Newsletter, Team
Caitlin B. Jackson
County Extension Coordinator
University of Georgia
Monroe/Northeast
1 Upson & Lamar County Extension Agent, University of Georgia, Thomaston, GA, 30286
2 Pike County Extension Agent, University of Georgia, Zebulon, GA, 30295
3 Extension Animal Science Specialist, Fort Valley State University, Fort Valley, GA, 31030
4 County Extension Coordinator, University of Georgia, Forsyth, GA, 31029
Small ruminant producers in the Southeast face unique challenges with heat, humidity and internal parasite resistance to approved dewormers. The BLEAT, a newsletter for sheep and goat producers, is a collaborative effort by University of Georgia Extension Agents in middle Georgia and the Fort Valley State University Extension Small Ruminant Specialist to provide producers a quarterly educational resource. The newsletter is set up to address timely production issues, forage information, recipes, highlight youth activities, and advertise information on upcoming events. University of Georgia Extension Agents from five counties in middle Georgia area and the Fort Valley State Universty Extension Small Ruminant Specialist submit research-based articles with occasional guest contributions from Extension Small Ruminant Specialists from other states. Articles are submitted every quarter to Caitlin Jackson who designs and edits the layout of every edition of the newsletter using Canva, an internet-based graphic design program. Each edition is proofread by contributing Agents and Specialists before publication. Editions are published quarterly and distributed electronically through social media and emailed directly to Extension Agent and Specialist contact lists. Three editions of the BLEAT have been published since summer 2019 and distributed to 314 producers per issue.