UGA Extension Office

Our Impact

Making A Difference in Our County

In Extension, we translate the science of everyday living for farmers, families, and communities to foster a healthy and prosperous Georgia. For more than a century, we've provided research and education through a network of committed specialists, agents, and volunteers to help Georgians learn, grow and do more. Below is a small fraction of our impact during 2022.

Floyd County Extension empowers its citizens to make sound decisions to improve their quality of life as it relates to their social and economic well-being along with the environment in which they live. In 2022 Floyd County Extension faculty and staff presented 87 educational programs in 4-H and Agriculture/Natural Resources, producing over 12,000 contacts with our citizens. Other outreach efforts led to the creation of 45 news articles/newsletters and 104 radio programs. In addition, Floyd County processed over 500 soil samples, 95 disease/insect samples from plants, 19 feed/forage samples, 42 water microbiology samples (for bacteria,) and 46 water samples analysis for drinking water quality. 

Follow Floyd County Extension on Facebook by clicking HERE

Professional Achievements of faculty members

Abbie
• Tri-Chair for National ESP Conference held in Savannah, GA https://espnational.org/

• NAE4-HYPD Educational Package Team State Award Recipient https://www.nae4hydp.org/

• NAE4-HYPD Diversity AND Inclusion: Expanding the 4-H Audience Southern Region Award Winner

Keith
• President-Elect, National Association of County Agricultural Agents (NACAA) a professional Extension Association https://www.nacaa.com/

• Past President, Extension Journal Inc. the governing board for the Journal of Extension https://tigerprints.clemson.edu/joe/

4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT

Archery Improves Youth Focus and Resiliency
 
Before the pandemic, mental health challenges were the leading cause of disability and poor life outcomes in young people, with up to 20% of youth having mental, emotional, developmental, or behavioral disorders. The pandemic only added to the preexisting challenges faced by young people and limited youth access to valuable mentors. Research conducted has found that the sport of archery has many benefits including physical, mental, and social gains that can combat mental and emotional stress along with improving focus.
 
The sport itself along with access to trusted adult mentors provide increased opportunity for youth resiliency. To provide a positive environment for mentorship and encourage resiliency Floyd County 4-H Staff and certified 4-H volunteers organized and chartered the Floyd County 4-H Archery Team. Practices were conducted weekly providing an environment that utilized the 4-H Essential Elements in planning to structure each practice to inspire mastery, belonging, independence, and belonging.
 
The team consisted of three archery-specific certified coaches and 29 team members with 17 team members competing at both the indoor and outdoor state archery match. Team members also secured over $20,000 in sponsorship to purchase archery team equipment. Parents of team members were asked a series of questions of that reporting: • 100% of parents reported their child has a better understanding of archery overall • 67% of parents reported their child has become more resilient due to their participation • 67% of parents reported their child has a better understanding of safety related to the archery discipline • 50% of parents reported their child has become more self-disciplined • 50% of parents reported their child has increased their ability to concentrate and focus • 33% of parents reported their child has developed a sense of belonging • 33% of parents reported their child has a better understanding of teamwork
 
4-H Student Achievements
  • Georgia 4-H LifeSmarts Champions; The Floyd County Team placed 5th in the Nation with Elan McClain placing 3rd nationally in the Environment Assessment and Sara Grace Abernathy being awarded a $1,000 scholarship from Norton LifeLock for her essay on Identity Theft. Learn more about LifeSmarts by clicking here
Follow Floyd County 4-H on Facebook by clicking HERE
 
 
AGRICULTURE
 
Getting noticed and heard today involves telling a story by making it personal to capture the attention of our listeners in our ever-distracted world. A quick search of the internet using the phrase “radio is dead or is radio dying” returns an unlimited number of news articles, podcasts, and blogs, describing the timely death of radio. According to some, radio should have already died. In 2020, Tesla automobiles have no AM/FM radio. According to Variety AM/FM radio still owns the largest piece of America’s audio pie. Instead of abandoning radio as a media source, In 2022 the agricultural Extension agent produced 90 live radio broadcasts between WLAQ 1410 AM/96.9 FM and WRGA 1470 AM/98.9 FM in Rome Georgia. The WLAQ program occurs every Wednesday at 7:35 am as the “Mid-week Landscape Report and the WRGA program occurs every Friday at 8:05 am. Ninety live broadcasts gave Floyd County Extension 37.5 hours of live airtime plus an additional 18.75 hours of live video exposure on WLAQ’s Facebook feed. The weekly live programs allow for immediate coverage of emerging issues such as a late freeze, armyworms, drought management, etc. In addition, both stations' broadcasts are live-streamed over the radio station's internet interface. The combined listening audience for the two radio stations is approximately 12,500.
 
MASTER GARDENERS

The Floyd County program consisted of 32 well-trained volunteers who gave 1,203 hours of their time valued at $36,029.85 according to the group Independent Sector In doing so, they made 26,183 personal contacts in 2022. You will find Master Gardeners involved in the demonstration/teaching gardens located at Chieftains Museum, Extension educational programs, 4-H events and activities, speaking engagements, radio programs, local schools, and many other activities. 
Follow the Floyd County Master Gardeners on Facebook by clicking on HERE
 
The Georgia Master Gardener Extension Volunteer (MGEV) Program connects UGA Extension, plant enthusiasts, and communities across the state. MGEVs share UGA Extension consumer horticulture programming about the selection and care of plants for ornamental value, recreation, and home food production. Master Gardeners teach community members how to use plants and gardening to improve their environment, personal health, and quality of life.

 

Download Our Annual Report (pdf)