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.
CALHOUN COUNTY 4-H PROGRAM
Calhoun County 4-H Agent Shanda Ashley, and Ag Agent Luke Crosson as well as the Administrative Assistant Brailyn Boyd work together cooperatively to address the needs of the Calhoun County Community. The 4-H program benefits students in grades 4-12 in two school systems in the county along with local home-school groups (reaching over 520 students). The curriculum covered includes lessons on health and wellness, basic manners, agriculture, camp, project achievement, STEM, leadership, and more. The Calhoun County 4-H Club also offers many other programs that strengthen a student’s decision-making skills, teach about mutual respect, good sportsmanship, good citizenship, and life skills. These programs include Livestock Competitions, Judging Events, District Project Achievement, and events such as Junior Conference, Senior Conference, Fall Forum, State Council, Camp, and many other programs. We also provide fundraisers such as Vidalia Onion sales, donut sales, and car wash coupons to assist with these programs as well as many wonderful people making additional donations to benefit these young people.
Together the Calhoun County Team has been involved in the Farm, Fun, & Fitness event which is going into its sixth year, reaching over 270 students. This program, which was initiated by 2 local educators in collaboration with the local Extension Office, teaches the students about agriculture, plant biology, soils, and seed germination along with the importance of “farm to table” initiative while also incorporating physical activities.
CALHOUN COUNTY AGRICULTURE
Timely decisions, local research, and strengthened farmer support systems helped keep dollars in the field and farm families supported across Calhoun County in 2025. Weekly peanut maturity clinics turned pod blasting data from grower samples into clear “dig now vs. dig later” recommendations, helping producers avoid costly yield and grade losses and retain an estimated $50 per acre at harvest. A replicated on farm corn variety trial evaluating 10 hybrids under irrigated conditions provided farmers with unbiased, local performance data to guide hybrid selection decisions. Results showed up to a 36 bushel per acre difference between hybrids, equating to a potential $180 per acre advantage and helping producers reduce risk and improve profitability. In addition, disease monitoring through this trial and sentinel plots enabled early detection of southern corn rust, triggering timely fungicide recommendations that helped protect an estimated $250,000 in local crop value.
Beyond production, Extension also addressed the growing challenge of rural stress in agriculture. Through production meetings, workshops, and outreach events, more than 100 farmers and agricultural professionals received education on stress awareness and available resources. Targeted efforts, including farmer focused discussions and distribution of resource materials, helped normalize mental health conversations in agricultural settings and connect individuals to support networks.
From optimizing harvest timing and improving hybrid selection to protecting crop value and strengthening the wellbeing of farm families, Calhoun County Extension continues to translate research into real world impact. For more information and updates from the field, please visit the Calhoun County Agriculture Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/calhouncountyagriculture/ , as well as our online newsletter on Substack: https://ugacalhouncounty.substack.com/.
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
UGA Extension provides nutrition education programs and educational materials for adults and youth. By improving the overall health habits of Georgians, fewer hospitalizations and medications will be required, reducing health care costs for individuals, taxpayers, small businesses and corporations. The Calhoun County Extension office can provide publications and assist residents in locating applicable programs and agents in nearby counties.