4-H News
Fall Forum slated for this weekend
Anna Burgess CEA 4-H & Youth

During the canned food drive, the fifth grade collected nearly 700 items for the local food bank. The homerooms competed to see who could bring in the most items. Participating were Mrs. Brinson, Mrs. Burke, Mrs. Dorsey, Mrs. Oliver and Mrs. Swan. Winning and bringing in 214 items each were Mrs. Oliver and Mrs. Swan's fifth-grade homeroom classes, pictured.

This weekend, eight of your top high school students will be traveling with me to Rock Eagle for Fall Forum!! I think I'm just as excited about it as the students. This is a fun event which is guaranteed to provide education and entertainment. As you get older, these events become more and more fun (this is true for adults too). During the past week, as these students have come in and out of my office, one thing I have heard constantly is 'I can't wait to see so and so again' or 'have you talked to whomever from some random county, are they going?' Hearing all of this and seeing their excitement kind of takes me back and reminds me of what 4-H is all about. 4-H has truly given its participants the chance to reach outside the boundaries of Jenkins County and meet new and exciting people from all walks of life. I am hearing these same comments (times 10) from the juniors and seniors preparing for DPA. Not only has 4-H introduced them to new people, places and ideas, but also equipped them with the skills to develop those friendships, explore those places, and the audacity to turn those dreams into reality.

For those of you reading this, if you have never truly been a part of 4-H, you may not understand and it may all seem crazy to you but when you hear that true 4-H'ers bleed green, believe it. When I first moved to Athens, I hated it! I was used to my small town and attending a small college where everyone knew my name. Athens was quite the opposite. Yet everyone told me, don't worry it'll "get in your blood." And you know what, it did. When I left, I missed it...a lot! It got in my blood. 4-H is quite similar. If you give it a chance and really get involved, no matter your age, social status, interest, race or gender, it will "get in your blood." However, you must first give it a chance. Be bold. Try something new.

As I mentioned before, as you get older you begin to enjoy 4-H more, you have more freedom to mold it into what you want it to be, and simply put, you have more fun! So I encourage you to stick with it. Those who have been involved for a while, who have met the people and explored the possibilities, you need no encouragement because you know what I'm talking about. It is because of you, all of you not just the most active ones, that in my little time here I have heard and seen Jenkins County's name stand out among the rest. That is something you should be proud of. There are 39 counties in this district, many larger than us with more resources, yet Jenkins County seems to be coming out near the top every time! Parents, you should also be proud and continue encouraging your children. Whether they tell you or not, they not only want but need you to support them and do things with them. It is so easy

for us to get caught up in our day to day lives and forget the small stuff we assume everyone knows. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with your children and getting to know them better. There aren't too many dull moments when they're around, that's for sure!

There are a lot of activities coming up. We are going to be quite busy around here this month! Please see the dates below and don't forget portfolios are due December 19th! They must be submitted and approved by then. I know that you are all very busy between now and when school gets out. Therefore, if you absolutely can't get it done by that date, come and talk to me about it. I hope you have a wonderful week!!

This Week: Middle School- Kisses 4 Christmas- Bid on which teacher you want to kiss a pig!

Dec. 5- Cloverleaf 's Christmas Crafts 3:30- 4:30; Dec. 6- Junior's Christmas Crafts 3:30- 4:30; Dec. 8- Decorate Doors at Bethany Home;

Dec.9&10- Fall Forum at Rock Eagle;

Dec. 12- Senior after school meeting; 3:30 to 4:30.

(Correction: The caption concerning the students who raked yards was miswritten. The student pictured on the far right is Emiliy English)