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.
Agriculture and Natural Resources
The Agriculture & Natural Resources (ANR) program has assisted homeowners, farmers and land owners by providing in-person educational seminars and virtual webinars on many topics including tree care, controlling invasive species, protecting pollinators, proper use of pesticides, and managing soil and water quality. In 2024, Programming was delivered to homeowner’s associations, civic groups, pest control professionals, Master Gardener volunteers, parks and recreation staff, and K-12 youth in Spalding and neighboring counties. The ANR program published 25 articles in local news outlets and regional journals highlighting issues important to urban agriculture. Community engagement is a key part of the ANR program, with over 60 farm and homeowner site visits conducted in 2024. The Kiwanis Fairgrounds Farmer’s Market occurs annually from April to October, and has averaged nearly 2500 visitors each season since 2021. A cornerstone of the ANR program is The Healthy Life Community Garden (HLCG) locations in the Fairmont community (3rd Street & Blanton Ave) and The Iris at Park Pointe community. Together, these gardens provide over 2 acres of gardening space for the surrounding residents, and feature a total of 50 raised garden beds, potting stations, teaching pavilions, greenhouse space, pollinator gardens, and a variety of fresh fruits including figs, plums, blueberries, muscadines, blackberries, and strawberries. Educational programming at both community garden locations is designed for both youth and adult audiences, with an emphasis on environmental stewardship and low-input gardening. Area schools, like Moore Elementary and A.Z. Kelsey Academy, were also invited to take field trips to the Fairmont HLCG to compliment in-school curriculum. For 2024, over 600 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables were grown by community gardeners, and another 150 pounds were donated to area food banks.
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4-H Youth Development
The mission of the Spalding County 4-H Club is to assist youth in acquiring knowledge, developing life skills, and forming attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, productive, and contributing members of society. 2020 taught 4-H’ers and staff the importance of being flexible to the changing guidelines. Like most activities in 2020, 4-H moved to a virtual setting for programs, activities, and contests. Beginning in the 5th grade, 4-H members are taught public speaking skills working in partnership with teachers and counselors to reach 850+ students. Spalding County 4-H submitted 60 recorded speeches for Virtual District Project Achievement, the most participants throughout the state.
4-H offers a variety of opportunities covering a range of interests, and the 4-H approach of “Learn by Doing” serves 4-H’ers well as they explore their interests. Two Spalding County 4-H’ers served in leadership roles on district and state-wide boards, one serving as President of the State Board of Directors, growing their confidence in public speaking, planning experience, and the ability to lead by example. In 2020, two 4-H’ers earned first place or “Master” status in the International and Engineering and Mechanics project areas for project achievement. Project clubs adapted to the virtual format and programming continued digitally for Edible Clovers, CSI, summer activities, and County Council. The Food Showcase team placed 1st in the district and 3rd in the state for their submitted videos. 4-H is a well-rounded program focusing on civic engagement, healthy living, STEM, and agriculture that calls all youth to “Make the Best Better.”
FAMILY AND CONSUMER SCIENCES
Empowering Youth and Families Through Healthy Living and Community
The Spalding County Extension Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS) Agent proudly partnered with Anne Street Elementary School’s Impact Day and the Spalding County Sheriff's Department’s Community Outreach Youth Summer Camp, C.H.A.M.P.S. (Choosing Healthy Activities and Methods Promoting Safety).
Through these dynamic partnerships, the FACS Agent introduced fun, engaging strategies to help youth adopt healthier behaviors, practice food safety, and keep their bodies strong and healthy.
??????100% of participating students reported they would start reading nutrition facts labels and choose healthier snacks.
??????All participants expressed their intention to increase their water intake — even saying they want to “outrace their friends” by staying better hydrated.
This initiative empowered an estimated 300 students to embrace healthier lifestyles by:
??????Choosing nutritious snacks
??????Engaging in regular physical activity
??????Practicing practical nutrition habits, such as eating balanced meals, limiting unhealthy fats and sugars, and increasing their intake of fruits and vegetables.
These efforts are especially impactful during the summer, when routines often shift, and healthy habits can be harder to maintain.
Additional Community Impact
??????FACS supported an estimated 100 individuals through FREE V.I.T.A. (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) services, helping local families save over $1,700 in tax preparation costs.
??????Certified FACS professional training provided food safety education to over five local foodservice businesses, enhancing food safety across the community.
Together, these initiatives reflect our ongoing commitment to equipping youth, families, and businesses with the tools they need to live safer, healthier, and more empowered lives.
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