UGA Extension - Jackson County

08/14/2026

🎒🥤 Rock the Block: Back-to-School Teen Event! 🚗💚

Jackson County Extension/4-H had a great time joining Jackson Family Connection for their Rock the Block Back-to-School Teen Event!

We stayed busy with two hands-on stations focused on healthy choices and keeping families safe:

🥤 Blender Bike Smoothies — Our 4-H’ers took the lead on this one! Teens could hop on the blender bike, pedal their way to a delicious healthy smoothie, and learn a little about nutrition along the way. We love seeing our 4-H youth step up, lead, and share what they know with others!

🚗 Child Passenger Safety Seat Checks — We also partnered with the Banks County Sheriff’s Office to provide car seat checks and help families make sure their youngest passengers are riding safely.

Events like Rock the Block are a great example of what Extension and 4-H are all about — youth leadership, healthy living, community partnerships, and practical education that makes a difference!

Thank you to Jackson Family Connection for bringing our community together and to the Banks County Sheriff’s Office for continuing to partner with us to help keep children and families safe! 🍀💚

08/10/2026

We recently had the opportunity to meet with the Jackson County Farm Bureau Board and present them with a framed thank-you for sponsoring a scholarship that allowed a Jackson County 4-H’er to attend summer camp.

Their generosity gave this camper the chance to make new friends, try new activities, build confidence, and create memories that will last a lifetime. We are so thankful for community partners like Jackson County Farm Bureau who continue to invest in our young people and support Jackson County 4-H! 🍀💚

08/08/2026

💚🚗 UGA Extension in Action — Keeping Kids Safe! 🚗💚

UGA Jackson County Extension/4-H was proud to be part of the Child Safety Event with Pathways in Banks County, working alongside Safe Kids and other community partners to help keep our youngest passengers safe!

During the event, 25 families were reached, car seats were checked for proper installation and fit, and 16 car seats were provided to families who needed them. 👶🚗❤️

As a certified Child Passenger Safety Technician, our Jackson County 4-H Agent was able to work directly with families—providing hands-on education, checking seats, and helping parents and caregivers feel more confident that their children are riding safely.

A huge thank you to Pathways, Safe Kids, the Banks County Sheriff’s Office, and Probate Court Judge Cam Boswell for helping make this event possible. It takes strong community partnerships to make an impact, and we are grateful to work alongside organizations and individuals who share the goal of keeping Georgia’s children safe.

🍀 Extension is more than programs—it’s taking research-based education and resources into our communities and putting them to work where they’re needed most.

08/03/2026

🐝 Interested in beekeeping or looking to keep your hives healthy year-round? Join us for Beekeeping 101!

📅 Tuesday, September 1
⏰ 6:00–8:00 p.m.
📍 Jackson County Extension Office
255 Curtis H. Spence Drive, Jefferson, GA 30549

Topics will include:

🍯 Fall and winter beehive preparation
🍯 Varroa mite testing and treatment
🍯 Keeping healthy hives year-round

Please register by August 27:
👉 Register for Beekeeping 101 -

https://forms.gle/L9Bo6zUcb8aKu9zx5

For additional information, contact the Jackson County Extension Office at 706-367-6344 or [email protected]. 🐝

07/31/2026

Today is a bittersweet day for our Jackson County Extension family as we say goodbye to Gabe on his last day with us.

Gabe first joined our office as a part-time employee in 2024 and became our full-time ANR Program Assistant in 2025. During that time, he became so much more than a member of our staff—he became an important part of our Extension family.

Whether he was assisting with farm visits, collecting samples, preparing for programs, working with producers, helping with 4-H activities, or taking care of the many behind-the-scenes jobs that keep our office moving, Gabe was always willing to jump in and help. He brought a positive attitude, a great sense of humor, and a willingness to learn to everything he did.

One of the greatest privileges has been watching Gabe grow both personally and professionally. We have watched him gain knowledge, confidence, and experience while becoming a truly great young man. We are incredibly proud of him, and although we are sad to see him leave, we are excited to watch him take this next step and see where his future leads.

Gabe, thank you for the laughter, the memories, and everything you have contributed to Jackson County Extension. You will always be part of our Extension family, and we will be cheering you on every step of the way! 🍀🌱🐄

Please join us in thanking Gabe and wishing him all the best in his next adventure!

07/31/2026

Today is Carson’s last day as our summer intern, and we are certainly going to miss having him as part of the Jackson County Extension team!

Throughout the summer, Carson jumped in wherever he was needed—from working with our 4-H’ers and supporting summer programs to helping plan and lead the Livestock Exhibitor Clinic. He concluded his internship by presenting his project, “Livestock Showmanship: Developing the Next Generation of Exhibitors,” and did an outstanding job sharing the work and impact of his summer experience.

Carson brought enthusiasm, a willingness to learn, and a genuine passion for agriculture and youth development to everything he did. We are thankful for the time, talent, and fresh ideas he shared with us—and we cannot wait to see what comes next for him!

Please join us in thanking Carson for a great summer and wishing him the very best in his future endeavors! 🍀🐄👏

07/21/2026

📣 Livestock Families—Entry Deadlines Are Approaching!

The deadline for both Georgia National Fair entries and State Market Lamb and Market Goat Show entries is Saturday, August 1.

🐄🐖 Georgia National Fair

Entries for cattle, swine, breeding ewes, and breeding does must be completed by families using the link below:

🔗 https://www.georgianationalfair.com/p/livestock/livestock-competitions

🐑🐐 State Market Lamb and Market Goat Shows

All State Show entries must be completed by your county Extension agent. Because the official deadline falls on a Saturday, all State Market Lamb and Market Goat entry information must be submitted to the Jackson County Extension Office by Friday, July 31.

Please do not wait until the last minute! Contact our office if you have questions or need assistance. [email protected] or 706-367-6344

Just a quick reminder that registrations open on July 1st and close on August 1st, 2026, at 11:59 PM. Late entries will be allowed until Friday, August 7th, 2026 at 12:00 P.M. The late entry fee is an additional $100 PER ENTRY. If you need to make corrections to your entries, you can do so from Sept...

07/17/2026

Congratulations to Gabe on advancing to the Collegiate Final Four of the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmer & Rancher Discussion Meet!

This is an incredible accomplishment and a testament to Gabe’s knowledge, preparation, and passion for agriculture. Competing among the top collegiate participants in Georgia and earning a spot in the Final Four is something to be extremely proud of.

We are excited to cheer Gabe on as he competes in the final round. Please join us in congratulating him on this outstanding achievement and wishing him the very best of luck!

Congratulations, Gabe! Jackson County is proud of you, and we’re cheering you on all the way!

07/16/2026

🌟 Congratulations to Jackson County's own Gabe and Carson! 🌟

We are so proud of these two young leaders for representing Jackson County at the Georgia Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Discussion Meet! Their willingness to step up, share ideas, and engage in conversations about the future of agriculture is a true reflection of the leadership and dedication we love to see.

A special congratulations to Gabe for advancing to the Sweet 16! 🎉 What an incredible accomplishment, and we can't wait to see you continue to represent Jackson County in the next round.

Best of luck as the competition continues, Gabe! We are cheering you on every step of the way. Thank you both for being outstanding ambassadors for agriculture and for making Jackson County proud! 💙🌾

07/08/2026

Today’s Multi-County Livestock Clinic was a wonderful example of youth teaching youth! 🐐🐖

Our UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences summer interns, Carson from Jackson County Extension and Makayla from Laurens County Extension, took the lead in planning and teaching today’s clinic for 4-H and FFA youth from multiple counties.

Drawing from their own years of experience as successful livestock exhibitors, Carson led the swine clinic while Michaela taught the goat clinic. They shared practical showmanship techniques, animal care tips, and lessons they’ve learned from their time in the show ring, giving younger exhibitors valuable knowledge as they prepare for the upcoming season.

The UGA CAES Extension Internship Program provides students with meaningful, hands-on experiences that prepare them for careers in Extension and agriculture. Throughout the summer, Carson and Michaela have worked alongside Extension professionals, assisted with camps and educational programs, and developed the leadership and teaching skills that were on full display today.

We are incredibly proud of the job they did and grateful to all of the 4-H and FFA families who joined us from across the region. Thank you for making today such a success, and best of luck to all of our exhibitors as they head into the show season!