News Stories - Page 103

Jessica McGuire, with the nonprofit conservation organization Quail Forever, teaches students about wildlife conservation at Shiver Elementary School, where Grady County 4-H'ers planted a pollinator garden to help students understand the importance of protecting ecosystems. CAES News
Preserving Pollinators
Eight Grady County 4-H’ers installed a pollinator garden at a local school as part of a yearlong program highlighting the importance of pollinators.
Doster Harper, a junior studying agriscience and environmental systems at the College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, was named president of the 2020-21 National FFA Officer Team. Harper is from Covington, Georgia, and attended Newton College and Career Academy. (Photo by Sean Montgomery) CAES News
Doster Harper
At first, Doster Harper didn’t think FFA or a career in agriculture was a good fit for him. But a science experiment about honeybees and some encouragement from his advisor and older students helped change his mind.
Cutler, honored with the Georgia 4-H Green Jacket Award, gives an acceptance speech at the 2020 Stars Across Georgia virtual awards ceremony. CAES News
4-H annual awards
Gale Cutler, a senior public relations coordinator at the Georgia Electric Membership Corporation (EMC), has been named the 2020 recipient of the prestigious Georgia 4-H Green Jacket Award. In addition to Cutler’s role at Georgia EMC, she is an integral member of the Georgia 4-H Advisory Committee.
For a less stressful holiday, prepare and freeze holiday meals and treats in advance. Freezing prepared foods allows you the satisfaction of serving homemade meals with the convenience of store-bought ones, says University of Georgia Professor and Extension Food Safety Specialist Elizabeth Andress. CAES News
Food Waste
Public health experts are imploring Americans to avoid the kind of large gatherings that mark the holidays.
A new study by UGA researchers on postharvest storage quality of pecans might help Georgia’s pecan producers in marketing to new consumers. Consumers, both domestically and internationally, are recognizing pecans for their health benefits, which include vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids. CAES News
Pecan Quality
The international popularity of pecans is trending upward, but more reliable measures for guaranteeing quality during storage are needed to meet demand in Georgia, the top state for pecan production.
Allie Ann Wheeler, a 4-H'er from Thomas County, Georgia, will join the University of Georgia Equestrian Team next year. CAES News
4-H'er joins UGA Equestrian
Accomplished 4-H’er and equestrian Allie Ann Wheeler signed on to join the University of Georgia Equestrian Team next year.
To help create a less stressful holiday meal, University of Georgia Extension specialists offer these tips. Plan ahead. 
Don't go it alone. Resist the urge to buy new things or try new recipes. Set realistic expectations for family affairs. Consider a seating chart. Remember, the traditional turkey your family has always enjoyed will round out your holiday meal much better than a half-frozen, half-cooked, deep-fried turkey would. CAES News
Celebrate Safely
As the holiday season arrives, the traditional images of loved ones crowded around a dinner table groaning under the weight of the holiday feast may look a little different this year: The recent surge in COVID-19 cases has prompted rising fears that holiday gatherings may accelerate the spread of the virus.
Growth of fairy ring fungi begin in the center of a ring and expand outward in a uniform, circular pattern over time. Mushrooms might only be visible during periods of wet weather, particularly in the fall. CAES News
Fairy Rings
Many residents have noticed mushrooms popping up in lawns and landscapes this season. When the “fungus among us” forms a circle or arc pattern, it’s commonly known as a fairy ring. According to medieval folklore, they were thought to appear after a band of fairies had danced in a circle. In some cases, fairy ring mushrooms can cause turfgrass discoloration or abnormal growth in lawns.
Katelyn Bickett (left), a senior agricultural communications major from Chickamauga, Georgia, and Brooke Raniere (right), a junior environmental economics major from Peachtree City, Georgia, will spend 12 weeks in the state Capitol during the legislative session that begins in January 2021. CAES News
Legislative Interns
Two students from the University of Georgia College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences have been chosen for Georgia Agribusiness Council Legislative Internships for the spring 2021 Georgia General Assembly legislative session.