Members of the Long County 4-H club recently demonstrated their skills and ability to excel locally and on the road.
With help from Long County Middle School’s Beta Club, 4-H members on Dec. 16 cleaned Highway 57 from the Ludowici Police Department to Smiley Elementary School. The students picked up bottles, cans, paper, boxes, tires and more, filling up 13 garbage bags. 4-H program associate Lisa Overbey said the service day was held to show local citizens the importance of pitching in to clean up the community. Students who took part in the cleanup day were Mary Cooper, Taylor Burnside, Dwight Coles, Alexandria Griffis, Brock Griffis, Kylie Hamilton, Jake Hester, Ajmanni Jefferson, Trinity Peterson, Ben Spicer, Josey Walters and Matthew Spicer.
“The ongoing service project is a reminder to all of us of how important it is to pitch in and do what you can to become a part of the solution and not part of the problem,” Overbey said.
On Dec. 14-15, 4-H club members attended the state’s fall forum at Rock Eagle 4-H Center in Eatonton. This year’s theme was “4-H: We Can Only Go Up.”
Six Long County students — Hawkeye Lynn, Breana Harmon, Justin Bustle, Garrett Fuller, Cooper and Burnside — attended and took part in workshops, exhibits and service projects.
In November, 15 members of Long County’s 4-H Club attend the Southeast District 4-H Project Achievement competition in Toombs County. Andrea Thacker, Kyle Duncan, Tristan Gaudet, Mason Ray, Joria Springer, Steven Teel, Carlin Works-Cassell, Sydney Cowart, Qiana Jones, Jailonni Scott, Alexandria Griffis, Brock Griffis, Ben Spicer and Mathew Spicer made the trip.
“All of the hard work and dedication of the 4-Hers paid off and culminated in a day full of fun, games, fellowship and competition,” Overbey said. “Long County returned home with one first-place winner, four second-place winners and three third-place winners. All of the 4-Hers are true winners for their dedication and hard work.”
Overbey, who also attended the weekend forum, said she is grateful to Sandra Ensling for driving the bus and team leaders Bustle, Lynn, Harmon and Cooper for their help. She also thanked the students’ parents for their support.