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.
Family and Consumer Sciences
The Family and Consurmer Sciences (FACS) program plays a vital role in strengthening the quality of life for individuals and families in Houston County, and across the Southwest region of the state. Through year- round educational programming, FACS provides valuable resources that promote healthy relationships by offering the Elevate program, nutrition awareness through the Expanded Food Nutrition Education Program, and ServSafe Manager/Food Handler training opportunities.
In addition to these core offerings, the Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) program serves as a trusted resource for practical, research-based guidance that empowers people to make informed decisions in their daily lives. By addressing topics such as food preservation, meal planning, and family wellness, FACS helps participants build essential life skills that contribute to long-term stability and self-sufficiency. These programs are especially valuable in supporting youth development and preparing individuals for success in both personal and professional settings.
The FACS program also plays a key role in fostering community partnerships and collaboration throughout Houston County and the broader Southwest Georgia region. By working alongside schools, local organizations, and businesses, FACS extends its reach and ensures that year-round educational opportunities are accessible to diverse audiences. This collaborative approach strengthens community ties and encourages economic stability, while enhancing the overall well-being of residents and reinforcing a healthier, more resilient Georgia.
4-H Youth Development
The Houston County 4-H program continued to make a meaningful impact on local youth by providing engaging educational opportunities that build leadership, confidence, and life skills. Through partnerships with public schools,4-H staff delivered hands-on programming to 4th and 5th grade classrooms across the county, reaching students where they learn each day. In addition to in-school programming, children had opportunities to stay involved through after-school clubs and activities, as well as an active homeschool club that fostered collaboration, creativity, and involvement among participants from diverse educational backgrounds.
Competitive events and project-based learning remained a major focus of the program. Through Project Achievement, youth selected topics of interest, prepared presentations, and competed within their project areas, strengthening public speaking, research, and communication skills. Participants also represented Houston County in poultry judging and hippology competitions, developing technical knowledge and critical thinking abilities through agriculture and equine science education. In addition, the county’s shooting sports program continued to grow, with youth participating in shotgun, BB, archery, and air pistol teams. These programs emphasized safety, discipline, sportsmanship, and teamwork while helping participants build confidence and focus.
The program also provided valuable experiential learning opportunities through camps and seasonal programming. Multiple camp opportunities were offered for youth in 4th through 12th grade, giving participants opportunities to develop independence, leadership skills, and lasting friendships in a positive environment. Houston County 4-H also maintained a robust summer program that kept youth engaged through recreation and hands-on learning experiences during the school break.
Through these diverse programs and activities, Houston County 4-H continued to equip youth with the skills and experiences needed to become productive leaders in their schools and communities. By combining classroom enrichment, competitive events, leadership development, and experiential learning opportunities, the program created meaningful impacts that will benefit participating youth for years to come.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Our Agriculture and Natural Resouces (ANR) Agent continues to serve Houston County by delivering research-based education and practical solutions that strengthen our agricultural industry and support community needs. Each year, our ANR Agent offers a variety of production meetings and educational programs for row crop farmers and cattle producers, providing valuable continuing education credits along with the latest recommendations and findings from University of Georgia researchers. In addition, she is actively involved in five on-farm research trials across Middle Georgia, helping bring innovative practices and real-world research directly to local producers.
Our ANR agent works closely with both agricultural producers and homeowners, regularly conducting field visits and consultations to address challenges, identify solutions, and provide timely, science-based recommendations. Supporting these efforts is a dedicated team of trained Master Gardener Extension Volunteers (MGEVs), who expand Extension's reach through educational programming and community engagement throughout the county.
Together, our ANR Agent and MGEVs host eight homeowner education classes annually, covering a wide range of topics related to horticulture, landscaping, and natural resources. Youth outreach also remains a strong priority, with monthly educational programs offered in 12 schools and three libraries across Houston County. In addition, the ANR Agent and MGEVs maintain four teaching gardens that serve as hands-on learning environments and demonstration sites for the community.