4-H News
Anna Burgess 4-H Coordinator

4-H’ers of all grades and ages recently played Bingo with the Bethany Nursing Home residents.

As you all know, DPA is fast approaching and portfolios are due NOW! One senior 4-H’er, 10th grader Becca Rich will be competing in the Housing, Environment and Equipment project area this year. Her project and presentation focuses on energy efficient housing. Becca has written a few words of advice to you about this winter and your power bill. Following the article by Becca is one her mother, Cindy Rich, a proud parent and outstanding 4-H volunteer wrote concerning her thoughts on 4-H. If competing in DPA this year, your portfolio must be turned in this week. Don’t forget about the Christmas party and movie coming later this week. I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas break and remember the reason for the season!

Energy Efficient Housing

How many of your homes are ready for the upcoming winter? As you know during the winter months, a large part of your power bill is due to the heating of your house. There are many things that you can do in order to make your house more energy efficient. Simply go around your house to all windows and doors and check for airflow around the edges and floor. If you feel a slight air flow, this means that the cold air from outside is coming into your house. There are a few things you can do to solve this problem. First, you can place a sealer around the casings of windows and doors. You can use a caulk or foam sealer. However, if you do not want the sealer to be visible, use the caulk so you can paint it to fit your home. Another thing you should check is your insulation. After a few years, your insulation may start to collapse or fall apart. You also might want to turn you thermometer down a little bit and just wear warmer clothes around the house and use more blankets at night. These are just a few things that you can do as a concerned homeowner to ensure a more energy efficient home.

4-H through the eyes

of a parent

What does 4-H mean to Millen, GA? It’s being able to belong to a club that promotes learning by doing, not just by watching. Millen is a small rural community that has few opportunities that the youth can be actively involved in that will help them become responsible and contributing citizens to their community. 4-H is an organization for rural youth that helps to expand their

knowledge and develop various skills such as leadership, communication, self-esteem, socialization, and teamwork.

Therefore, I feel it an honor to be able to volunteer to help such a wonderful program. I became involved when my daughter was in the 5th grade, first because I was asked to help. I now don’t wait to be asked, but ask what I can do because I know the 4-H program provides an opportunity to contribute in a positive and helpful way to the community.