--- title: HR 65. University of Georgia 4-H Program; Kingston Ryals, Melanie Biersmith, and the 2024-2025 4-H Leadership Teams; 4-H Day at the state capitol; 02/25/25; recognize collection: bills id: 2025-2026/hr65 cite_as: HR 65, 2025-2026 Regular Session (Ga.) canonical_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr65 md_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr65.md text_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr65/text source_url: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69527 date: 2025-01-27 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/hr64.md next: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr66.md index: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/index.md omitted: votes and history omitted_chars: 131 omitted_url: https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr65.md?full=1 bill_number: HR 65 session: 2025-2026 Regular Session session_slug: 2025-2026 chamber: House bill_type: resolution status_date: 2025-01-27 last_action: House Read and Adopted sponsors: - Rick Jasperse - Robert Dickey - James Hatchett - Leesa Hagan - Chris Erwin text_version: Introduced has_text: true legiscan_url: https://legiscan.com/GA/bill/HR65/2025 upstream_id: 1943254 summaries_model: claude-sonnet-5 topic_tags: - 4-H program - youth leadership - state capitol recognition - Georgia General Assembly resolutions --- # HR 65. University of Georgia 4-H Program; Kingston Ryals, Melanie Biersmith, and the 2024-2025 4-H Leadership Teams; 4-H Day at the state capitol; 02/25/25; recognize ## Text House Resolution 65 By: Representatives Jasperse of the 11th, Dickey of the 134th, Hatchett of the 155th, Hagan of the 156th, and Erwin of the 32nd A RESOLUTION Commending the University of Georgia 4-H Program, Kingston Ryals, Melanie Biersmith, and the 2024-2025 4-H Leadership Teams and recognizing February 25, 2025, 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, Kingston Ryals of Toombs 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 Robert Thomas of Putnam County, Ceci Ward of Catoosa County, Chloe Bray of Johnson County, and Max Nelson of Tift 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 2024-2025; and WHEREAS, the excellent record of accomplishments in citizenship and leadership of Tiffani McClain of Jasper County, Tyson Mathis of Oconee County, Shubham Badve of Cobb County, Kingston Ryals of Toombs County, Thomas Holt of Ben Hill County, and Colin Williamson of Tift County for their selection as delegates for the 2024 National 4-H Conference; and WHEREAS, Lauren Coley of Bleckley County and Sophia Scott of Pickens County were named 2024 Leadership in Action winners; and WHEREAS, Leila Rimes of Tift County, Amiyah Elam of Ware County, Haya Fatmi of Cobb County, Brittney Bryant of Toombs County, Tiffani McClain of Jasper County, and Carolyn Thomas of Putnam County were named state winners in the 2024 Deans Awards competition; and WHEREAS, Patrick Willis of Berrien County was named the 2024 William H. Booth Award Honoree; and WHEREAS, Laura Mirarchi of Troup County received the 2024 Ryles Rising Star Award; and WHEREAS, Kristen Quinton of Bibb County was named the 2024 Volunteer of the Year; and WHEREAS, CJ Lee of Glynn County received the 2024 Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES that the members of this body commend the University of Georgia 4-H Program; Mr. Kingston Ryals, State 4-H President; Ms. Melanie Biersmith, State 4-H Leader and Director of 4-H; and the 2024-2025 4-H District Presidents, 2024 National 4-H Conference delegates, 2024 Leadership in Action winners, 2024 Deans Awards winners, 2024 William H. Booth Award honoree, 2024 Ryles Rising Star Award recipient, 2024 Volunteer of the Year, and 2024 Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award recipient for their numerous accomplishments as well as recognize February 25, 2025, 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 honors the University of Georgia 4-H Program, State 4-H President Kingston Ryals, State 4-H Leader Melanie Biersmith, and other 4-H award winners, and designates February 25, 2025 as 4-H Day at the state capitol. ### Plain-language summary This resolution is a ceremonial statement from the Georgia House of Representatives rather than a change to state law. It commends the University of Georgia 4-H Program and recognizes a long list of individuals for their leadership and achievements, including State 4-H President Kingston Ryals, State 4-H Leader and Director Melanie Biersmith, 2024-2025 district presidents, delegates to the 2024 National 4-H Conference, and winners of various 4-H awards such as the Leadership in Action award, the Deans Awards, the William H. Booth Award, the Ryles Rising Star Award, Volunteer of the Year, and the Outstanding Lifetime Volunteer Award. The resolution also designates February 25, 2025 as 4-H Day at the state capitol. It directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to make copies available to the public and the press, but it creates no new legal requirements, funding, or penalties. ### What it does - Commends the University of Georgia 4-H Program and its leaders for their work with young people across Georgia. - Names Kingston Ryals as State 4-H President and Melanie Biersmith as State 4-H Leader/Director of 4-H and praises their service. - Recognizes numerous named 4-H members and volunteers for district leadership roles, national conference delegate status, and various 2024 awards. - Designates February 25, 2025 as 4-H Day at the state capitol. - Directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to distribute copies of the resolution to the public and press. ### Who it affects The resolution directly names and honors University of Georgia 4-H Program leaders, state and district 4-H officers, national conference delegates, and several 4-H award recipients and volunteers from counties across Georgia. It has no legal effect on other Georgians. ### Why it matters Because this is a commendatory resolution rather than a law, it does not change anyone's rights, obligations, or funding. Its practical effect is public recognition: naming a state capitol day and publicly honoring specific 4-H members and volunteers for their achievements. ### Key provisions - The resolving clause commends the University of Georgia 4-H Program, Kingston Ryals, Melanie Biersmith, and the named 2024-2025 leadership teams and award winners. - The resolving clause also recognizes February 25, 2025 as 4-H Day at the state capitol. - A further resolution directs the Clerk of the House of Representatives to prepare copies of the resolution for distribution to the public and the press. ## Status - Status: Passed (2025-01-27) - Last action: House Read and Adopted (2025-01-27) - Sponsors: Rick Jasperse, Robert Dickey, James Hatchett, Leesa Hagan, Chris Erwin - Official page: https://www.legis.ga.gov/legislation/69527 > The history, votes, and amendments (131 characters) are at https://georgiacommons.org/bills/2025-2026/hr65.md?full=1