H. The S.A.F.E program teaches youth the core concepts of safety, ethical development, personal responsibility and life-time recreational skills. In BB, the shooters are scored in four positions: prone, standing, sitting and kneeling. They also have to take a written test on firearm safety.
Members of this year’s inaugural team are: (Back Row, L-R) Wendell Peebles, Matt Hadley, Jamie Taylor, Nick Franklin, (Front Row, L-R) Peyton Carroll, Adam Brown, Brad Sanders and Jacob Rush. Two members of the team, Wendell Peebles and Adam Brown, also qualified to go to the State BB Match on April 30th through May 2nd at the Rock Eagle 4-H Center. The BB Team is coached by County Agent, Jason Edenfield and Volunteer, John Hadley.
For more information on 4-H or Project S.A.F.E. please contact the Toombs County Cooperative Extension office at 912-526-3101.
Past Events
Meet the Future Town Hall Meeting
On Tuesday Evening, March 30, 2010, 4-H key supporters and guests gathered to learn more about the local 4-H program in Toombs County. Special guests spoke about the impact of 4-H in their lives.
Cloverleaf Project Achievement
Toombs County 4-H Competes at Cloverleaf District Project Achievement
Forty seven 5th and 6th grade Toombs County Cloverleaf 4-H members traveled to Alma, Georgia for the annual Cloverleaf District Project Achievement contest on March 20, 2010. There were over 500 members from thirteen southeast Georgia counties that attended the event. As participants in the contest, members present a short demonstration about a subject matter of choice. Members chose from one of over sixty project areas dealing with one of the 4-H core values of Agriculture, Citizenship, Communication, the Environment, Family and Consumer Sciences and Leadership.
Toombs County had the fourth largest delegation at the event. 4-H members from three area elementary and two middle schools attended the contest. For complete listing of students, projects and placing by school, please click here.
2010 Junior Senior Project Achievement
Toombs County 4-H’ers Attend 2010 District Project Achievement
Toombs County 4-H members traveled to Rock Eagle for the annual Project Achievement weekend. During the event, members competed for top honors in their individual project area. The weekend was filled with project competition, officer elections, special award presentations and recreation.
The project competition was two part. First members were scored on a project portfolio detailing activities completed during the 2009 calendar year. Second, members presented a demonstration in their project area. The scores from the two segments were combined for the total score. Senior first place winners received a trip to State 4-H Congress to represent the District in the State competition. For a complete list of participants and placings, click here.
