CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 06/07/02

State Winners Mark 60th State 4-H Congress

"In a year of crisis in our country, this group of young people reminds us that for 100 years, 4-H has helped America train its leaders of tomorrow," said Roger C. "Bo" Ryles, state 4-H program leader with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

"State 4-H Congress brings together the best of the best," he said. "The young people here have already distinguished themselves as leaders and winners. 4-H Congress provides us a showcase for their accomplishments as well as a chance to thank the people who make 4-H successful through their donations of time and resources."

Tours, Meetings

On June 5, the 4-H'ers toured metro Atlanta, meeting with donors, state legislators and corporate leaders. A banquet that evening honored the state winners.

The night before the competition, the family of the late Sen. Herman Talmadge was presented the 2002 Friend of 4-H award for their long-standing commitment and contribution to the Georgia 4-H program.

Georgia 4-H is the youth education component of the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

State congress is the culmination of a year's work in a 4-H project. 4-H'ers prepare portfolios of their project work, participate in interviews about their portfolios and give oral presentations for this statewide competition.

This Year's Winners

This year's state winners, projects and project donors, listed by their home counties:

Appling: Blake Tippett, wildlife and marine science, Georgia Power.

Banks: Clark Williams, veterinary science, Georgia Veterinary Medical Association.

Bleckley: Jed Evans, public speaking, Georgia Farm Credit Association; Ashley Pettis, housing, furnishings and design, Georgia Manufactured Housing Association; Kristen Davis, food safety and preservation, Heavenly Ham.

Bulloch: Justin Tyson, forestry resources and wood science, International Paper Company.

Butts: Stephanie Rivers, arts and crafts, Marian S. Fisher.

Carroll: Kayla Thompson, performing arts (general), Six Flags Over Georgia; Cheyanne Coggins, beef, Winn-Dixie Stores and Georgia Cattleman's Association.

Clarke: Erica Harrison, sports, White Water; Casey Mull, general recreation, Georgia Recreation and Parks Association.

Colquitt: Michael Chafin, plant and soil science, Georgia Plant Food Educational Society.

Columbia: Jennifer O'Neal, fruits, vegetables and nuts, Griffin Corporation.

Crisp: Jessica Calhoun, Fashion Revue, Georgia Master 4-H Club.

Dade: Travis Randolph, pork production, Georgia Pork Producers Association; Tyler Randolph, power and energy, Chevron Corporation.

Effingham: James Herrin, outdoor recreation, White Water; Brittany Dasher, bread, White Lily Foods Company.

Elbert: Stephanie Greenway, horse, Georgia Horse Council.

Evans: Anna Lewis, dog care and training, Georgia Veterinary Medical Association; Bessy Lewis, performing arts (piano), Six Flags Over Georgia.

Fayette: Mike Brennison, physical, biological and earth science, Georgia Electric Membership Corporation.

Forsyth: Emily Teatro, dairy foods, Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Milk; Morgan Rappatta, performing arts - other instrumental, Six Flags Over Georgia.

Jones: Leann Rowland, safety, Georgia 4-H Foundation; Courtney Brock, communications, Georgia 4-H Volunteer Leaders Association.

Madison: Summer Adams, environmental science, AGL Resources; Kristi Smith, target sports, Callaway Foundation and family of Col. James Boddie; Ashley Loudermilk, clothing and textiles, Southern Polytechnic State University; Lisa Roach, photography, Georgia 4-H Foundation.

Monroe: Katie Benson, poultry and egg science, Georgia Poultry Federation.

Oconee: Heather Mispagel, health, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta; Heather Savelle, dairy and milk science, Georgia Agricultural Commodity Commission for Milk.

Pickens: Elizabeth Jasperse, entomology, Georgia Pest Control Association and UGA Extension Service entomology department.

Rockdale: Cort Webb, conservation of natural resources, Georgia Water Wise Council.

Sumter: Ashley Goodman, food funds, Publix Supermarket Charities.

Tift: Russ Vann, resource management, Georgia Cooperative Council; Ashley Chesnut, international, Equifax; Miles Drummond, food for fitness, Georgia 4-H Foundation; Ivy Young, human development, Georgia Association of Extension 4-H Agents.

Toombs: Missy Stanford, flowers, shrubs and lawns, Georgia Development Authority.

Walton: Ali Nelson, work force preparation and career development, Randstad North America; Laurie Murrah, sheep, Georgia 4-H Foundation; Rachel McCarthy, computers, Georgia Power Company.

Wilcox: Kelly Henderson, performing arts (vocal), Six Flags Over Georgia; Demetrius Penn, food fare, Georgia Development Authority.

Wilkes: Jennifer Hardy, consumer education, April and Brian Crow.

Faith Peppers is the director of public affairs with the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.

Experts/Sources:
Bo Ryles
Graduating students take selfie photos during the fireworks display at UGA's 2023 undergraduate Commencement ceremony at Sanford Stadium. By Dorothy Kozlowski CAES News
CAES to celebrate new graduates during May 9 convocation 04/18/24 Sameeka Prabath Rajamani
As another academic year draws to a close, the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences is gearing up for its Athens campus convocation ceremony, which will be held at 6 p.m. on Thursday, May 9, at The Classic Center in Athens. “Each year, it’s an honor to celebrate the success of our CAES graduates,” said CAES Dean and Director Nick T. Place. “It’s amazing what these students accomplish during their time with us, and I’m always excited to commemorate this next step in their lives as they continue on to either further studies or the start of their careers.”
A student harvests red clover at UGArden. CAES News
UGA horticulture class shows students the science behind herbal remedies 04/16/24 Sameeka Prabath Rajamani
The field of medicine is ever-changing, and the use of herbal medicines may play a bigger role in health care as the value of natural remedies gain recognition in the Western world. Students at the University of Georgia’s College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences are delving into the field of medicinal remedies through the class “Herbs, Spices and Medicinal Plants.” Offered to undergraduate students through the Department of Horticulture, the class helps students develop a deeper understanding of the connection between nature and health.
Using robotics to help sort onions on Georgia farms CAES News
Using robotics to help sort onions on Georgia farms 04/15/24 David Mitchell
During the pandemic, labor problems became acute on many farms in Georgia and across the country. Farms once staffed by humans to bring produce from the field to stores for purchase were suddenly short-staffed, and the global supply chain was severely impacted. Working with UGA’s Vidalia Onion and Vegetable Research Center and A&M Farms in Lyons, Georgia, a team of researchers led by School of Computing Professor Prashant Doshi is designing collaborative robots to mitigate some of these potential challenges.
2024 honorees are William D. Branch, Georgia Seed Development Professor in Peanut Breeding and Genetics in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, and Elzie Argene Claxton, an agriculture educator and 1980 CAES agricultural education graduate who went on to earn a master’s degree in 1982 and education specialist degree in 1984 from UGA’s College of Education. CAES News
Innovator, educator inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame 04/11/24 Maria M. Lameiras
An innovator in peanut breeding whose research revitalized an industry and an ardent champion of agricultural education were inducted into the Georgia Agricultural Hall of Fame at the 68th University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Alumni Association Awards in Athens. The 2024 honorees are William D. Branch, Georgia Seed Development Professor in Peanut Breeding and Genetics in the Department of Crop and Soil Sciences, and Elzie Argene Claxton, an agriculture educator and 1980 CAES agricultural education graduate.
Peach growers are looking forward to a fruitful season as the weather this winter and spring have been near-perfect for the sensitive crop. This year is projected to be a much-needed comeback from the disastrous season they experienced after a late freeze in March 2023 took out more than 90% of the state's crop. (Photo by Dorothy Kozlowski/UGA) CAES News
Growers hopeful 2024 peach season will rebound from disastrous 2023 04/10/24 Emily Cabrera
Last year, the peach industry lost $60 million due to the late freeze that hit much of the Southeast in mid-March 2023, said Jeff Cook, University of Georgia Cooperative Extension agent for Peach and Taylor counties. With no freezing temperatures in the forecast and hope for strong pricing during the upcoming season, peach growers are looking forward to a much-needed rebound year.
UGA wheat breeder and geneticist Mohamed Mergoum smells one of several test brews created by Creature Comforts on its annual Get Comfortable collaboration using a variety of wheat Mergoum developed at CAES. CAES News
Creature Comforts partners with UGA wheat breeder to create 2024 Get Comfortable brew 04/09/24 Maria M. Lameiras
Wheat breeders spend years meticulously crossing varieties to coax the best traits out of each species, carefully propagating plant varieties that are healthier, heartier and better suited for the environments where they are grown. Brewmasters are equally painstaking when choosing the components that will give their beers a specific flavor profile. These two exacting professions came together this spring when Athens-based Creature Comforts Brewing Co. reached out to the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences to find a sustainable wheat variety they could use to make a good beer for a great cause.