Macon Magazine

94 maconmagazine.com | OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2022 COOPERATIVE EXTENSION Supporting communities for over a century BY KAROL KELLY ooperative Extension has been bringing research- based information from the University of Georgia into local communities for over 100 years. In a city the size of Macon, we may not be as well-known as in smaller, rural communities, but we serve a common mission across the state and those who know us, love us! 4-H is the best-known Extension program. Our new 4-H Agent, Erica Pullen, and her team have organized a number of great opportunities for youths. For fourth through 12th graders, the focus is on public speaking and leadership development with many hands-on learning experiences including archery team, cooking club, community service activities, and camps. Perhaps my favorite thing about 4-H is the diverse cross-section of kids we serve. In 4-H, lifelong friendships are made. Our Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, Keishon Thomas, provides programming to support healthy families. Workshop topics range from financial literacy and healthy homes to state and nationally recognized certification classes supporting childcare operations and restaurants. Health and wellness programs put an interesting spin on topics, including fad diets, tasty tailgating, and cooking with spices. Charlene May and Alesia Mays teach throughout Bibb County as part of the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program. Their classes related to eating healthy on a budget are taught throughout the community in schools, churches, recreation centers, and through other outreach partners. These classes are free of charge and include hands-on food prep demonstrations and great giveaways. Our Agriculture and Natural Resources team provides landscape consultations, school gardening programs, and offerings such as the popular Master Naturalist program. We assist landscapers, growers, and homeowners with troubleshooting plant problems through testing and diagnostics. Master Gardeners, a group of trained volunteers, extend our reach into the community through clinics, classes, and youth programs. Master Gardener volunteer Paige Tench said, "I volunteer with Bibb County Extension because of their mission to extend lifelong learning to Georgia citizens through research- based education in agriculture, the environment, communities, youth, and families. In their programs, I see that mission reach across racial, social, and economic lines in ways that I've not seen elsewhere. I love being a small part of it." We stand on the giants who served before us, among them long- standing leaders of the Cooperate Extension such as Willie Mae Saxon, Dewey Maxwell, Royce James, Frank Funderburk, Jan Baggarly, and many others. We work hard every day to continue their legacies by providing meaningful programs. We look forward to hearing from you. Reach us at 478-751- 6338 or bibb.extension@uga.edu. Follow us on Facebook at Bibb GA County Cooperative Extension or stop by to see us at the beautifully restored Robert Train Building at 715 Oglethorpe St. C

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