The fall is a busy time of year – I’d love to say for Extension, but I’m pretty sure that extends to just about everyone. As we continue serving Lincoln County through face-to-face client questions and phone calls, submitting soil and water samples, and going on site visits, the Lincoln County Extension staff are also busy with professional conferences, banquets, award applications, performance reviews, and much more. As we wind towards the close of another fabulous year, I just wanted to give a few quick updates.
First and foremost, remember that our mission is to serve our community- and we can’t do that without you! Whether you have questions about ornamental plants, soil testing and fertility, forage species, livestock production, household pests, or healthy living, we’re here to help. If there is a topic you’d like to learn more about in a formal program, let us know! We rely on your feedback, input, and needs to determine what our next offerings will be. Right now, my 2024 programmatic calendar isn’t too busy – we have a few equine programs on the roster, a beef short course, a small ruminant short course, and a pecan field day. In the works are some women in agriculture workshops, a mushroom class, a composting class, a beekeeping workshop, and who knows what else. Please contact me if you have suggestions on what courses we can offer.
Second, I’d like to highlight our 4-H program with an update from Mrs. Rebekah Goble, our 4-H educator. “Lincoln County 4-H provides monthly activities for youth in 5th-12th grades, as well as in-school club meetings for Cloverleaf (5th-6th), Junior (7th-8th), and Senior (9th-12th). The program continues to grow as additional programming has been added. Beginning in September, two new 4-H clubs were offered: Homeschool Club and Cooking Club. Cooking Club meets on the first Tuesday of each month at the Extension Office and is offered to youth in 5th-12th grades. In these meetings, youth are taught kitchen safety, how to follow a recipe, and how to safely prepare food. The Homeschool Club meets on the fourth Friday of each month at the Extension Office and is offered to 5th-12th grades; homeschooled siblings (Pre-K-4th grades) are also allowed to participate. This month, 4-H will provide Thanksgiving dinner supplies for four families in our community and on November 11 4-H youth will participate a baking day to prepare baked goods for these families. 4-H will also take part in Pioneer Days on November 18 where Mrs. Goble will present a container gardening demonstration at 11:00 AM and at 1:00 PM. We will be planting herbs and participants will be given the materials to plant herbs to take home with them. After the 1:00 PM demonstration, we will judge plants that 4-H youth have been growing since our Container Gardening class in September. Prizes will be awarded to winners of the contest, based on size and overall health of the plant.”
We would love to connect with our Lincoln County residents. If you’d like to suggest a program idea, area of need, or 4-H activity, please contact us at uge3181@uga.edu or 706-359-3233.
