Our Impact
Making A Difference in Our County
University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is working hard for its constituents. The following are examples of Extension’s impact in the county over the past year.
Agriculture
Summary
Summer day camps can be used as an effective recruitment tool for competitive judging teams such as a 4-H Forestry Team. Day camps are an excellent way to introduce forestry concepts in a non-competitive environment to see if students have an interest and wiliness to commit to joining a team. About 86% percent of our day camp participants ultimately found an interest in forestry and ended up bonding to create a highly competitive team.
Situation
Since 2012, the Bartow County 4-H Forestry Team has had a track record of performing very well at district field day competitions, consistently placing in the top three annually. In 2020-2021, the Bartow Senior Forestry Team won both the state and national Forestry competitions. Recruitment of new team members declined in this same timeframe due to challenges surrounding COVID-19. Also, during this timeframe, many of the previous team members either graduated from high school or achieved “Master 4-H’er” status and were no longer eligible to compete. By the end of 2022, we were down to only two active 4-H Forestry Team members. This prompted the need to essentially start over and recruit an entirely new 4-H Forestry Team in Bartow County.
Response
During the summers of 2023 and 2024, the Bartow County Extension office hosted a series of summer day camps focused on introducing 4-H students to forestry science. To help out with these day camps, we had three Master Gardener Extension Volunteers complete the 4-H Forestry Coaches training. In 2024, each day camp was held twice per week on Tuesdays and Fridays from 9am-3pm in July. The goal was for students to experience forestry in a non-competitive environment and for students to bond and make new friends with similar interests. Each day camp focused on introducing one of the four components of the 4-H Forestry Field Day Contest: tree identification, tree measurement estimation, pacing/orienteering, and forest insect/disease identification. Our goal was for participants to increase knowledge of trees and forests, and develop some skills in these forestry related activities. Students gained a better understanding and appreciation for our forest resources and how they contribute to our economy and quality of life. Each day camp also included a local field trip that included a picnic lunch and an afternoon trail hike.
Field trip locations were selected based on the diversity of natural resources that students could experience in Bartow County. The first field trip included a visit to Cooper’s Furnace Nature Trail, which has a two-mile nature trail with an overlook of the Allatoona Lake Dam and the Etowah River, a pre-Civil War iron-works furnace built in the 1830’s, and a visit to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers history museum. The second day camp field trip included a visit to the Pettit Environmental Preserve, which is a 60-acre greenspace that includes native forests, a lake, and a nature center. The students were able to learn about local wildlife at the nature center and then completed a two-mile hike around the lake perimeter trail. The third day camp field trip included a two-mile hike on Pine Log Creek Trail, which is located near Pine Log Mountain and includes a 240-acre green space owned by Bartow County. The final day camp included a field trip to Spring Bank, which is a 40-acre green space owned by Bartow County. This location has a one-mile nature trail that passes by a civil war cemetery, the ruins of an old grist mill, and a visit to the largest white oak tree in Georgia.
Impact
The student interest and response to these forestry day camps was overwhelming. We had to limit the number of students based on our capacity to provide transportation for the field trips. A total of 22 students attended the series of summer day camps each summer. On the last day camp, we asked the students if they would like to join our 4-H Forestry Team and continue to hone their skills for competition this fall. All but three of the students raised their hands that they were interested and we ended up with 19 students remaining on the 4-H Forestry Team, which was an increase of eight students from 2023. These students continued with after school practices in August to prepare for the upcoming competition.
The recruitment and retention of 86% percent of the students that attended our forestry day camps was seen as a very good return on our investment of time. This is also the largest 4-H Forestry Team Bartow County has ever taken to a competition. On September 3, 2024, the Bartow 4-H Junior Forestry Team won first place at the Northwest District Forestry Field Day Competition in Conyers, GA. Student scores were consistently high for the team, with those placing 1st, 2nd, 4th, and 5th highest individuals overall for the junior competition. Also, the Bartow 4-H Senior Forestry Team won second place at the district competition, with two students placing 2nd and 3rd highest individuals overall for the senior contest. After the competition, our 4-H Forestry Teams were asked if they wanted to compete again next year, and the entire team gave a resounding yes! Our Senior Team will also be advancing to the State Forestry Field Day Competition.
Tangentially to this success, our interaction with the Pettit Environmental Preserve to host these day camps also led to the ANR agent being invited to present a Native Tree Workshop two years in a row at their nature center. The two-hour Native Tree Workshop at Pettit Environmental Preserve was hosted on the second Saturday in October. The first hour of this workshop was indoors at the nature center and covered the basics of tree identification with leaf samples, similar to a 4-H Forestry Day Camp. The second hour of the workshop involved a two-mile native tree walk around the lakeside trail. Attendees were welcome to attend just the first hour of this workshop if they are unable to join us for the tree walk. Children were also encouraged to attend this workshop. The 2023 workshop was attended by 16 participants and the 2024 workshop was attended by 17 participants.
4-H Youth
Summary
Ag Stem club was created to teach youth in the areas of poultry science, gardens, and forestry. Students participated in an after school program for a year learning various lessons based in agriculture and STEM.
Situation
Agriculture is an important part of our way of life. In fact, agriculture is the number one industry in Georgia. However, youth in Bartow County are not aware of the importance agriculture plays in their daily lives. As a suburban county, youth need opportunities to learn about agriculture issues and pet ownership responsibilities. Bartow County has a livestock farm gate value of approximately 13.9 million dollars and is one of the top counties for livestock production in the State with approximately 20,000 head. Over the past few years, an increase in demand for agricultural based programs by the school system.
Response
To build this program, our office, for a total of three staff members, partnered with Emerson Elementary, a Bartow County School, to offer an agriculture-based after school STEM club. During this club, youth have the opportunity to learn utilizing hands on activities focused on school gardens, poultry sciences, and forestry resources and management.
Emerson Elementary, the STEM club asked to include lessons in three content areas for one hour a week. The first content area was forestry that covered tree identification, measuring, leaf prints, and forest resources. These lessons were done by the Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in a series of three during the semester. The Agriculture and Natural Resources Educator was responsible for the garden lessons were delivered on cool and warm season crops, winter harvest, garden planning, and edible plants for a series of three lessons in the semester. The 4-H Extension Agent delivered lessons on behavior, egg-farm to fork, egg quality and grading standards, zoonotic diseases, and past production and meat science. These lessons were also delivered in a series of three during the semester.
Furthermore, many of the schools in the county, including Emerson, are building and maintaining chicken coops for education. The Eggs Journey-Farm to Fork lesson takes the eggs gathered at the school and illustrates what the egg has to in order to reach consumers. At the end of the lesson youth were able to make egg “chaffles” to enjoy. To create this lesson, you will need to buy eggs (unless the school has them), garlic, nonstick spray, mini waffle maker, and shredded cheddar cheese. For an approximate cost of under $20.00. One of the school garden lessons from Ag in the Classroom was edible parts of plant. Students were given different plants and learned which parts of the plant were edible. Then they made their own ranch dip to eat with the vegetables. The approximate cost for this lesson was $20.00 for yogurt, ranch seasoning, and assorted vegetables. Part of the garden lessons included students planting the fall garden at the schools. Our UGA Master Gardeners grew the plants and donated them to the school for a total value of $450.00. The zoonotic diseases used Glo Germ kit to illustrate germs on hands and hand washing techniques. We had this at the office already but you can purchase it along with a blacklight for under $40.00. One lesson done on gardens includes reading the book and completing the lesson with the students.
This program runs in its entirety for one semester with a new group of students for the second half of the year. The curriculum was based off the resources from the Kentucky Poultry Judging Manual, UGA Extension’s Friends Book-Zoonotic diseases, UGA Forestry Judging, Georgia Farm Bureau-Ag in the Classroom, and UGA School Gardens Facebook page. This lesson can be replicated annually with lesson rotations depending on the grades allowed to join the club. For our school, lessons would be rotated every three years since it is 3-5th grades.
The target audience for these lessons were the 3-5th grade students at Emerson Elementary. Emerson Elementary is a lower income school in the county. The Commissioner of Bartow County has identified this area of the county as an at-risk community and in need of educational programming and support.
Impact
The evaluation used was the Likert scale based on pre/post surveys.
After the STEM lessons were delivered:
83 % of students said their knowledge of zoonotic diseases increased
67 % of students said their skills in measuring trees increased.
50% of students said they gained knowledge in the differences in cool and warm season gardens and harvesting crops.
33 % said they have an increase in identifying trees.
67 % said their knowledge of caring for gardens increased.
100% know how to candle eggs for market and fertilization along with hen selection for maximum egg production.
Students really enjoyed taking the egg from their schools’ coop and learning about the process it goes through to get to the table. The best part though was watching them cook the chaffle. For many, it was one of the first times they had been able to make something to eat on their own. Be sure to have someone watch the mini waffle iron when they cook to avoid injury.
Students really enjoyed the planting portion of the school gardens. They could not wait to get out in the garden and start planting!
“Thank you for taking the time to come and speak, teach, and interact with our kids. We are building bridges to agriculture awareness that I am very excited about! I can’t wait for next semester and what next year holds!”
-K. McAllister, Teacher
“Students really enjoyed the planting portion of the school gardens. They could not wait to get out in the garden and start planting!”
-Bartow County teacher
Family and Consumer Sciences
Summary
One in three Americans have prediabetes. The Bartow County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent provided diabetes education and hosted local prediabetes support groups to help reverse prediabetes rates.
Situation
According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 98 million American adults in the United States have prediabetes. Prediabetes is a condition where blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be classified as type 2 diabetes. Additionally, 8.7 million adults aged 18 years or older who met laboratory criteria for diabetes were not aware of or did not report having it. This number represents 3.4% of all U.S. adults and 22.8% of all U.S. adults with diabetes. Prediabetes increases the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and stroke. If you ignore prediabetes, the risk for type 2 diabetes goes up, which in turn increases your risk for these serious health complications:
- Blindness
- Kidney failure
- Heart disease
- Stroke
- Loss of toes, feet, or legs
The best way to treat and potentially reverse prediabetes is through healthy lifestyle changes. Regularly eating nutritious foods and getting regular exercise can help return blood sugar levels to healthy ranges and prevent or delay type 2 diabetes.
Response
In 2024, the Bartow County Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) Agent partnered with the local hospital and physicians to raise awareness and educate the public about prediabetes. Additionally, the FACS agent collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control’s Diabetes Prevention Program and nutrition specialist, Alison Berg, to offer the National Diabetes Prevention Program to interested individuals. There were two cohorts with a total of 27 participants enrolled.
Impact
For the two cohorts, there were a total of 52 one-hour sessions with 27 participants. Of the participants enrolled, two met their goal of 5% weight loss. The total weight loss for both cohorts was 73 lbs. Additionally, 62% of the participants met the goal of 150 minutes of physical activity per week. At the end of the program, 71.4% of participants reported that they felt they could control their risk of diabetes, and 71% strongly agreed that they could decrease their risk of diabetes by eating healthy and being physically active. Two participants indicated that since the beginning of the program, they decreased their blood pressure medication dose, with one cutting it in half.
Comments from participants:
- “I have learned to look at nutrition labels, substitute healthier ingredients in recipes, be more aware of serving sizes, and identify my stress triggers that cause overeating.”
- “Angelica was a great instructor, and her dedication to the program was admirable. I deeply appreciate her understanding and one-on-one availability.”