UGA Extension Ware County/4-H

🍀 Clover Collective Reminder! 🍀

Join us Monday at 5:30 PM as we continue our SAVE a LIFE Series!

This week, we’ll be learning about Medical Emergencies — how to recognize the signs, stay calm, and know what to do when someone may need help.

👥 Open to grades 6–12
🕠 5:30 PM
🍽️ Dinner will be served!

Come learn important skills that could one day help you SAVE A LIFE! ❤️

RSVP: 912-490-2456 by Friday 8/14/2026

Entries Due Friday!!!

Good morning, Georgia 4-H,

Registration for the 2026 Pantry Pride Recipe Contest is now available. Pantry Pride is possible because of a partnership between Georgia 4-H and the Georgia Food Bank Association. This event is an opportunity for youth to create a recipe that utilizes foods commonly found at food banks. Consider incorporating this contest into an existing food and nutrition-related activity you have planned this summer.

Recipes are due August 14th at 5:00 pm.

Contest Goals:
1. Raise awareness about poverty and hunger in Georgia.
2. Challenge 4-H’ers to think creatively about food and cooking by developing recipes using ingredients commonly found in Georgia Food Banks.
3. Educate 4-H’ers about the cost of food and what it takes to feed a family.
4. Provide youth and families across Georgia with a “recipe bank” for inexpensive, nutritious meals.

General Rules:
4-H members who have been previous winners or finalists in this contest may enter again, and are also eligible to win or place again, but must use a totally different recipe. Recipes must be TYPED in the recipe form linked below for inclusion in the contest.

Contest Categories:

Senior 4-H Pantry Pride Contest: 4-H’ers in the 9th – 12th grades will create a recipe for a cooked dish/entrée using at least three ingredients from the list of food items commonly found in Georgia Food Banks and at their partner agencies. Recipes should take no longer than 45 minutes to prepare and cook. Senior entries should be submitted via Google Form by the 4-H agent/leader (see email) by the deadline of August 14th, 2026, at 5:00 pm. The participants with the top 16 Senior recipes will be invited to a “Cook-off” which will be held at the Georgia National Fair on Sunday morning, October 11, 2026, at 10:30 am in Heritage Hall. Those selected as finalists will have notification sent to the 4-H agent/leader, who will then register the finalist into the Georgia National Fair Pantry Pride contest. Only the top 16 will be invited to the cookoff. More information regarding selected finalists and registration information will be sent the week of September 1st. Seniors should bring a copy of their recipe to the fair.

The top 16 students will each be given a total of $40 to use in preparing their dish: $20 will be used for their practice attempt prior to the competition, and an additional $20 will be provided to the contestant for them to prepare their dish at the State Fair competition.

The top 10 placing students will receive a fair ribbon at the final competition; 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place winners will each receive a trophy in addition to the ribbon. Senior participants who enter recipes in the contest will receive special prizes either at the fair or via mail to their county office if they do not compete at the state competition. This contest does not carry a Master 4-H status for the 1st place winner.

Junior 4-H Pantry Pride Recipe Contest: 4-H’ers in the 7th and 8th grades will create a recipe for a simple cooked entrée using at least two ingredients from the list of foods commonly found in Georgia Food Banks. The recipe should list ingredients and amounts to be used, the number of servings the recipe makes, and directions for making the entrée. The Pantry Pride recipe submission form should be used. Participants should be entered in the Google Form link listed in the email regarding this event by the deadline of August 14th, 2026, at 5:00 pm by the 4-H agent/leader. All participants will have their recipe included in a digital cookbook. All entries will receive special prizes that will be mailed to the county office following the completion of the statewide senior-level contest at the Georgia National Fair.

Cloverleaf Division 4-H Pantry Pride Recipe Contest: 4-H’ers in the 4th, 5th, and 6th grades will create a recipe for a “No Cook Snack” using at least one ingredient from the list of foods commonly found in Georgia Food Banks. The recipe should list ingredients and amounts to be used, the number of servings it makes, and directions for making the snack. The Pantry Pride recipe submission form should be used. Participants should be entered in the Google Form link listed in the email regarding this event by the deadline of August 14th, 2026, at 5:00 pm by the 4-H agent/leader. All participants will have their recipe included in a digital cookbook. All entries will receive special prizes that will be mailed to the county office following the completion of the statewide senior-level contest at the Georgia National Fair.

Resources:
Atlanta Community Food Bank Hunger 101 Curriculum:
https://www.acfb.org/wp-content/uploads/HUNGER-101_2020.pdf

2026 GFBA 4-H Pantry Pride Food Items
• Peanut Butter
• Canned Tuna
• Canned Chicken
• Canned Beans (green beans, black beans, red beans)
• Canned Soups
• Canned Stews
• Canned Pastas
• 100% Fruit Juice
• Canned Fruits (peach slices, pear pieces, mandarin oranges, mixed fruit, applesauce)
• Canned Vegetables (carrots, peas, potatoes, collard greens, black-eyed peas, diced tomatoes, stewed tomatoes)
• Dry beans, rice, oatmeal, pasta, ramen noodles
Macaroni and Cheese Dinners
• Whole Grain, Low Sugar Cereals
• Crackers (bite-sized cheese crackers, cheese fish-shaped crackers, soup crackers)
• Healthy snacks (granola bars, nuts, dried fruit)
• Fruit (apples, oranges, bananas, etc.)
• Vegetables (onions, potatoes, carrots, etc.)

For More information, please call 912-490-2456

University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action, Veteran, Disability Institution. If you need a reasonable accommodation or language access services, contact the Ware County Extension office at 912-490-2456 at least three weeks prior to the program date.

Calling all fair judges!

Do you have experience or interest in crocheting, needlework, artwork, or hand crafts? We are looking for knowledgeable community members to help judge exhibits.

No prior judging experience is required, just the willingness to be fair, objective, and supportive of participants!

Interested in serving as a judge? Complete our Judge Interest Form here: https://uga.questionpro.com/OAFJudgeInterest

Judging will take place on Monday, November 2, 2026, from 9 a.m. until 12 p.m. Interest forms are being accepted until October 9th at 5 p.m. Judges will be notified if they are selected by October 16, 2026.

Help us celebrate the creativity, talent, and hard work of our exhibitors while making a positive impact on this year's fair!

🎨 Ware County 4-H Career Connections: Art Careers! 🎨

Join us for our first Career Connections Club meeting on August 24, 2026!

Enjoy a full day of creativity while discovering the many exciting careers connected to art! Participants will tour a museum, enjoy lunch together, and return to complete a hands-on art project taught by a professional artist.

Come explore, create, and learn how a love for art can lead to an exciting future career!

📅 Date: August 24, 2026
💲 Cost: $25
⏰ Registration Deadline: August 19, 2026
📞 Call now to RSVP: 912-490-2456

Space may be limited, so register early!

The University of Georgia is an Equal Opportunity Institution. If you need reasonable accommodation or language access services, contact the Ware County Extension Office at 912-490-2456 at least three weeks prior to the program date.

Ware County FACS Agent Tabitha Kirkendall and Glynn County FACS Agent Michelle Quick had another great session of our Pilot Make Kimchi Safely at Home Workshop! Participants learned about the history and science of kimchi, then saw a demonstration of UGA's tested kimchi recipe. Participants left with the recipe and a kit to start their own kimchi journey at home.

Thank you to the Waycross Ware County Public Library for hosting us!

Interested in learning about how to start your own kimchi journey? Keep an eye out for future classes or contact us at 912-490-2456.

What an incredible evening celebrating our 2025–2026 Ware County 4-H year!

We are so proud of every 4-H'er recognized for their hard work, leadership, service, and accomplishments throughout the year. From club activities and competitions to community service and scholarships, our youth continue to make us proud.

A huge thank you to our volunteers, families, community partners, and Extension staff for investing your time and support in our program. Your dedication helps our members grow into confident, capable, and caring leaders.

Congratulations to all of our award recipients, and thank you to everyone who joined us in celebrating another amazing year of making the best better. We can't wait to see what 2026–2027 has in store!

We love being able to share education tools with our partners! Thank you to Ware Children's Initiative for sharing. 😊

MISSION MAKE IT IS BACK!!!

Mission Make-It is an exciting opportunity for 6th-8th grade students to engage in the engineering design process, teamwork, critical thinking, and positive youth development! This event will include hands-on engineering workshops, guest speakers, and interactive exhibits. Our 2026 theme focuses on food — challenging middle schoolers to apply engineering design thinking to real-world food-related problems. We are going to be Cooking Up Solutions because this is Nacho Average Engineering Challenge!

When: September 12, 2026
Where: Rock Eagle 4-H Center

Registration is $6.00/participant – youth and adults (staff & registered volunteers) and includes lunch, facility fees, supplies, and insurance. These reduced rates are made possible through a generous endowment.

Call 912-490-2456 Today to Reserve your Spot!!

Interested in Being a Teen Leader at this Event? Call us for more details!

Registration Due By: 8/21/2026

Families must provide their own Transportation

We spot Ware County’s own Greyson Christmas after his induction to the Georgia 4-H State Board of Directors! Congratulations, Greyson! We are so excited for your year on board!

Want to make a difference in the lives of local youth?

Join us for the Ware County 4-H Volunteer Meeting and learn how you can support, mentor, and inspire the next generation through 4-H programs and events.

Whether you have a few hours a year or want to be more involved, there are opportunities for everyone! We'll discuss volunteer roles, clubs, events, requirements, and the volunteer enrollment process.

For returning volunteers, this is a chance to learn of any new opportunities or changes, sign up for annual activities you may be itching to go to, and to make sure that annual paperwork is handled.

📅 August 31, 2026
🕕 6:00 PM
📍 Ware County 4-H Office

Help us create meaningful experiences for Ware County youth while giving back to your community. We hope to see you there!