Upcoming Programs
Stay Up To Date!
Email uge2207@uga.edu or rachel.kirkland@uga.edu to be added to the monthly newsletter email list.
Please see all upcoming activities in 4-H below. If you would like to register, please click on the photo and it will take you to the registration page.
Join us on Wednesday, April 1st from 3:30-5PM at the Monroe County 4-H Office for our April Cloverleaf Club. Join us for April Fool's Day Fun!
Click on the image to register.
Calling all equine loving youth! April Horse and Pony Club meetings are Tuesday, April 7th and 14th beginning at 7:00PM and Saturday, April 19th at Creek Moore Equestrian in Macon. The topics include Western Riding, Western Pleasure and Horsemanship and then a Trail Class on the 19th. You do not have to have a horse or pony to be a member of the club. For any questions contact the 4-H Office at 478-994-7014 or rachel.kirkland@uga.edu.
Click on the image to register.
County Council is a time for Junior (7th - 8th Grade) and Senior (9th - 12th Grade) 4-H'ers to get together once a month, build friendships, develop skills in leadership and teamwork, make dinner, and have fun! Join us as we learn more about responsible money management at our April meeting on Tuesday, April 14th from 3:30 - 6:00PM at the Monroe County Extension/4-H office.
Click on the image to register.
Submit your essay by clicking on the image.
About the Contest
This year’s essay topic is “The Power of Pollen!”
For this essay, a 4-H student should answer these questions:
- How is pollen important to bees?
- Has pollen been changing in plants and in our landscapes?
- If so, are those changes affecting bees?
- When do you observe the most and least pollen in your colonies and how does that impact their temperament and productivity?
Contest Details and Deadline
- Essays must be submitted by Tuesday, April 21, 2026. Speak to your local Extension Office for assistance with submitting your essay. NOTE: This deadline is earlier than the deadline listed on the Preservation of Honey Bees website to allow time for State-level judging.
- 4-H’ers (4th through 12th grade) are eligible to submit an essay.
- Each 4-H’er may submit one essay.
- Any participant who placed first, second, or third in previous years of the national competition is NOT eligible to enter. Previous state competition winners who did not place nationally remain eligible to enter.
- Results are announced on Thursday, April 30, 2025.
Essay Requirements for State and National Judging:
- Essays must be typed: Times New Roman, double-spaced, and 12pt font.
- Essays must be 750 to 1,000 words. Word count does not include sources, works cited, or the writer’s biographical statement.
- Essays entered must encompass the designated topic only. There will be no exceptions.
- All factual statements and interview references must be cited in a “source” or “bibliography.”
- On a separate page, please include a brief biographical statement of the writer, including mailing address, email address, and phone number.
- The statement "I verify that AI was not used to create this essay" must also be included at the bottom of the essay and signed.
- Essays will be judged on:
- scope of research, 40%
- accuracy, 30%
- creativity, 10%
- conciseness, 10%
- logical development of the topic, 10%.
Awards and Recognition
State and national prizes are offered for this contest.
- For the state contest, cash prizes will be awarded to participants as follows:
- 1st Place – $250
- 2nd Place – $100
- 3rd Place – $50
- For the National Contest:
- The first-place Georgia essay will move on to the national competition and will be eligible for additional prizes and awards.
Click on the image to apply.
The 2026-2027 Georgia 4-H Ambassador program application is now live! The goal of the 4-H Ambassador program is to prepare 4-H’ers to become knowledgeable in a specific content area so that they can return to their counties and share what they’ve learned with others. This year, there are seven ambassador tracks: Health & Wellness, Pollinators, Science and Engineering, Wildlife, Animal Science, Bats, and Innovative Agriculture. Attached you will find a sample Ambassador application, scoring rubric, and social media graphics.
Who can apply?
This opportunity is open to any 8th-11th grade 4-H member in the current 2025-2026 school term. Those who are currently in 12th grade and will graduate from high school this year are not eligible for the 4-H Ambassador Program, as it will carry over beyond their 4-H eligibility in most cases. Applications will close on Wednesday, April 15, at 5:00 PM.
Returning Ambassadors:
- ALL youth wishing to be an Ambassador in 2026-27 should complete the application, even if they want to continue to serve in the same track/content area. Returning Ambassadors are also eligible to switch tracks.
- Current Ambassadors wishing to return for the upcoming year must be on track to complete/report six sharing activities and six learning activities by the June 10, 2026, deadline. Failure to complete and report activities may result in the Ambassador becoming ineligible to serve in the future.
- Track leaders will make the final decision. All returning Ambassadors will be announced alongside the first-time applicants on April 28.
- Returning Wildlife, Pollinator, Science and Engineering, and Health and Wellness Ambassadors wishing to continue in the same track have the choice to attend the in-person Ambassador Summit.
- Returning Animal Science Ambassadors are required to attend the Summit at Rock Eagle because the content will be different from previous years.
A limited number of 4-H’ers will be selected as Ambassadors. Selected ambassadors must attend the Georgia 4-H Ambassador Training Summit on Thursday-Friday, May 28-29, at Rock Eagle 4-H Center. Also, selected ambassadors will be required to:
1. Commit to one year of service
2. Complete six learning activities related to their subject area
3. Complete six sharing activities related to their subject area
4. And provide quarterly reports
Join us as we grow, nurture, and harvest plants for our community. Our April meetings are Thursday, April 2nd and 23rd from 3:30-5PM. The community garden is located on West King Street behind the First Baptist Church of Forsyth.
Click on the image to register.
Join us for some Earth Day fun! Our next meeting will be at the Monroe County 4-H Office on Tuesday, April 14th from 3:30-5:00PM. Transportation is not provided. Students must be dropped off and picked up at the Monroe County 4-H Office, 484 Hwy 83 S Forsyth, GA 31029 (located next to Hubbard Elementary School).
Click on the image to register.
Help us make our community a little bit better! Join us for our 4-H for a Difference Service Project Club on Wednesday, April 15th from 3:30 - 5PM at the Monroe County Extension 4-H/ Office. We'll be baking cupcakes for the Forsyth firefighters!
Click on the image to register.
You’ve worked hard preparing & presenting your projects at DPA now it’s time to celebrate! When: Friday April 24th from 3:30 - 7pm. 4-H will cover the cost of the ticket, we just ask that you bring your own money for food. Please confirm your participation by Friday, April 17th.
Click on the image to register.
Senior Conference is a Spring event held at Rock Eagle 4-H Center for high-school 4-H'ers. The weekend focuses on opportunities for higher education and employment, including a college and career fair and future-focused workshops. This event also focuses on peer connection and features a 4-H "prom". This years Senior Conference is April 11 - 12, 2026. Registration is $85. Payment must be made within three days of registration. Payments can be made at the 4-H Office (484 Hwy 83 S Forsyth, GA 31029) or can be taken over the phone (478-994-7014). Registration deadline is Thursday, March 26th at 5pm. Transportation is not provided. You must arrange your own transportation.
Click on the image to register.
Click on the image to register.
Calling all current 6th graders who have participated in Cloverleaf DPA—or those who are interested in starting Project Achievement! Join us for an Intro to Junior/Senior DPA workshop to learn what to expect as you move into the next level of Project Achievement on Tuesday, April 28th from 3:30 - 5pm at the Monroe County 4-H office.
There are a few differences between Cloverleaf DPA and Junior/Senior DPA. Junior DPA includes creating a portfolio (a record of your 4-H activities and accomplishments throughout the year) and the event becomes a weekend-long experience instead of a single Saturday competition.
During this workshop, we will:
- Explain what Junior/Senior DPA looks like
- Walk through the portfolio process
- Share tips on how to prepare beginning now
This is a great opportunity to get a head start and feel confident about the transition to Junior 4-H Project Achievement!
Click on the image to apply
We’re reaching out to share an exciting opportunity available to rising 11th and 12th grade students across Georgia (current 10th and 11th graders). Once again, the J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development at the University of Georgia in partnership with Chick-fil-A, Inc.® will host a statewide youth leadership summit at UGA this summer, and they’re seeking to host at least one rising 11th or 12th grade student from each of our state’s 159 counties.
Applications for the Youth Lead Georgia Summit are NOW OPEN!
The YLG summit is taking place July 16–17, 2026 in Athens, GA. This statewide summit brings together rising 11th and 12th graders (current 10th and 11th graders) for a powerful two-day, one-night leadership experience. The summit will strengthen leadership skills, build connections, and explore important issues facing young people today, all at no cost to participants thanks to generous support from Chick-fil-A®.
During the summit, students will have the opportunity to:
- Experience the UGA campus
- Build their leadership capacity
- Learn more about preparing for college
- Connect with peers from across Georgia
- Engage in meaningful discussions about youth-driven issues
Important details:
📅 Dates: July 16–17, 2026
📍 Location: University of Georgia, Athens, GA
👥 Eligibility: Rising 11th & 12th grade students
💰 Cost: FREE — meals and overnight housing provided (transportation to and from Athens not provided, transportation during program provided)
📅 Application deadline: March 31, 2026
📣 Applications will be reviewed, and decisions announced after the deadline.