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Seminole County
UGA Extension Office

Our Impact

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Growing Leadership Through Seminole County 4-H

Summary
Seminole County 4-H members learn and practice leadership skills which allow them to find their Spark and become local, district, and statewide leaders.

Situation
Seminole County, a small rural county in the Southwest corner of Georgia.  With a population of only 9,274 and a poverty rate of 21%, Seminole County is located more than five hours from Atlanta and Athens. For Seminole County youth to become positive, engaged leaders, it is essential that they receive the extra support needed to succeed and to experience life beyond the county’s borders.  When the 4-H Agent began her career in the county over 25 years ago, her goal was to always go the extra mile to provide opportunities to help 4-H’ers develop into capable leaders. This is especially difficult because many local youth face challenges such as limited transportation and financial barriers.

Response
The Seminole County 4-H Agent, supported by the county 4-H team, has taken an active leadership role in expanding meaningful leadership development opportunities for local youth at the county, district, and state levels. Through intentional programming, 4-H members in grades 5–12 gain hands-on experience in leadership by serving as officers in their school-based clubs. Older youth (grades 7–12) can further develop their leadership skills by campaigning for district and state board positions—representing 41 and 159 counties respectively—and by earning certification as Teen Leaders. These experiences build confidence, responsibility, and communication skills that extend beyond 4-H activities. Upon graduation, Seminole County 4-H alumni are encouraged to continue their leadership journey as paid 4-H camp counselors, mentoring younger members through Georgia 4-H’s statewide summer camping program.

Impact

Because of the intentional efforts of the Seminole County 4-H staff to develop youth leaders, measurable outcomes demonstrate significant growth in leadership, communication, and civic engagement among participants.

  • Local 4-H Officers: More than 250 Seminole County students have been elected and trained in parliamentary procedure to conduct effective school and county-based 4-H meetings. As a result, 82% of participants reported improved ability to lead orderly meetings, collaborate with peers, and work effectively in teams.
  • District and State Board Members: Since 2000, 28 students have completed the campaign process for district and state 4-H board elections—developing public speaking, persuasive communication, and professional presentation skills through speech writing, poster design, and peer engagement. Eighteen Seminole County 4-H’ers have successfully been elected to serve on Junior, Senior, and State Boards. Ninety percent of officers reported that serving as a district or state officer strengthened their confidence, assertiveness, and communication skills.
  • Certified Teen Leaders: The 4-H Agent has conducted eight leadership trainings, resulting in 75 teens earning Teen Leader certification. These youth now mentor younger 4-H’ers by assisting with Cloverleaf District Project Achievement, teaching sessions at the Statewide Georgia 4-H Junior Conferences, participating in district and area judging events, and serving as leaders during residential and day camps. Ninety-one percent of certified teen leaders expressed a strong sense of accomplishment and purpose in guiding younger members and supporting county 4-H programming.
  • 4-H Camp Counselors: Over the past seven years, five Seminole County 4-H members have successfully completed the competitive interview process to serve as Georgia 4-H summer camp counselors. Two counselors received the Most Outstanding First-Time Counselor Award while serving at Rock Eagle 4-H Center—an achievement that underscores the county’s strong leadership preparation pipeline.

A recent Southwest District board member from Seminole County stated, “I am able to take the leadership skills that I have learned in 4-H and apply them to my other leadership positions in various organizations. 4-H provides many opportunities to travel, compete and just have fun,”

Seminole County 4-H continues to develop strong, confident, and capable young leaders. Through continued investment of time, encouragement, and opportunity, the county’s 4-H program equips youth with lifelong leadership skills that will serve them in their schools, communities, and future careers.

Discovery and identification of the Two-Spotted Cotton Leafhopper/Cotton Jassid

Summary

On July 9, 2025, the Seminole County ANR agent identified the Two-Spotted Cotton Leafhopper, also known as the Cotton Jassid, in a backyard okra garden in Seminole County, Georgia. This was the first time the Cotton Jassid was found in Georgia.

Situation
The Cotton Jassid is a major pest of several crops but can be especially detrimental to cotton growers. Native to Asia, the pest was found in Puerto Rico in 2023 and in Florida in 2024. Before July 9, 2025, the Cotton Jassid had not been identified in Georgia. After its initial identification, the Cotton Jassid was located across Georgia and began causing major damage to cotton fields. As the pest feeds on the underside of the leaf, it injects toxins, causing the leaf to yellow and curl, a condition commonly known as hopperburn. Severe feeding will eventually cause the cotton leaf to turn red and then brown before defoliating. This damage will reduce yield potential.

Response
After July 9, 2025, Dr. Phillip Roberts, UGA Cotton Entomologist, began scouting fields across Georgia to understand the distribution of this pest. Statewide alerts were issued regarding this pest and agents, consultants, and growers began scouting to find and understand this pest across Georgia. Initially, infestations appeared to be more isolated to the eastern part of the state. Bioassays were conducted to determine which cotton insecticides would help to manage this pest. Later, on farm trials, testing several of these insecticides were conducted, giving growers in Georgia options to manage this pest. Since its initial discovery in Seminole County, the Cotton Jassid has been found in the majority of cotton producing counties and UGA Extension has led the charge in developing scouting techniques and thresholds while working to understand the impact of this pest.

Impact
For cotton growers in the state and the southeastern United States, the rapid response of the UGA Cotton Team helped growers scout, identify, and ultimately manage this pest. Before July 2025, no thresholds in Georgia had been established, and insecticide options were not known. The early detection prior to widespread damage allowed growers, in most cases, to stay ahead of the pest and manage it once populations reached thresholds. Understanding the economic impact of this pest will not be fully realized until after the crop has been harvested but the early detection of the Cotton Jassid likely kept those economic impacts down in most cases as growers were just ahead of the major issues this pest can cause.