CAES Newswire

 College of Agricultural & Environmental Sciences UGA Cooperative Extension
Menu
Published on 10/03/18

UGA Extension agent measures the impact of 4-H Project Achievement on former 4-H'ers

By Sage Barnard

As a Georgia 4-H agent, Pamela Bloch knows that 4-H can change the lives of young people. To the uninitiated, however, that impact can be hard to describe.

Earlier this year, Bloch finished a paper that describes the impact 4-H can have on students based on a series of focus groups she conducted with Georgia 4-H alumni.

For her study, which she completed as part of her master’s degree program in the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences’ Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education and Communication, Bloch focused on the impact of Georgia 4-H’s Project Achievement program.

Project Achievement allows 4-H’ers to select areas of interest and carry out projects related to those areas. They learn about a topic — whether it be cooking, textiles or animals — and then develop, practice and deliver a presentation on that topic. The goal is to help a child decide whether they are really interested in a certain topic and whether that interest could lead to a career.

“Project Achievement is such a strong component of 4-H, so I wanted to see whether there is something that connects project achievement with alumni moving into their adult lives,” she said.

Bloch, who works as a Georgia 4-H agent with UGA Cooperative Extension in Gwinnett County, knew that her participation in Illinois 4-H’s Project Achievement as a child laid the groundwork for her career as an Extension agent, preparing her to speak in front of large crowds with confidence. She wanted to know how the program influenced the career paths of other former 4-H’ers.

“The data came back really interestingly,” Bloch said. “When I was looking at what I was finding, Georgia 4-H Project Achievement has helped people to build friendships, develop positive habits and strengthen public speaking skills.”

Two lawyers from two separate focus groups attributed their time in 4-H with developing the public skills they used on a daily basis.

Bloch’s research has helped to confirm that there is a tangible connection between Project Achievement and the success that alumni attain in their careers. She found that arming kids with tools that help them to learn more and speak with confidence has helped shape the careers of 4-H’ers in Georgia.

For more about the programs offered by Georgia 4-H, visit georgia4h.org.

Sage Barnard is a student writer for the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences and UGA Cooperative Extension.

Authors:
Sage Barnard
Experts/Sources:
Pam Bloch
A Fayette County 4-H'er celebrates with her agent after winning a Georgia 4-H Project Achievement competition.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Download Image
The 2022-2023 Georgia 4-H student board poses with green slime-covered Georgia 4-H Leader Melanie Biersmith after the 2023 $4 for 4-H celebration. Biersmith has agreed to subject herself to the slime again this year if the $74,444 goal is reached. CAES News
Support Georgia 4-H with a $4 gift on April 4 04/03/24 Josie Smith
The Georgia 4-H Foundation is encouraging friendly competition between 4-H supporters in each county in Georgia to benefit positive youth development during the “$4 for 4-H” fundraiser on April 4. In what has become an annual tradition, each Georgia county asks local donors to make online donations of $4 or more that day, with the goal of receiving at least four donations per county. Counties that receive four or more donations will turn green on a Georgia map that will be updated throughout the day on social media April 4.
The First Flock was established at the Georgia Governor's Mansion in July 2021. CAES News
Inaugural First Flock retires to 4-H center as 15 new hens move to Governor’s Mansion 03/18/24 Josie Smith, Lily Thomas
Georgia’s inaugural First Flock is retiring to Fortson 4-H Center almost three years after they came to roost at the Governor’s Mansion in 2021. Six members of the original flock traded places with 15 new hens during a ceremonial swap on Feb. 1 at the First Flock’s custom coop on the eastern side of the 18-acre mansion grounds in Atlanta. The idea for the project was hatched in 2020 when Georgia first lady Marty Kemp expressed her desire to include agricultural education via residential hens at the mansion.
web Capitol Day Group Photo on Oglethorpe Stairs CAES News
4-H’ers see leadership in action during Georgia 4-H Day at the Capitol 02/28/24 Josie Smith
The gold dome of the Georgia Capitol was complemented with shades of green on Feb. 14 as 4-H youth and adult leaders joined elected officials for the largest Georgia 4-H Day at the Capitol on record. With nearly 700 in attendance, outstanding 4-H’ers from counties across the state gathered to engage with legislators, observe leadership in action and learn about the civic process.
gwinnett county extension CAES News
Metro Atlanta Extension office growing capacity to reach diverse audiences 02/21/24 Sameeka Prabath Rajamani
As the population of Gwinnett County approaches the 1 million mark, with a highly diverse demographic profile, the county's University of Georgia Cooperative Extension office is preparing to serve its changing constituency effectively. Recently, the Gwinnett County Extension Program received a $250,000 budget increase from the Gwinnett County Board of Commissioners to increase staffing and expand community educational outreach and engagement to underrepresented groups around the county.
As drug overdoses linked to opioids continue to rise, rural communities in particular struggle to control the epidemic. CAES News
Extension project focuses on education, outreach to address opioid crisis 11/27/23 Cal Powell
As drug overdoses linked to opioids continue to rise, rural communities in particular struggle to control the epidemic. More than 75% of the nearly 107,000 drug overdose deaths in 2021 involved an opioid, with higher rates of poverty and a lack of resources in rural areas being a significant factor in the alarming trend. University of Georgia Cooperative Extension is working with rural communities to address the issue, thanks in part to a three-year $350,000 Rural Health and Safety Education grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Warnell professor Kris Irwin (right) helps campers set leaf-litter traps to capture macroinvertebrates, small amphibians and other organisms during Georgia 4-H Natural Resources Exploration Camp at Rock Eagle 4-H Center. CAES News
Georgia 4-H offers new Natural Resources Exploration Camp 10/17/23 Josie Smith, Alyssa Haag
A dozen 4-H’ers from around Georgia were the first explorers to experience Georgia 4-H’s newest summer program — Natural Resources Exploration Camp — and learn about wildlife, forestry, fisheries and other natural resources from University of Georgia faculty.