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.
Polk Extension has a Facebook page to complement our outreach programming. This addition has allowed us to better showcase not only what we are doing in the county but our competitive 4-H youth and their many accomplishments. In 2022, the Facebook page consisted of 26 posts which reached 11,192 people. Please visit our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/UGA-Extension-Polk-County-116731523453338/) and while on the page click on the Like button.
Gibson also wrote 31 newspaper articles in 2022 ranging in topics from Carpenter Bee Control to Crape Myrtle Pruning for the Polk Standard Journal, with many more to come.
4-H YOUTH DEVELOPMENT
In 2022, there were 692 youth enrolled in Polk County 4-H monthly enrichment programs. Our 4-H staff conducted 11 meetings each month focusing on STEM, Healthy Living, Language Arts and Civic engagement. Polk County 4-H’ers gave 324 hours of service in the Polk County community. Polk County volunteers donated 677 hours valued at more than $10,830.
Polk County had 28 4-H’ers compete in District Project Achievement, where youth present demonstrations to a group of their peers and judges. 4-H'ers in grades 7-12 also complete a portfolio, much like a resume. Participating in the competition helps students develop research, writing and presentation skills that also aid them in performing better on school related tasks and tests and becoming work-ready young adults. Polk County had 17 5th-6th graders compete with 11 of them placing in their projects. Eleven 7th-12th graders competed with nine of them placing in their projects. Three 4-H’ers won their categories and moved on to compete at State. Polk County had two 4-H'ers, Anna Prince in Physical, Biological and Earth Science and Minnes Smith in Food for Fitness, to win the state contest also known as Mastering. Our third district winner, Joseph Croker, placed 3rd at the state contest in the Textiles & Merchandising category. The two state winners also got to attend 4-H Nationals.
Fifteen 4-H’ers increased their knowledge and developed critical thinking and oral presentation skills by participating on the Cotton Boll & Consumer Judging team and the Poultry Judging team. The Poultry Judging team placed 3rd in their competition.
Polk County had 35 4-H'ers attend summer camps and 66 attended our summer programs
Agriculture
During 2022 we received 107 soil samples, 4 water/pond samples, and 16 feed/forage samples for analysis. We would like to see those numbers increase because “Unless you test, it is just a guess” and who wants to guess on what you are feeding your animals, putting in your soil, or yourself for that matter. Results from a soil sample allow for one to adjust the soil pH and fertilizer (if needed) based upon a scientific analysis instead of just throwing out what you think is needed. When speaking of forage sampling, it is best to sample right after harvest, not later on down the road. By sampling sooner than later the producer can decide early on about what extra nutrition might be needed for their animals instead of waiting until winter to make that decision when supplemental nutrition could be more difficult to find. For more information on testing services offered through the Extension office please reach out to Gibson Priest.