Lauren Pike, Henry County’s newest 4-H agent, is new to the county as of this summer but likes what she has seen so far.
After graduation in the spring from the University of Georgia, she was looking for a full-time position somewhere in the state. “I was taking a look at all of the counties that were open. I just saw a lot of support in Henry County and fell in love with the area, so I decided to come out here,” she said.

Despite this being her first full-time job out of college, the world of 4-H is not new to her.

Pike grew up attending LaFayette High School in her hometown and graduated valedictorian in 2018. While in high school she was involved in athletics and a number of other organizations, often in leadership roles. Honors and awards during that time included her state FFA degree and a six-time Master 4-H’er in Georgia 4-H.

While in college, where she ultimately graduated with an agricultural communications degree, she served as the Jackson County 4-H AmeriCorps VISTA, Madison and Oglethorpe County Extension FACS intern, Georgia 4-H Healthy Living student worker, and Greene County 4-H program assistant.

Henry County’s 4-H program is an opportunity for youth in grades 3-12 that allows them to be able to develop as “contributing citizens,” as Pike put it.

“We teach everything from leadership to agriculture, from STEM and robotics to professional and public development,” she said. “We really teach a variety of different things, consumer education, it really just depends on what kids are looking for but we kind of pride ourselves on having an activity for everyone.”

The work is year-round, although many programs are tailored to the school calendar. Some are in-school programs that teach lessons to fifth-graders, according to Pike, while others are after-school activities similar to Beta Club or Key Club or a sport. Summer programming includes a camp for kids in grades 4-12.

In less than two months, Pike has been plenty busy.

“Since starting, I’ve been to two full weeks of summer camp,” she said. “I’ve been to a weekend conference and then trying to get things up and running for the school year as well as organizing some fundraisers and things like that.”

Her new home is in Locust Grove, and Henry County is more urban compared to her hometown and her previous 4-H posts.

“It’s different,” she acknowledged. “The extension office here has so much more manpower, just kind of a different feel. I’m really enjoying it so far.”