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Your Cooperative Extension office, a department of Columbus Consolidated Government, provides the Columbus community with many services.
Our Home Visiting programs provide parenting support and education to over 700 families in the Columbus area. We also provide training to professional childcare providers, helping those professionals provide quality care and education to many children in Columbus.
Our agents provide classes to individuals and other agencies throughout Columbus. Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program teaches families how to save money on food and how to make good, inexpensive and nutritious family meals. Family and Consumer Sciences provides classes on living with chronic diseases, such as heart disease and diabetes.
In 2024, the Muscogee County Extension Home Visiting Program achieved accreditation from Healthy Families America, recognizing its commitment to delivering high-quality support for pregnant families, infants, and young children. This year, the program screened 575 families and provided direct services to 132 participants, strengthening early childhood development and family well-being. Muscogee County 4-H expanded its reach, doubling the number of schools served, fostering youth leadership and education. Additionally, the Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Program contributed 2,025 service hours — valued at $67,817.25 — dedicated to environmental education, water quality monitoring, home garden support, and other community-driven initiatives.
Upcoming Events
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Jul 7 - Jul 8 ServSafe Food Protection Manager Training and Exam UGA Bartow County Extension is offering a 2-day ServSafe® Manager Certification Course on July 7-8, 2026 Course Details: • Time 8:30 am – 5:00 pm (each day) (1-hour lunch on your own) • Fee: $150 (all-inclusive) Registration includes • 12 Hours of instructions • Course • Study Materials • Certification Exam • Drinks and Snacks during Training Topics Include: • Food Safety at all stages of operation • Facilities and pest management • Cleaning and sanitizing • Additional essential food safety practices If you have any questions, you can contact Angelica Davis, Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, at Angelica.Bridges@uga.edu or (770) 387-5142. Register early to secure your spot and take the next step toward ServSafe® Manager Certification
- Cartersville, GA - (120.0 Miles)
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Jul 7 College Applications & Scholarships Writing Workshop Are you a rising high school senior planning to attend college? Whether you already have a draft or have no idea where to begin, join me as I go over key factors to consider when building your college list, differentiate the application platforms, highlight a few scholarship opportunities, break down the main components of the application process, and provide you with writing tips. After the presentation, you’ll have time to work on your essays and receive feedback from both peers and me. Bring your questions and your laptop if you prefer typing your essay! This is workshop 3 out of 4 this summer 2026; attend the upcoming workshop on July 21 for additional support!
- Griffin, GA - (70.0 Miles)
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Jul 7 Food Preservation Workshop: Salsas Ready to learn how to can your own delicious Salsa? Join us on July 7th, 2026 from 4:00 pm-6:00 PM for a hands-on class covering boiling water bath canning. $25 Registration Includes: * 2 hours of hands-on instruction * 1 jar of your very own canned salsa to take home
- CARROLLTON, GA - (77.0 Miles)
Diagnostic Services
We offer several diagnostic services through UGA labs, including soil tests, water quality tests, and disease and insect identification. For more information about these services, please contact our office.
Information on soil and water testing
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Soil Testing for Home Lawns, Gardens and Wildlife Food Plots (C 896) Developing and maintaining productive soils begin with soil testing. Soils tests provide information on the soil's actual nutrient status. Test results are used to determine the amount and kind of nutrients that should be added for the best growth of lawn, garden, and other types of plants.
The University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (working cooperatively with Fort Valley State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, and the counties of Georgia) offers its educational programs, assistance, and materials to all people without regard to age, color, disability, genetic information, national origin, race, religion, sex, or veteran status, and is an Equal Opportunity Institution.