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.
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THOMAS COUNTY 4-H AT A GLANCE
The youth in Thomas County need more opportunities to develop intellectual, emotional and social skills so that they are more open to challenge and discovery. Cloverleaf Project Achievement provides opportunities for youth to develop those skills but because of a lack of resources, including funds, time and transportation, city school students have not been able to participate in after-school CPA practice held at the county extension office. Extension staff coordinated with Thomasville City Schools and Scott Elementary School to implement in-school Cloverleaf DPA practices to increase student participation. Sixteen 5th grade students submitted essays for CPA and attended in-school work shops and practices. Twelve of those students attended CPA competition in a neighboring county. At the conclusion of the event, a subset of participants completed a questionnaire. 70% of the respondents indicated that they agreed or strongly agreed that they would not have been able to participate in Cloverleaf Project Achievement if the practices were held at the 4-H office after school. 90% of respondents indicated Cloverleaf Project Achievement made them feel more confident in their public speaking abilities or performing arts skills. 80% of respondents strongly agree that they plan to participate in DPA again this year. One participant commented, “I liked getting to practice in school because it helped me feel more confident. I did it because it sounded fun, and it was fun.” Another student remarked, “I didn’t really want to do it at first when I found out that I would have to get up on stage and dance by myself but when the other students said that they would do it, I decided to try.” One other student stated, “I liked doing CPA because it made me feel important and confident. I was very scared, but it does not matter if you win or not, it matters how you feel. And I also liked it because two of our teachers came and our principal came to the competition.” The Thomas County 4-H Program has since been invited to program with two other elementary schools in the Thomasville City School System.
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AGRICULTURE:? Sydni's Ag Update
Thomas County ANR Agent provides required pesticide safety certification for Southern Regional Technical College (SRTC) students enrolled in the Habitat Manipulation class. The SRTC Land, Forest, Wildlife Management Program Advisory Committee mandated pesticide certification for students. As a result of the new mandate, SRTC Habitat Manipulation professors requested assistance from the Thomas County Ag and Natural Resources Agent to help students meet the class requirement. The Thomas County Agent has served as an invited guest lecturer for two years at SRTC to educate students about pesticide safety, how they could apply the information in their chosen field, and ultimately provide the necessary pesticide education for students to receive the Competent Pesticide Applicator Certification. Future land managers from the Southwest Georgia Technical College Habitat Management class all gained their Competent Pesticide Applicator Certification after the agent’s presentation. This certification illustrates to future employers the student’s knowledge and initiative to use pesticides safely and judiciously. The agent's participation and presentation of information led to all students obtaining their certifications with some even pursuing pesticide licenses. Evaluations revealed a 100% increase in student comprehension of the material, leading to a heightened awareness of pesticide misuse risks. Additionally, students recognize the value of 成人影院 Extension resources and are actively utilizing Thomas County Extension services.
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FACS PROGRAMMING:? Strengthening Nutrition Education Efforts
The Thomas County Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) agent, Olivia Tumlin,? partners with Live Better Thomas County and Archbold Hospital to provide education about MyPlate guidelines and healthy eating habits to students Kindergarten through fifth grade in Thomas County. Over the Summer, the FACS agent created the content for nine new “Wellness Wednesday” Cards. These cards included topics like, “Dairy for Strong Bones,” “Start your Day with a Healthy Breakfast,” and “Add Color to your Plate.” For the school year August through May, students receive the Wednesday Wellness Newsletter that features the superfood of the month, a recipe, and a wellness tip. Students also watch a video of the FACS Agent discussing the superfood of the month and its nutrients. Once a month, the FACS agent visited one school for a Try Day. Visiting a few of the classrooms, the students try a fun recipe featuring the Superfood of the Month. Almost all the students tried the recipe, making them “Superfood Heroes.” This format allows students to try a new fruit or vegetable in an exciting way that encourages them to take the recipe and make it at home. The newsletters reach the caregivers, which in turn may change their buying and cooking habits for the whole family. The monthly videos and newsletters reach over 4,300 students every month, resulting in a circulation of over 30,000 students Kindergarten through Fifth Grade. The in-person Try Days resulted in over 600 face-to-face contacts.
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