4-H needs money to stay in schools

LaGRANGE – Troup County’s 4-H program through the County Extension office is growing and expanding to more schools, but with that growth comes the need for more funds to keep the programs going – a tall order with a tight county budget.

The extension office went before the Troup County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday to request more funding to help cover the cost of having the 4-H program in more than double the number of schools that it was in a few short years ago. The office receives roughly 60 percent of its funding from the county and about 40 percent from the University of Georgia.

“The main jist of where we had our biggest change was increasing the hours of our part time 4-H program assistant from 19 hours a week to 29 hours a week,” said County Extension Agent Brian Maddy. “This added an increase of $10,292, and this includes contributions to social security and TRS (the Teachers Retirement System of Georgia).”

According to Maddy, the increase in hours is necessary to make it possible for the assistant to have time to visit all 10 schools in the county who participate in the program.

“From 2015 to (now) we are now in 10 schools – coming up from four schools – and that is a 150 percent increase in the amount of schools that are participating in our 4-H program,” said Maddy. “… What happens is our 4H program targets fifth graders at each of the elementary schools, and as these fifth graders accelerate and go into sixth, seventh and eighth grade that moves them into the middle schools.”

The state 4-H director specified that Georgia 4-H programs should start at fifth grade, so simply moving to middle schools where there would be fewer locations to visit is not an option for the local program. The local office does have fund raisers to help fund camp programs, but even with that, they still need funds to pay the office’s four-person staff.

“The kids are responding to this which is really good,” said Maddy. “… We are seeing a lot with that enthusiasm. We have parents coming into the office, and we are now selling Vidalia onions for camp scholarships as well as the Krispy Kreme program for camp scholarships. The number of kids who are going to camp has increased.”

The 4-H program’s mission consists of “engaging youth to reach their fullest potential while advancing the field of youth development” according to the nonprofit’s website. That goal clearly lines up with local goals of finding positive, productive ways for youth to spend time, and with one of the highest growth rates in the state, Troup County’s 4-H program appears to be on a path of continued growth. That growth however is dependent on being able to afford to pay its employees.

The funding request to the county also included a 2 percent pay raise for the office’s four employees that would allow the county to match the pay raise from the University of Georgia.

To learn more about 4-H or to donate visit 4-h.org

 

News

PHOTOS: LaGrange Juneteenth Parade

News

LaGrange native receives honors from US Department of the Navy

News

50 DAM YEARS: West Point Dam celebrates milestone

News

CONTRIBUTOR’S VIEW – Bill King: Fifty Years Didn’t Take as Long as I Thought

News

Armed robbery on Old Airport Road

News

LaGrange hosts first town hall for Comprehensive Plan update

News

CONTRIBUTOR’S VIEW – John Tures: Why Pell Grants Matter To YOU, Not Just College Students

News

The Gathering Ministry to host fifth annual Back to School Bash

News

PHOTOS: Wynonna Judd performs at Sweetland

News

Heroes honored for courageous lifesaving efforts

News

Troup County Schools receive No Kid Hungry Grant to combat summer hunger

News

CONTRIBUTOR’S VIEW – Loran Smith: Cashiers

News

AT&T cuts ribbon on fiber optic internet service in LaGrange

News

CONTRIBUTOR’S VIEW – Dean Collins: The Questions We’d Rather Avoid

News

LaGrange Piano Teen Drama Club to perform High School Musical Jr.

News

LaGrange Fire Department to Host Blood Drive on Friday, June 13

News

LaGrange City Councilman Leon Childs honored for completing GMA Leadership Program

News

Chamber cuts ribbon on West Georgia Deep Clean

News

CONTRIBUTOR’S VIEW – John Tures: What A Father Can Give His Kids: A Good Name

News

LaGrange Honor Students Londyn Fryer & Caroline Van Schoor nominated for The Congress of Future Medical Leaders

News

CONTRIBUTOR’S VIEW – Richard Ingram: Lafayette the Nation’s Guest

News

LaGrange Council split on utility rate hike and employee raises

News

Jane Hudson named LaGrange Academy’s Teacher of the Year

News

CONTRIBUTOR’S VIEW – Cathy Hunt: Expand Your Horizons However You Can