Thanks to the generous support of the Thalia and Michael C. Carlos Foundation, we are pleased to offer a second year of the One Georgia 4-H Urban-Rural Exchange! This program brings together 24 youth from across Georgia (12 NE/NW, 12 SE/SW) for a six-day program to learn about the impact of agriculture in our state in both urban and rural communities. This year our focus will be on Southwest and Northeast Georgia with tentative plans to visit the Savannah area (focusing on the Savannah port, blueberries, onions, and Marine Extension), Metro Atlanta (Delta, Georgia state government tours), and Athens (visit to UGA). This year’s program is being planned by the 2020 One Georgia 4-H leadership team, composed of 4-Hers from the 2019 cohort.
4-H’ers who are chosen for the program will have all of their expenses (except spending money for souvenirs or snacks) covered by the grant. Each participant receives a t-shirt, polo shirt, meals, lodging and transportation (from north and south GA meeting locations). They will be asked to share their experience with groups in their home county (such as county commissioners, Rotary, Board of Education, school administrators, or other community/civic groups) after participating in the program. A flyer to advertise the program is attached.
One Georgia Urban-Rural Exchange
- June 16-18, 2020 (Southwest Georgia) and July 14-16, 2020 (Northeast Georgia)
- Open to current 8th-11th graders (graduating seniors are not eligible)
Applications are due Friday, April 10. The application is available online: 2020 One Georgia 4-H Urban-Rural Exchange Application
A video summarizing the 2019 program is available here: https://www.wevideo.com/view/1525910688
Frequently Asked Questions
- Who is this program for?
- One Georgia 4-H is for any rising 9th-12th grader who is interested in learning more about Georgia, meeting new friends from across the state, and engaging with agriculture in both rural and urban settings. The program is a great opportunity for emerging leaders who are ready to learn! We are looking for youth from both rural and urban counties to participate.
- Do I really have to be available for the entire program?
- Yes! Participants must be available for the complete duration of the program – June 16-18 and July 14-16. We understand that this overlaps with other summer activities and camps, but it is important that 4-Hers fully participate in both sessions.
- Do I have to have experience in agriculture projects to participate?
- No! We are looking for a diverse cohort of youth to participate from both urban and rural communities. Some of the youth selected will have an agricultural background, but we are also looking for youth who have not had as much exposure to agriculture but demonstrate an interest in learning about the industry. As agriculture is the largest industry in the state, we learn a great deal about our state’s economy and government during the sessions so the program would also be a great fit for those who are interested in government, economics, community development, and civics. One of the strengths of the program is having youth with diverse backgrounds and interests who learn together and share their experiences with one another.
Comments from 2019 participants:
- I have been in 4-H for seven years. In this time, I have not been in a program more informative and impacting than One Georgia 4-H.
- One Georgia taught me even more of my love for agriculture and opened up doors to me to careers I haven’t considered.
- One Georgia 4-H left a lasting impact that I will carry with me for many years to come.
- This program gave me a wealth of knowledge from which to teach and educate others in my state about urban and rural agriculture.
Contact Laurie Murrah-Hanson (laurs@uga.edu) with questions regarding the program.
