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
The Decatur County Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent assists local growers throughout the growing season by conducting peanut maturity ratings to help determine the optimal harvest time for maximizing yield and profit. Since peanut digging time is critical, peanut samples are blasted to reveal hull color, allowing producers to accurately assess crop maturity and make informed decisions. In addition, Decatur County Extension provides soil and plant tissue sample analysis services, with hundreds of samples submitted annually by producers and homeowners. Based on laboratory results, recommendations are provided to support optimum crop production and landscape management. Through these testing programs and multiple annual crop production meetings featuring the latest research-based information from UGA Specialists, Decatur County Extension helps growers and homeowners make informed management decisions that improve productivity and profitability.
4-H Youth Development
Decatur County 4-H promotes agricultural literacy through STEM programming, enrichment activities, citizenship development, and general 4-H programming at the local, state, and national levels. By increasing agricultural knowledge, 4-H helps individuals make informed choices related to overall health, well-being, and quality of life. Many people lack an understanding of how plant and animal products are produced or the significant economic impact agriculture has on communities. Even in an agrarian dominated community such as Decatur County, many do not fully recognize the vital connection between agriculture, employment, food, clothing, and everyday life. From 2017 through 2026, Decatur County 4-H reported more than 100,000 multi-generational contacts, with strong collaboration from agriculture-based entities contributing to the success of efforts aimed at increasing awareness of agricultural issues locally and beyond. Decatur County 4-H continues to lead educational initiatives through STEM enrichment programs for elementary students, agricultural-science field days, national conference presentations, and frequent hands-on experiential learning opportunities that engage youth and communities in agriculture education.
Family and Consumer Sciences
Decatur County Family and Consumer Sciences agent conducts monthly sessions for seniors promoting healthier lifestyles by addressing essential nutrients for longevity, strategies to reduce fat, salt, and sugar intake, diabetes management, brain health, hydration, and the importance of physical activity, while also emphasizing mental and emotional well-being. Participants receive supplemental educational materials to reinforce learning and support behavior change. Also recognizing the complex, multigenerational factors contributing to chronic disease in Decatur County, programming is intentionally designed to engage all age groups. Youth ages 7–12 gain foundational knowledge through interactive lessons on nutrition guidelines, nutrient-dense food choices, taste-testing, and goal setting related to nutrition and physical activity. Older youth and adults increase awareness of sugar content in beverages, the importance of nutrient-rich foods, strategies to increase daily movement, and the benefits of proper hydration. In addition, targeted training was provided to Decatur County food service personnel on proper food safety guidelines, strengthening their knowledge of safe food handling, preparation, and storage practices to reduce the risk of foodborne illness. Through a combination of in-person instruction and media outreach, the program strengthens community-wide knowledge, encourages healthier decision-making, and supports long-term disease prevention efforts.