By Kevin Tatum
Each year, Coffee County 4-H holds a program to recognize our 4-H members who have been active in 4-H competitions and community service projects. Competitions include District Project Achievement (DPA), poultry judging, livestock shows (cattle, goats, hogs, and horses), and target sports contests (archery, air pistol, air rifle, 22 rifle, BB rifle, and shotgun). We also recognize students for their participation in community service projects like the Adopt-A-Highway workdays, Pet Therapy visitation days, and bell ringing for the Salvation Army to name a few.
This year’s honors night program will be held on Monday, May 8, at 6 PM in the sanctuary of the First Baptist Church of Douglas. Invitations were mailed out last week for the program, so be on the lookout for them if you were involved in any of these activities. If you do not receive your invitation, please contact the 4-H office at 384-1402 to let us know. Friends and family are welcome to attend.
State Target Sports Events
As I write this, our 4-H archery team, air rifle team, and air pistol shooters are preparing to depart for Rock Eagle to compete in the State 4-H Target Challenge Weekend to be held April 28-29. Natalie Newell, Glenn O’Steen, and Micheal Woods will be competing in the archery match while Brooke Gilliard competes in the air pistol match. We will also have Brooke Gilliard, Caelan Merrit, Kameron Pennell, Nicolas Pennell, and Kate Vickers competing in the sporter air rifle match.
The weekend of May 5-7, the BB team will travel to Rock Eagle to compete in their State 4-H match. BB team members include J.J. Aldridge, Carson Chancey, Sarah Davis, Harleigh Hope, Allison Merritt, Caelan Merrit, Kameron Pennell, Mason Stewart, Huey Underhill, and Sara Vickers. This team had to qualify for this match at an area match last month.
On May 27-28, the 4-H shotgun team will be traveling to Savannah to compete in the state 4‑H trap, skeet, and sporting clay competition. Team members are Aaron Fletcher, Jake Fletcher, Slade Leavens, Hudson Lott, Drew Purvis, Emily Purvis, Bailey Russ, Slade Smith, Gatlin Smith, Huntington Smith, Blake Tanner, Lauren Tanner, Barron Thomas, Waylon Vickers, and Avery Vincent.
We want to express our gratitude to all of the volunteer leaders who took time to become Certified Coaches and dedicate time to training these 4-H members for competition. Coaches for archery are Chalanda Woods and Joan Zimmer. Air pistol coaches are Melissa Gilliard and Don Stokes. Air rifle coaches are Melissa Gilliard, Don Stokes, and Melissa Vickers. BB rifle coaches are W.B. Merritt and Melissa Vickers. Shotgun coaches are Richard Grantham and Clay Thomas. We thank you for your service to these students.
Cloverleaf Summer Activity Payments Due
4-H members signed up for the Cloverleaf 4-H Summer Activities should turn in to the 4-H office any remaining balance on their fees by Friday, May 12.
If you have questions about the Coffee County 4-H Club program, or questions around the farm or home, please feel free to contact the Coffee County Extension office at (912) 384-1402. Remember, we are YOUR local connection to the University of Georgia.