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.
4-H Youth Development
Enhancing Forestry Knowledge through 4-H Forestry Judging and One-on-One Instruction
Situation:
Georgia’s forests, spanning 24.5 million acres, contribute over $41 billion
annually and support more than 140,000 jobs, making them an essential part of the
state’s economy. To equip the next generation with the skills necessary for
sustainable forest management, Georgia 4-H offers the annual Forestry Judging
Contest. Through this competition, students from grades 4 through 12 learn to
identify trees, pests, and diseases, as well as measure sawtimber volume and
estimate distances using pacing. These skills are critical, given the economic
impact of forest health and the diverse value of different tree species.
Response:
To enhance learning and provide more personalized instruction, Forsyth
County Extension collaborated with Master Naturalist Extension Volunteers to
support students in their contest preparation. With an 8:1 student-to-teacher
ratio, individualized learning can be challenging. However, the introduction of
one-on-one coaching allowed for tailored instruction, ensuring that students
grasped fundamental concepts before advancing to more complex topics.
Results/Impacts:
This focused approach to teaching led to remarkable achievements. The
Junior Team placed 2nd overall in the District Forestry Judging Competition,
with individual team members excelling in various categories. The increased
one-on-one instruction fostered a deeper understanding of forestry and
contributed to the team’s success.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Forsyth County Extension partnered with the Forsyth County Water and Sewer Department on a program designed to reduce landscape water usage. Program participants adopted several water-saving landscape practices recommended through the educational program and began using a 50-gallon rain barrel provided at program completion to supplement outdoor watering. The combined efforts potentially reduce water draws from municipal water supplies by several hundreds of gallons per participant each month.
Forsyth County Extension Volunteers
The Forsyth County Extension Volunteers expanded the education and program reach of Forsyth County Extension by leading and teaching enrichment programs for youth and adult audiences. In 2023, trained teams of Master Gardener and Master Naturalist volunteers taught 30 public classes in sustainable landscapes, endangered species, native plants, pollinators and wildlife, home gardening, and other topics. they also participated in community events such as Arbor Day, Earth Day, and Enchanted Halloween, providing research-based information to over 600 county residents through short, high-interest activities.