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Jeff Davis County
UGA Extension Office

Our Impact

Impact Statement 2022 - 4-H and Youth Development

Title

4-H Involvement Pays Off: Jeff Davis County 4-H’ers turn their 4-H Experience into College Scholarships
Year 2022

Author: Marchant, Sheila W.

Summary

 Jeff Davis County 4-H members utilized community service hours and leadership to obtain college scholarship funds.

Situation

 Each fall college freshmen begin their journey to obtain higher education. However, over the last few years the number of students attending college has declined. According to NPR correspondent, Nadworny (2022), more than one million fewer students are enrolled in college since the pandemic. That is a 6% drop since 2019 (Nadworny, 2022). This poses great concern among economists for the future workforce. Without students attending college, the workforce is less likely to fill higher skilled jobs due to lack of qualifications (2022). Many students are not attending college because they are working and saving money to hopefully attend later (2022). Scholarships are available to assist with costs if students meet the requirements. The Education Data Initiative (2022), reports 1.7 million scholarships are awarded each year, but only 7% of college students will receive a college scholarship (Hanson, 2022). According to the February 2022, report, the average scholarship is worth $7,400 and the average cost for tuition, room and board for Georgia college is $18, 771 while the U.S. average is over $35,000.00 per year (Hanson, 2022). Locally, the graduation rate for Jeff Davis County High School is 97%. From 2019-2021, 21 % of graduates at Jeff Davis High School have received local and college sponsored scholarships and 42% of graduates planned to attend college. College scholarships within schools and in local communities can assist students in the pursuit of a higher education upon high school graduation. Often, students need assistance with discovering scholarships that meet their needs and with completion of applications. 

Response

Jeff Davis County Extension staff provided programming for youth in community service and leadership activities. High school members led programs for younger students in agriculture and environmental education, nutrition, health and wellness. In collaboration with various donors, organizations and civic groups, members presented projects and promoted community service events. Students participated in community service projects for four years of high school along with leadership opportunities and logged those hours. Under the direction of the county agent, students organized and conducted outreach events such as afterschool STEM classes, Farm Days, collections for nursing homes, and assisted with various educational opportunities for youth in kindergarten through 5th grade. County Agents assisted members with college scholarship selections, completion of applications, provided community service logs, and letters of reference. Eight 4-H members graduated in May 2022. All of these students had been active members of the Jeff Davis County 4-H program for eight years. Five of these students reached out to the county agent for assistance with finding scholarships, applying for scholarships and with letters of recommendation. The county agent provided one on one sessions with students, provided lists of available scholarships and discussed with students and parents’ ways to find opportunities that suited the students interest or college of choice.

Impact

As a result of student involvement in 4-H community service and leadership activities, members were eligible to apply for college scholarships at the local, state and college level. Students used hours from four years of community service and leadership work provided from data from the county agent. Five of the eight students applied for scholarships. These students accumulated 847 hours of community service to be included on the applications. This involvement in 4-H, community service and leadership gave these five students a competitive edge when applying for scholarships. 4-H motivated these students to be active in the community and this effort was awarded for them when it was time to apply for college admissions and scholarships.
In the Class of 2022, 25% of Jeff Davis High School students received scholarships, of that 25%, 4% were 4-H members who had been involved in 4-H since 5th grade. 38% of students graduating in 2022 planned to attend college in the Fall. 100% of the students that received scholarship application assistance from the county agent were awarded scholarships, which is 63% of the graduating 4-H members for 2022. These scholarships totaled $31,000. All of the students receiving these scholarships are enrolled as full-time college students for the Fall 2022 semester.
Involvement in the 4-H program provided students with the skills needed to apply and receive admissions into prestigious colleges and to receive scholarship awards. Hours of involvement in 4-H illustrated to prospective colleges that students were motivated and driven to succeed long term. 4-H is an overall package when students remain involved throughout school providing experiences in social skill development, communication, public speaking, and empathy giving these students a well-rounded advantage for higher education and employment.


IMPACT STATEMENT October 2022 - Agriculture and Natural Resources

Author:  Miller, Jennifer T.

Title

Updated Cotton Fruiting Position Value Graphic Allows Producers to Make Profitable Decisions

Summary

The original cotton fruiting position value graphic was created in 2006 by Dr. Craig Bedenarz using DP 555. Due to changes in dominant cotton varieties and market value, there was a need for new data. The agent collected data in 2020 across locations to update the graphic, then shared the information with County Agents across the state as well as Jeff Davis producers. Understanding cotton boll distribution relative to worth is imperative to making profitable decisions.

Situation

Cotton is Georgia’s largest row crop with 1.2 million acres planted each year. The original cotton fruiting position value graphic (money tree) was created in 2006 by Dr. Craig Bedenarz using DP 555. Over the past 14 years since the original graphic was made, growers have adopted new varieties and agronomic practices that have affected how the cotton retains bolls. Cotton prices have also changed since 2006. The graphic, which assigns a dollar value to each position on the cotton plant, gives the farmer a good picture of where their money is made. In the southeast, growers often let mature cotton remain in the fields while they harvest peanuts first; Or they decide to delay defoliation of cotton waiting on the top bolls to mature. An up-to-date graphic would help producers understand that cotton boll distribution and worth should be considered when making these on-farm decisions.

Response

In 2019, Dr. Jared Whitaker collected data from Deltapine (DP) 1646 over three locations in Tifton, GA. After evaluating the analyzed data and the new money tree graphic, the county agent was asked if the data would be the same across the state of Georgia. This led the county agent to collect data and establish a larger representation of cotton yield across the state. In 2020, the agent selected 3 locations to collect data in southeast Georgia. Field sites in Jeff Davis, Treutlen and Tattnall counties with irrigated DP 1646 were used. After cotton defoliation, 10 foot of row was cut from the field, box mapped and ginned. Boll distribution on the plant, lint weight, and yield were calculated. Cotton price of 75 cents per pound was used to figure crop value. The Jeff Davis Extension Agent compiled the data and prepared a professional poster and presentation to share with Extension Agents and growers.

Impact

Data from southwest Georgia in 2019 was slightly different than data collected in 2020 in southeast Georgia. Overall data still shows with current cotton varieties and prices, that 80% of cotton yield and profit is made in the bottom two thirds of the plant. This data indicates that 40% to 60% of yield and profit comes from node ten or below, while 31% to 36% of yield and profit come from nodes eleven to fifteen. Data from this project was shared with County Agents at the Georgia Association of County Agricultural Agents (GACAA) as a poster and oral presentation. Jeff Davis growers were able to view it at production meetings in the spring. It has allowed producers to visually see how cotton management affects their bottom line. Early season stress can hinder boll set in the bottom of the plant which are the larger money-making bolls, reducing overall profit. Late season management and defoliation decisions should be made with knowledge that the top crop is not as valuable as those set on lower nodes. By waiting too long to harvest, growers lose the yield from lower position bolls representing approximately $350 per acre profit, which is well illustrated by the data collected to establish the “new money tree”.