Newton 4-H is bursting at the seams, literally.

At both the county council meeting, and the home school meeting, we used every chair in the office and still had 4-H'ers sitting on the floor.

Our meeting room was so packed, I couldn't even get a photo with everyone at once.
Want to find out what's attracting so many youth to 4-H? Come join us and find out as we meet in an even larger room in October.

County 4-H Council is for 4-H'ers in the sixth through 12th grades in public, private or home school. Meetings are led by 4-H officers and feature a guest speaker from somewhere around the world.

These 4-H'ers serve as teen leaders, plan service projects, and participate in a wide variety of 4-H activities.

County 4-H Council meets the second Monday of each month at 6 p.m. The next meeting is Oct. 8 in the Newton County Administration Building.

Because it's also during National 4-H Week, it's also a 4-H spirit day so we encourage you to wear mismatched shoes or crazy socks (because I know 4-H and your feet are taking you places).

The Home School 4-H Club invites not only home school students from around the county from age 9 through 12th grade, but also anyone else from age 9 through fifth grade who doesn't have an in-school club meeting.

They meet the third Friday of the month at 3:30 p.m. in the office, with the next meeting on Oct. 19.

At the October meeting, the club will elect officers and take part in the 4-H National Youth Science Day experiment on eco-bots (using robots to clean up an ecological disaster).

If you'd like to take an eco-bot home with you, call ahead to reserve a kit or to get the shopping list.

Speaking of the 4-H NYSD, if any reader in the county would like to participate, email me at tkimble@uga.edu and I can send you all the information to take part and explore robotics with your family this year.

Another great family event is taking place today, Sept. 23, from 2 to 5 p.m. on the Covington square.

In its 10th year, this is one of only a few literary festivals in Georgia, and the only one geared directly to families and youth.

There are free games, giveaways, live entertainment and much more, so come on out and bring the family.

While most activities are free, there will also be a few activities with a cost to help raise funds for local literacy projects, and a few of the restaurants around the square will be open.

4-H'ers will be among the many, many community volunteers helping make this festival a success.

I'm volunteering at the Keep Covington Newton Beautiful booth during the last half, so drop by and say hello.

Don't forget our ongoing literacy service project to recycle books.

When you donate books through Newton 4-H, we "recycle" them through local literacy programs so you know they're directly benefiting local residents.

We are accepting new and gently used books aimed at any age-level from birth to adult. The two primary projects this year are our annual book giveaway for The Learning Center during the Covington Christmas parade and the Newton County Library book sale.

We're also still collecting aluminum pop tabs for Ronald McDonald House charities.
Our goal is to collect more than 594 pounds of pop tabs by the end of October in support of a Georgia Ronald McDonald House.

Whenever children are sick and hurt or going through long-term treatment and rehabilitation, this great charity is there to help provide low-cost housing for the family near the hospital.

Seventh and eighth-grade 4-H'ers will deliver the pop tabs to Junior 4-H Conference at Rock Eagle on Nov. 3-4.

Registration for the overnight event is $59 and can be paid at the 4-H office. It's a fun weekend with youth from across the state.

If you'd like to help guide our youth as they take on these great community projects, sign up for one of the volunteer update and trainings on Sept. 27 at the 4-H office. You can choose between 1 to 3 p.m. or 6 to 8 p.m.

Terri Kimble is the Newton County 4-H Agent through UGA Cooperative Extension. She can be reached at (770) 784-2010 or tkimble@uga.edu.