Kevin Tatum, County Extension Coordinator
Georgia 4-H will be hosting an American Idol online audition day specifically dedicated to 4-H members and 4-H alumni ages 15-28 on Friday, September 24. If you meet these qualifications and are interested in auditioning, please send an email request to cwoods@uga.edu and Mrs. Woods will get you the online link information. Remember, you must be a 4-H member or 4-H alumni ages 15-28 years of age to audition.
CLOVERLEAF PROJECT ACHIEVEMENT
Students in 4th-6th grades interested in participating in Cloverleaf District Project Achievement (DPA) need to get signed up for their project and started working on it as soon as possible. Cloverleaf DPA will be held in Lyons, GA, on Saturday, November 13. Our registration deadline is October 15.
DPA is a contest where a student selects a project area, narrows down their topic, researches that topic, organizes their information, writes a five to six minute speech, prepares visual aids about that speech, practices, and goes to the contest to present their project in front of the other students in their project and the project judges.
I would like to tell you why your child should take part in DPA. First of all, there are more Americans are afraid of speaking in public than people who are afraid of heights. More than 25% of Americans admit to being afraid to speak in public according to a Chapman University survey. Less people are afraid of blood/needles or flying than they are of public speaking. The only way someone gets over the fear of speaking in public is to actually do it. The more you do it, the easier it gets.
Secondly, students are learning and practicing research skills by learning more about their project. They are also learning to discern what information is important and what’s not for their speech. As we walk the students through the process, it is helping them practice skills they will need in middle and high school, as well as college and their career.
A third reason to participate in DPA is that students learn how to create visual aids that support their project. These skills will be useful in school, college, and their career as well.
A fourth reason is the students get to meet fellow 4-H members from other schools and counties while preparing and competing. Active 4-H members have contacts all over the state and even the southern region of the US.
Our staff is willing to help your child get ready for DPA. The first step is to sign up for a project of their interest. They do this at the 4-H office. Parent involvement is greatly appreciated and helps increase family time with your child as well.
If you would like to know more about DPA, please contact me or Chalanda Woods and we will gladly answer any questions you have about DPA.
GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIR ENTRY DEADLINE
It’s almost fair time! That means it’s time to enter the many contests and events available to 4-H’ers at the Georgia National Fair in Perry. The dates for the fair are October 7-17, but the entry deadline for Coffee County 4‑H’ers is 4:00 PM on Friday, September 17. NO LATE ENTRIES WILL BE PROCESSED!
Contests for 4-H members include: Computer Graphic Design, Decorated Agricultural Products, Recycling, Terrarium/Dish Garden, Family Scarecrow Building Contest, Instant Camera Photography, Public Speaking, Variety Show, Family Seed Art, Cotton Boll Speech, Family Pumpkin Decorating, Cloverleaf Peanut Contest, Cupcake Masters, Healthy Commodity Contest (Corn), Homemade Ice Cream, and Pizza Contest.
You can get a copy of the rules for each contest/event from the 4-H office or by visiting the Georgia National Fair website at georgianationalfair.com (go to Georgia Living→Youth Educational Exhibits→Competitions-4‑H). Registration forms and exhibits/entries must be turned in to the county 4‑H office by September 17.
For more information, visit their website at georgianationalfair.com or contact the fair at (800)987-3247 or (800) YUR-FAIR
GEORGIA NATIONAL FAIR TRIP
Plans are being made for Junior and Senior 4-H members to go to the Georgia National Fair on Monday, October 11. The tentative fee for attending the trip is $40 per person. This includes admission to the fair, an armband for the rides, insurance, and transportation. The fee is due in the 4-H office no later than Monday, September 20.
LIVESTOCK SHOW INFORMATION
The County Goat and Lamb Show will be held on Saturday, September 25, starting around 9:30 AM, at the Coffee Middle School Livestock Facility in Douglas. Please come and support our youth involved in this event. The state shows will be held in conjunction with the Georgia National Fair with goat weigh in on Thursday, October 7, and shows on Friday, October 8, and Saturday, October 9 and lamb weigh in on Friday, October 8, and shows on Saturday, October 9 and Sunday, October 10.
Also, students interested in showing cattle should contact Mr. Kevin at the 4-H office at 384-1402 or Mr. Spenser Highsmith at Coffee High School as soon as possible. The state entry deadline is approaching quickly and all cattle must be tagged, tattooed, and registered.
The tagging date for hogs will be in mid to late November. All animals will be tagged at the Coffee Middle School Livestock Facility. Please make sure that you have your animals there so you can participate in the shows this year.
4-H WEEK PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Junior and Senior 4‑H members are encouraged to record public service announcements for National 4‑H Week coming up in October. We will record the announcements at the 4-H office after your regular 4-H meetings on Monday, September 27, for Senior 4-H members, and Thursday, September 30, for Junior 4-H members. These PSA’s will be played on local radio stations during National 4-H Week (October 3-9). 4-H members are asked to write their own PSA around their DPA project so as to help with content for their portfolio.
Students interested in doing this should sign up by September 16 by turning in a copy of their PSA to the 4-H office.
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.