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 AND NATURAL RESOURCES
Butts County Extension continues to support local agriculture and strengthen community engagement through educational programming, on-site assistance, & youth development opportunities. Agriculture remains an important part of the county economy, with a Farm Gate value of approximately $28 million annually. Top commodities in Butts County include greenhouse production, container nursery operations, and beef cattle.
The Butts County Cooperative Extension Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR) agent, Heidi Cashwell, provides research-based information and technical assistance to farmers, landowners and homeowners throughout the county. During the past year, the ANR program conducted numerous farm and site visits related to pasture management, forage production, soil fertility, pesticide recommendations, livestock concerns, home gardening, and landscape issues. Educational efforts focused on helping producers improve efficiency, reduce input costs, & address environmental & pest management challenges.
Butts County Extension also continues to expand agricultural education and outreach opportunities within the community. Educational materials offered throughout the year include homeowner gardening best practices, forage and hay production education, livestock-related programming, and youth agricultural learning experiences. Community partnerships and hands-on educational activities continue to strengthen awareness of agriculture, while supporting the needs of local residents and producers.
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
Butts County Extension does not have a Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) agent, however staff provides services by answering FACS questions using Extension resources and referring questions to FACS agents in surrounding counties.
4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
Butts County 4-H has made a significant impact on youth in Butts County and beyond during the 2025–2026 program year. From September through May, our staff provided monthly in-school programming to all 13 fifth-grade classes across the county's three public elementary schools. These Georgia Standards of Excellence-based lessons offered hands-on learning experiences that directly supported classroom instruction in science topics such as constructive and destructive forces, electrical circuits, plant classification, microbes, physical and chemical changes, and stress management. Many students shared that these real-world learning experiences helped them feel more prepared and confident when taking the Georgia Milestones assessments.
In addition to our monthly fifth-grade club meetings, we introduced a new STEM-focused educational program in December that reached approximately 97 fifth-grade students. This hands-on lesson provided an additional opportunity for students to explore scientific concepts through active engagement and inquiry-based learning.
Another exciting addition this year was the launch of our Cloverleaf Community Club, open to all public, private, and homeschooled youth in grades 4–6. These meetings provide a welcoming environment where youth develop valuable life skills through social interaction, community service projects, and experiential learning opportunities. The club fosters emotional well-being, encourages meaningful connections, and creates positive relationships between youth and caring adults within the community.
For our sixth-grade programming, Butts County 4-H delivered educational lessons to all 10 sixth-grade classes at the local middle school. These lessons focused on earth science, astronomy, and scientific inquiry, emphasizing hands-on, student-centered learning and the development of critical thinking skills. Students explored core scientific concepts while engaging in activities designed to strengthen problem-solving abilities and curiosity about the world around them.
Beyond classroom instruction, Butts County 4-H provided leadership development opportunities for middle school youth. Staff members chaperoned sixth- through eighth-grade student council members on a three-day educational trip to Tybee Island, Georgia. During this experience, students participated in activities focused on leadership development and cultivating a community of learners. Through teamwork, communication, problem-solving, and service-learning opportunities, participants strengthened their leadership skills while building meaningful connections with their peers and school community.
Through these educational, leadership, and community-building opportunities, Butts County 4-H continues to equip youth with the knowledge, confidence, and life skills needed to become engaged citizens and future leaders.