Recent Posts

  • Purchasing local beef in bulk quantities can be a great option for many families. Buying an animal to have butchered gives the consumer a choice in how the animal is fed, processed, and packaged. Families can pool resources together to split an animal into halves or quarters in consideration of their budgets and available freezer…

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  • By Shanna Reynolds, Oglethorpe County Extension The production of small ruminants (sheep and goats) in our area and throughout the state has been on the rise for several years. As small farms gain popularity, the limited education opportunities for these farmer groups has been evident. Planners of a new adult education program hope to fill…

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  • Georgia is the leading producer of poultry in the United States. With the poultry industry being so important in this region and the source of many livelihoods, it is no shock that 4-H Poultry Judging is so popular among youth. Participation in 4-H Poultry Judging can kickstart a child’s love for raising chickens and egg…

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  • Feed costs typically determine profitability on a cattle farm, so it’s no surprise farmers continue to be innovative with feeding strategies. In the southeast, livestock producers can take advantage of long growing seasons and generally abundant rainfall. But even here, meeting feed requirements during the winter represents a major fraction of a farm’s variable costs.…

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  • In late 2022, the Oglethorpe County 4-H Club began a new community service project called ‘Students Serving Seniors’ where teens assist senior citizens in the community with small jobs inside the house or around the yard. The four H’s of 4-H, that represent the four pillars of our great organization, Head, Heart, Hands and Health…

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  • Crape myrtles are incredibly popular in Georgia. They are versatile flowering shrubs/trees that provide an abundance of summer color with minimal maintenance. Their ability to withstand drought, disease resistance, and insect hardiness has earned them a spot in many local landscapes. Crape myrtles grow and flower well under our less-than-desirable soil conditions. They have a…

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  • Horse Quiz Bowl is one of dozens of agriculturally based programs that Georgia 4-H offers to youth with the goal of providing educational experiences that equip participants for their future as citizens and stewards. Contestants prepare by studying industry standard handbooks on equine health, history, management, and care. Participating 4-H’ers gain a practical understanding of…

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  • It seems that nearly every call I get in my office some days ends with the same initial recommendation; to run a soil test. Why do my boxwoods have spots? My tomatoes didn’t produce for me this year like they have in the past? How much chicken litter should I have spread on my pastures?…

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  • It’s DPA Time!

    The humidity is dropping along with the temperatures. That can only mean one thing. It’s DPA time! Our Oglethorpe County 4-H staff are busy this time of year preparing students to step out of their comfort zone and do something that they have never done before…PUBLIC SPEAKING! DPA is an abbreviation for District Project Achievement.…

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