Welcome to the first ever Grady County FACS Blog!
Each month, I’ll be sharing updates on the latest happenings in Grady County FACS, along with a preview of upcoming events and programs. I invite you to sign up for our monthly newsletter to stay informed and get involved with the various opportunities we offer. Through this newsletter, I hope you’ll discover content that not only interests and encourages you but also inspires you to take on new challenges.
Apologies for the long post—this is my first blog entry, and there’s quite a bit to catch you up on. I promise to keep things brief in the future, covering the essentials from past months and upcoming programs.
FACS Flashback: A Look at Recent Happenings in Grady County!
Wow! Grady FACS has been buzzing with activity over the past few months. For the latest updates and a real-time look at what we’ve been up to, I encourage you to check out our UGA Extension Grady County FACS Facebook page. I do my best to keep it updated with regular posts about the programs we’re offering and events we’re involved in.
August marked the one-year anniversary of Grady County FACS! Can you believe how quickly the time has flown? It was a busy and exciting month for us. FACS Agents from the Southwest District organized the annual GEAFCS Conference in Sumter County, which took place in the historic downtown Americus from August 27-29. The conference brought together FACS Agents and Extension Specialists from across Georgia to share updates and insights from all over the state. A highlight for agents is the different tours we were able to participate in. I was assigned to Georgia’s oldest distillery, Thirteenth Colony. It was so interesting to see the food science and safety behind the production of the different items they distill.
I presented two dynamic Ignite Sessions: Pickleball-a-Weigh and Don’t Just Sit There! Start CPR! Additionally, I hosted two ServSafe Manager Certification Courses, a 1-Day Course and a 2-Day Course, which saw enthusiastic participation.
August also included rounding out some of of my final Foundation trainings in Athens, Georgia. Most excitingly, we held our very first Home Food Preservation Class on Saturday, August 17. It was an absolute blast! Participants learned about the differences between using a Boiling Water Bath Canner and a Steam Canner for canning chile salsa, as well as the importance of following safe food practices.
September kicked off with the Foundations of Communications Training in Athens, Georgia, and you can thank this training for the launch of our new newsletter and blog! I gained valuable insights into communication and marketing strategies, including a short course on cell phone photography. Later, I had the pleasure of accompanying our enthusiastic 4-H’ers to UGA 4-H Game Day in Athens—Go Dawgs! We had an absolute blast!
Mid-September was filled with culinary opportunities. I baked cookies for the Cairo Women’s Club’s annual Educators Tea to show our appreciation for the amazing work educators do for our Grady County students. I also prepared dinner for our monthly Jr./Sr. 4-H Club meeting, where participants enjoyed finger foods while playing games and learning about upcoming 4-H opportunities. I was also able to help facilitate the 4-H Food Challenge Showcase at Rock Eagle.
The highlight of the month was hosting our first-ever Clovers in the Kitchen program! This exciting event is designed for school-age 4-H’ers interested in food labs, safe food practices, and creating healthier meal options. The participants had a great time learning how to use MyPlate to make delicious and nutritious quesadillas while getting creative in the kitchen.
October was fueled by caffeine and chaos, but it was an absolute blast! I started the month by assisting with the food for the annual Grady County Commissioners Brunch to celebrate Georgia 4-H Week. After that, it was full steam ahead with the events at the Georgia National Fair in Perry, Georgia.
I had a fantastic time working at the Clover Café alongside my wonderful friends and fellow extension associates from Houston County. I also escorted one of our 4-H’ers and her family to participate in the Public Speaking Contest—she did an amazing job! I supported one of our Clovers and Company participants during her performance, managed the UGA Extension Booth, and guided a group of active 4-H’ers to the 4-H Day at the Fair.
In addition, I coordinated the Commodities Judging and, of course, indulged in one of the most delicious tasks: judging the Banana Pudding Contest! It’s a tough job, but someone has to do it for the love of FACS! This was just in the first two weeks of October!
In mid-October, I had the pleasure of attending the Sunbelt Agricultural Expo, where I assisted my fellow UGA Thomasville FACS Extension Agent with food preservation demonstrations each day. It was a great opportunity to engage with participants and distribute informative pamphlets about food preservation practices.
Our Rada Cutlery Fundraiser had a slow start and wrapped up its initial marketing push on October 15. However, this is an ongoing effort, so you’re welcome to place an order anytime! We appreciate your continued support.
On October 19th, we held our second Apple Preserves Food Preservation Class, where participants explored various food preservation techniques. Both young and older attendees shared how much they enjoyed the class and the valuable insights they gained.
As October came to a close, I focused on preparing for our Cotton Boll Consumer Judging practices and worked with my 4-H Food Labs participants to help them get ready for the upcoming District Project Achievement competition and we celebrated with our active 4-H’ers at the downtown Boo on Broad Trunk or Treat!
As the sun dipped below the horizon after another successful event, I was reminded of the beauty in pausing to appreciate the soft colors and autumn shadows cast upon those we love. Take a moment to savor the gentle play of natural light and the simple joy of a child absorbed in his make-believe world, driving his toy tractor through a field of pine straw. These small, fleeting moments are worth cherishing.
FACS Forward: Exciting Events and Programs on the Horizon!
As November arrives, things are slowing down a bit, allowing us to fully enjoy the fall weather and festivities. However, we still have some exciting programs happening at the Grady County Extension Office in November and December! I encourage you to follow all of our Facebook pages—Grady County 4-H, Grady County Ag & Natural Resources, and Grady County FACS—to stay updated on our daily activities.
Here’s what’s happening in November:
- November is Diabetes Awareness Month!
- Grady County Extension Agents will attend the annual SW District Conference in Tifton, GA.
- We’re wrapping up our Cotton Boll Consumer Judging practices and heading to competition in Tifton, GA.
- I’ll be involved in various trainings on Healthy Homes and Childcare Centers, along with attending regular civic club meetings (Family Connections, Cairo Women’s Club, and Whigham Community Club).
- I’ll also be presenting at the Cairo Women’s Club on how Grady County FACS can support the community through home life programs.
- Toward the end of the month, I’ll return to Tifton for the SW District FACS Update, where we’ll discuss next year’s NEAFCS/GEAFCS conferences and upcoming award opportunities.
- On Friday, November 22, I’ll be holding a 1-day ServSafe Manager Certification Course.
- I’m excited to announce that I’ll also attend Lifesmarts Training in Tifton to become a coach for our county.
- Finally, before the Thanksgiving break, we’ll host our second Clovers in the Kitchen event on Tuesday November 26!
Sign-ups for ServSafe and Clovers in the Kitchen are below—just click on the flyer to register!
