4-H Youth Development

Welcome to Burke County 4-H!

We are so happy to have you as part of our program! We offer monthly meetings in-school and after school at all Burke County schools. We also have a homeschool group that meets bi-monthly. Check out our club page to find the club that is best for you! Let us help you find your interests within our many judging teams and other competitive events. We have a variety of events and activities throughout the year. Check out our judging team, project achievement, and summer camp pages to see what's going on in Burke County 4-H! 

Burke County Extension/4-H Office Hours: Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 12:00PM; 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM

We are located at: Burke County Office Park, 715 West 6th Street, Waynesboro, GA 30830

Mailing address: P.O. Box 300, Waynesboro, GA 30830

Important 4-H Forms:

• Medical Form
  
• Medicine Form (Only complete if sending medicine with child)
• Code of Conduct

4-H News!

Public speaking is known to be the number one fear of adults in America.  The thought of standing in front of a group of people who are staring at you and listening to every word you say is somewhat disconcerting, but there were 14 young people from Burke County who faced the butterflies and succeeded in public speaking.

4-H Project Achievement gives students the opportunity to present a demonstration on the topic of their choice.  There are 62 project categories to choose from – from sports to poultry science and performing arts to marine ecology – there really is something for every interest!  Students choose a topic, write a speech, create a demonstration using posters and props to help illustrate their speech, and then present their demonstrations to a panel of judges where they are judged against other students in the same project category.  An additional part of the contest requires that students also put together a portfolio showing their activities in their project area, leadership and community service involvement, and other 4-H activities throughout the year.  These portfolios are similar to creating a resume and give students good experience at resume-writing and recordkeeping.

During the weekend of February 1-3, fourteen 4-H’ers traveled to Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton to compete in Project Achievement.    Junior competition is for 7^th and 8^th grade 4-H’ers. This year’s participants were: Emmaline Cunningham (8^th, Homeschool) History – 5^th; Dennis Eberly (7^th, FCA) Dairy & Milk Science – 1^st; Samuel Eckerman (8^th, Homeschool) Better Breakfast – 4^th; Tony Gray (8^th, BCMS) Forestry & Wood Science – 3^rd; Abby Joyner (8^th, BCMS) Dairy & Milk Science – 1^st; Holt Sapp (7^th, FCA) Entomology—1^st.

Senior competition is for 9^th – 12^th grade 4-H’ers. This year’s participants were:  Josiah Brantley (9^th, Homeschool) Outdoor Recreation—3^rd; Morgan Brantley (12^th, Homeschool) Forestry & Wood Science –1^st; Tripp Carter (11^th, Davidson Fine Arts School) Performing Arts-Vocal –1^st; Mary Helen Coble (9^th, Homeschool) Dairy and Milk Science—1^st; Christine Eberly (9^th, EBA) Fashion Revue—2^nd; Hannah Eckerman (12^th, Homeschool) Photography—1^st; Chasity Lord (11^th, BCHS) Performing Arts-Vocal; Avery Wiggins (9^th, EBA) Sports. Morgan, Tripp, Mary Helen, and Hannah will advance to State Congress this summer to compete against other district winners and have a chance to become Master 4-H’ers, the highest honor in Georgia 4-H.

Project Achievement is a positive experience for all students.  Each student who attended, regardless of placing, learned self-confidence, initiative, responsibility, and time management – skills that will serve them well in any career path they pursue. 

Caption: Burke County’s 4-H Project Achievement delegation.

Back row (L-R):  Morgan Brantley, Hannah Eckerman, Tripp Carter, Samuel Eckerman

Middle row (L-R): Chasity Lord, Abby Joyner, Mary Helen Coble, Christine Eberly, Avery Wiggins, Tony Gray

Front row (L-R): Josiah Brantley, Holt Sapp, Dennis Eberly, Emmaline Cunningham, Meridith Franks, 4-H Agent. Not pictured: April Eckerman and Eppie Eberly, Volunteer Chaperones.