--- title: HR 1022. 4-H day at the state capitol; 02/26/26; 2025-2026 4-H leadership teams and award recipients; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr1022 cite_as: HR 1022, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1022 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1022.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1022/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72229 date: 2026-01-14 status: passed corpus_version: bills-2026-09-13 license: Public record of the Georgia General Assembly, via LegiScan; see about.md publisher: Georgia Commons, an independent project of Georgia Civic Data. Not the State of Georgia. Not legal advice. up: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026.md previous: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1021.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1023.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1022.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 1022 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2026-01-14 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Rick Jasperse - Angie O'Steen - Leesa Hagan - Robert Dickey - Danny Mathis text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR1022/2025 upstream_id: 2080478 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - 4-H - youth leadership - state capitol recognition - legislative resolution --- # HR 1022. 4-H day at the state capitol; 02/26/26; 2025-2026 4-H leadership teams and award recipients; recognize ## Text House Resolution 1022 By: Representatives Jasperse of the 11th, O’Steen of the 169th, Hagan of the 156th, Dickey of the 134th, and Mathis of the 133rd A RESOLUTION Commending the 2025-2026 4-H leadership teams and award recipients and recognizing February 26, 2026, as 4-H day at the state capitol; and for other purposes. WHEREAS,4-H members consistently demonstrate the ability and leadership necessary to be champions and serve as outstanding representatives and officers of the young people of Georgia; and WHEREAS, Robert Thomas of Putnam County serves with distinction and dedication as State 4-H President; and WHEREAS, Melanie Biersmith of the University of Georgia Cooperative Extension has worked diligently as State 4-H Leader/ Director of 4-H; and WHEREAS, the leadership, dedication, and hard work of Michah Newton of Pickens County, Savannah Radloff of Heard County, Leo Barak of Glynn County, and Javis Bennett of Dooly County as District Presidents have been acknowledged by the 4-H membership in their election of each of these young people to serve as president for 2025-2026; and WHEREAS, the excellent record of accomplishments in citizenship and leadership of Esteban Contreras of Pulaski County, Kaleb Green of Dooly County, Gregory Huston of Toombs County, Naomi Jackson of Bibb County, Ash Sonnier of Columbia County, and Carolyn Thomas of Putnam County led to their selection as delegates for the 2025 National 4-H Conference; and WHEREAS, Leila Rimes of Tift County and Addy Winchester of Pulaski County were named 2025 Leadership in Action winners; and WHEREAS, Liam Maline of Glynn County, Micah Newton of Pickens County, Kaleb Green of Dooly County, Kingston Ryals of Toombs County, Presley Douglas of Candler County, and Ash Sonnier of Columbia County were named state winners in the 2025 Deans Awards competition; and WHEREAS, Thomas Holt, Nandini Patel, Landon Sinyard, and Ruby Witt of Ben Hill County were named the 2025 National Winners of the National Consumer Decision Making Contest; and WHEREAS, Catie Malcome, Haley Schaefer, Catherine Smith, and Evan Tennant of Morgan County were named the 2025 National Winners of the National Recurve Archery Competition; and WHEREAS, Bethany Shirley of Walton County was named the 2025 National High Individual of the National Air Rifle Competition; and WHEREAS, Sonya Jones of Pulaski County was named the 2025 William H. Booth Award Honoree; and WHEREAS, Lauren Clark of Screven County received the 2025 Ryles Rising Star Award; and WHEREAS, Clinton Folsom of Cook County was named the 2025 Volunteer of the Year; and WHEREAS, Mark Braddy of Jefferson County received the 2025 Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend Robert Thomas, State 4-H President; Melanie Biersmith, State 4-H Leader and Director of 4-H; and the 2025-2026 4-H District Presidents, 2025 National 4-H Conference Delegates, 2025 Leadership in Action winners, 2025 Deans Award winners, 2025 William H. Booth Award honoree, 2025 Ryles Rising Star Award recipient, 2025 Volunteer of the Year, and 2025 Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award recipient for their numerous accomplishments as well as recognize February 26, 2026, as 4-H day at the state capitol. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the House of Representatives is authorized and directed to make appropriate copies of this resolution available for distribution to the public and the press. ## Summaries written by Georgia Commons The following was written by claude-sonnet-5 from the text above and is not part of the resolution. Quote the text, not the summary. A Georgia House resolution recognizes February 26, 2026, as 4-H day at the state capitol and commends the 2025-2026 4-H leadership teams and award recipients from across the state. ### Plain-language summary This is a ceremonial resolution from the Georgia House of Representatives. It does not change any Georgia law. Instead, it formally recognizes February 26, 2026, as 4-H day at the state capitol and commends a long list of young people and adult volunteers involved in Georgia's 4-H youth program for their leadership and achievements during the 2025-2026 program year. The resolution names the State 4-H President, the State 4-H Leader, district presidents, national conference delegates, and winners of several awards, including the Leadership in Action award, the Deans Awards, the William H. Booth Award, the Ryles Rising Star Award, and volunteer recognitions. It directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and press. ### What it does - Designates February 26, 2026, as 4-H day at the state capitol. - Commends the State 4-H President and State 4-H Leader/Director of 4-H by name for their service. - Recognizes 2025-2026 4-H district presidents, national conference delegates, and multiple statewide award winners and volunteers. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare and distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ### Who it affects The resolution names specific 4-H members, district presidents, volunteers, and University of Georgia Cooperative Extension staff from counties across Georgia, along with the Clerk of the House, who must prepare copies for distribution. ### Why it matters While the resolution carries no legal or funding changes, it gives official state recognition to Georgia's 4-H youth leadership program and its members, and sets aside a specific day for 4-H representatives to be honored at the state capitol. ### Key provisions - The resolution's whereas clauses list individual 4-H leaders, district presidents, award winners, and volunteers being honored for the 2025-2026 program year. - The resolved clause formally commends these named individuals and designates February 26, 2026, as 4-H day at the state capitol. - A further resolved clause directs the Clerk of the House to make copies available to the public and the press. ## Status - Status: Passed (2026-01-14) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2026-01-14) - Sponsors: Rick Jasperse, Angie O'Steen, Leesa Hagan, Robert Dickey, Danny Mathis - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/72229 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr1022.md?full=1