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Columbia County
UGA Extension Office

4-H Youth Development

Meet Your 4-H Agent

My name is Lauren Luoma, and I'm so happy to be serving my home county as the 4-H Agent. I truly believe in helping students in finding their sparks, creating a sense of belonging, helping them form healthy relationships with peers and leaders, and creating community engagement.

I graduated from the University of Georgia with degrees and history and religion, and am completing my Masters of Public Administration from Augusta University. Prior to beginning as agent in 2022, I had previously served Columbia County as a 4-H'er, teen leader, Program Assistant, and adult volunteer. I'm thrilled to be working in the county I grew up in that holds so many valuable memories and experiences I had in 4-H.

-Lauren


What is Georgia 4-H?

A world in which youth and adults learn, grow, and work together as catalysts for positive change! The Georgia 4-H program is part of the educational outreach of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences. 4-H is the largest youth organization in the world. Today, 4-H is urban and suburban as well as rural.

Watch Our Video

4-H Mission

The mission of Georgia 4-H is to assist youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills, and forming attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, productive and contributing members of society. This mission is accomplished, through "hands on" learning experiences, focused on agricultural and environmental issues, agriculture awareness, leadership, communication skills, foods and nutrition, health, energy conservation, and citizenship.

Exploring and discovering, encouraging and challenging, that's what Georgia 4-H is all about. As a program of the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Cooperative Extension System, 4-H is part of the nationwide Extension network.

4-H'ers are known for sharing their research-based knowledge and technology to people where they live and work. 4-H combines federal, state, and local expertise and resources. Please visit the official Georgia 4-H website for more information. 

4-H Pledge

I pledge my HEAD to clearer thinking, my HEART to greater loyalty, my HANDS to larger service, and HEALTH to better living, for my club, my community, my country, and my world! 


Volunteering with Columbia County 4-H


Becoming a 4-H Volunteer is easy!

None of our 4-H clubs and activities would be possible without our dedicated volunteers! We need volunteers to help with in-school club meetings, specialty clubs, fundraisers, community service projects, and so much more! A background and motor vehicle record check are required. 

If you are interested in becoming a Columbia County 4-H volunteer, please use the link below to start the volunteer certification process. We look forward to working with you in the near future!

VOLUNTEER APPLICATION

 


Columbia County Extension 4-H E-Newsletters 

Keep up-to-date with everything 4-H by subscribing to our new e-newsletter! This  publication will be sent to your e-mail  and contains all of the info and documents you need for club meetings, events, community service projects and fundraisers.  Use the link below to sign up!

Subscribe

 


Below are some of 4-H's most broadly useful resources from the Georgia 4-H website. Please contact us for more information about participating in any of these programs through this county office.

4-H Resources

Summer Camp County offices promote and coordinate 4-H summer camp experiences unlike any other in the county. Counties travel to unique 4-H centers across the state offering fun, friendship and adventure for over 8,000 4-H'ers each summer. Visit the Georgia 4-H Website
Environmental Education The Georgia 4-H Environmental Education Program is one of the nation’s largest and oldest providers of local environmental education, serving over 45,000 people annually. The research-based curriculum provides hands-on learning experiences aligned with Georgia Performance Standards.
Livestock Program The Georgia 4-H Livestock Program gives students the opportunity to practice and acquire new knowledge in the fields of animal science, business, time management and leadership.
Project Achievement This core program showcases the work and success of 4-H'ers through presentations and portfolios on numerous topics. Members compete against their peers at the local, district and state levels in an effort to master their project.
Become a Volunteer The Georgia 4-H Foundation relies heavily on the efforts of volunteers to help coordinate and organize yearly alumni & friends events. If you are interested in serving as a volunteer, read more about becoming a volunteer at the Georgia 4-H website.
Project S.A.F.E. Project S.A.F.E. (Shooting Awareness, Fun and Education) is a curriculum based and designed to assist young people in personal development, establish a personal environmental ethic and explore life-long vocational and avocational activities.
Military Programs UGA Extension Military Outreach builds partnerships and provides programs that help Georgia military families find positive ways to cope with the stress of military life.