Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Benita Peoples
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Empowering Local LeadersCivic engagement helps create and cultivate vibrant communities. Studies have shown social capital is necessary for effective government and economic development. Part of social capital is engaging in the legislative process, serving on local boards/councils, and contributing in topics important to that community.Overall in the US, social capital has been on the decline. Currently, Kentucky ranks 48th in civic health. In response to the need to increase civ
Author: Jessica Hopkins
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Civic engagement helps create and cultivate vibrant communities. Studies have shown social capital is necessary for effective government and economic development. Part of social capital is engaging in the legislative process, serving on local boards/councils, and contributing in topics important to that community.Overall in the US, social capital has been on the decline. Currently, Kentucky ranks 48th in civic health. In response to the need to increas
Author: Lyndall Harned
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
The Boyd County Youth Livestock Show was once again held during the County Fair. This year was a testament to what well trained volunteer leaders can do when called upon. I am usually therefor the fair and specifically the multiple livestock shows and showmanship competitions. I was not able to make it this year so it fell upon the volunteers to fill in. And by all accounts, they did a great job. The shows went off without any problems. They handled everything from organ
Author: Whitney Morrow
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Building the capacity of volunteer leaders within counties is critical for the sustainability of a community infrastructure that supports long term commitment to strengthen families.In 2013, a county wide Summit was held in Carter County. As a result, several committees were formed to address the key issues in the county and a strategic community plan was developed. One of the key issues identified was a need for adult leadership.As a result, a leadership committee develope
Author: Judith Hetterman
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Building the capacity of volunteer leaders within the county is critical for the sustainability of a community's infrastructure to strengthen families. Our county will be facing substantial growth-related change in the next few years and still wants to preserve the rural character of our community. As new leaders become involved working in the community, there is the need for leadership development to be built in three levels: personal leadership, organizational leadership, and communi
Author: Amanda Hardy
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
According to data from the Corporation for National and Community Service 763,706 Kentuckians volunteered in 2015 of their time, talent and effort to improve people’s lives. 84.34 million hours of service and $1.7 billion of service were contributed. Henderson County’s population is around 46,250 and the need for volunteers is more critical as programs expand. The Henderson County Extension office ended the year with a leadership appreciation dinner that was called “
Author: Corinne Belton
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Current Extension agriculture programming in Shelby County seeks to enhance the sustainability of agriculture as it faces continued challenges of a growing urban-rural interface. In order to facilitate this goal, expansion of the volunteer base and maintenance of a formal council has been and will continue to be imperative to the success of the Extension agriculture and horticulture programs. Active involvement of local citizens via a thriving advisory council and functional committee system gui
Author: Amanda Broderick
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
18.8% of all Vanceburg homes are considered to be in poverty. This is well above the national rate of 15.1%. In an area that is starved for jobs it can be difficult to compete with others for desirable positions when jobs do become available.In an effort to help prepare the future generation of Lewis Countians for success Lewis County Family and Consumer Sciences worked with fourth grade teachers at Central Elementary School to develop a series of classes covering etiquette, how to write a resum
Author: Alivia Faris
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Technology in Quilting for a CauseTechnology is always changing and technology for sewing and quilting is not immune to this phenomenon. With the fast changes in quilting technology that makes things easier and fast it is important to keep those who sew and quilt up-date on changes and empower them to develop their skills. The Lawrence County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Education developed a program that provided the opportunity for quilters develop new skills in using
Author: Ronda Rex
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
For many high schools, Family & Consumer Sciences are limited to the topics that are being offered to students. Depending on the high school, sewing may not be offered at all. Newport High School is one of those schools and relies on organizations like the Campbell County Cooperative Extension Service for personal and life skills development for their students. The Family & Consumer Sciences, 4-H and Youth Development Program areas along with the Campbell County Extensi
Author: Carla Jordan
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Stepping Out Of Their Comfort Zone; Encountering a Paradigm ShiftStepping out of our comfort zone can be extremely difficult especially when discussing issues surrounding race, particularly slavery, diversity and inclusion. Tackling this subject as adults is overwhelming, so imagine how difficult it would be for immature minds. However, the staff and students at Kentucky State University/ Community Inspired Solutions Uconnect staff did an outstanding job of creating a safe space where students a
Author: Paula Jerrell
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
The Ballard County 4-H Program prides itself in a strong Leadership Program with intentional leadership and civic engagement opportunities and study of government. For more than 20 years, over 400 Ballard County 4-Hers have been learning leadership life skills such as understanding self, communication, listening, managing resources, team building and more. They have learned about local (county and city) government from touring city halls, the courthouse and fiscal court offices. &nbs
Author: Carla Jordan
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
During this fiscal year, the students at the KSU/CIS UConnect Program Students participated in a number of activities and discussions inclusive of: Participants also engaged in lessons on:Hosted Golf Outing featuring NBA Player, Julius Randle of the New Orleans Pelicans. Mr. Randle mingled with players and program participants. Jhamicah Harbut, EFNEP Assistant, Kentucky State University led discussions on food and nutrition. Participants lear
Author: Jordan Crain
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Community Baby Shower ContinuesThe 2017-2018 year brought changes to the Green County Family Resource Center. As a result of these changes, the Community Baby Shower was not going to be possible. In response to this, Green County’s Help, Hope & Hands group through the Green County Cooperative Extension Office volunteered to host the 2018 Community Baby Shower. They had great success.Unfortunately, in the early month of 2019 it was determined that, again, the Family Resource Center
Author: Daniel Allen
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
NKY Agriculture Leadership Program Aims for the FutureAccording to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, volunteerism of Americans peaked around 30% in 2004. Today that number is closer to 25%. This leadership decline is also apparent in the agriculture community. This loss of leaders coupled with the great diversity of agriculture operations here in northern Kentucky, highlight the importance of having engaged farmers in organization, and part of the conversations around public poli
Author: Kerri Ashurst
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Dr. Ashurst completed instructor certifications for both the ADULT and the YOUTH Mental Health First Aid curricula. As of 2019, she began traveling around the state to faciltate trainings for agents and community partners on both curricula. To date, 6 trainings have been completed - 5 on the ADULT curriculum and 1 on the YOUTH curriculum. A total of 81 people have now been trained that are working with Kentucky Cooperative Extension as agents, specialists, staff, and collaborators.From the 81 pe
Author: Don Sorrell
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
One of the five goals of the Campbell County Farmland Workgroup is to "Develop Agriculture Leaders." The lack of agriculture leaders is a major concern by most farm organizations such as the KY Cattlemen's Association, KY Farm Bureau and even the UK Cooperative Extension Service. To address this issue, Agriculture and Natural Resource Agents from Boone, Kenton, Campbell and Pendleton Counties developed and hosted the Northern KY Agriculture Leadership program during the Fall
Author: Lora Pullin
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Greenup County Extension leadership continues to identify economic development as an important area for the Greenup County Cooperative Extension Office to focus programming efforts. The Family & Consumer Sciences and Fine Arts Agent are continuing to support this area by expanding ongoing programming efforts for local farmers and artisans. The Greenup Holiday Market began four years ago in effort to provide Greenup County farmers and artisans an outlet to provide holiday shopping for l
Author: Ronda Rex
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Extension Diversity and Inclusion Series was created as a result of attending the Tri-State Diversity Conference (now known as the National Land Grant Diversity Conference). https://diversity.ca.uky.edu/national-land-grant-diversity-conference Sarah Stolz and Ronda Rex attended the conference and found much needed work to be done in Campbell County on diversity and inclusion. They also realized that not everyone either in Extension or community member could attend the conference due
Author: Paula Jerrell
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
The 95th Annual Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference was held at the University of Kentucky June 10-13, 2019. The objectives of Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference are: develop leadership and teamwork skills, improve communication skills, foster civic engagement, expand knowledge and skills related to 4-H core content areas, gain club, county and state 4-H program skills, have fun, create a sense of belonging, expand social skills through networking, develop youth-adult partnerships, and become acquainted with
Author: Paula Jerrell
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
A twenty year 4-H volunteer and 4-H alum received the Dedication of the State 4-H Horse Show. Kendra Humphrey Cunningham received this recognition at the State 4-H Horse Show on Saturday, June 29.Kendra Humphrey Cunningham is part of at least a third generation 4-H family involved in the 4-H Horse Program. She was a 10 year 4-H member of the Carson Park 4-H Horse Club. She is or has been involved in 4-H at the county, area, district and state levels. She has served as del
Author: Andy Mills
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
“Drugs are taking over our county and destroying families!” This phrase seemed to be a common everyday saying. To address this issue the Meade County Extension Council, Extension Homemaker Council, local extension agents, local officials and extension specialist worked together to bring awareness to myths and reality. The first step in the process was to bring key individuals together to explore the reality of the drug and opioid epidemic in the county. Statis
Author: M. Elizabeth Coots
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
In 2016 the Woodford County Extension Council determined a need for a leadership program within the county in order to empower citizens to be involved in challenges and opportunities the community faces. As a result of this, the Woodford County Extension Office in collaboration with the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce developed Leadership Woodford County. The program gives participants the opportunity to better understand their community and learn the skills they will need to prepare for the
Author: Dayna Fentress
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
In 2018, FCS Extension, Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, and Hardin County Adult Education opened a professional clothing closet that is open to the public when anyone is in need of interview attire. After using space at the Hardin County Adult Education for close to a year for the community clothing closet for professional attire, new partnership opportunities with the Elizabethtown Community and Technical College allowed for a permanent location. Extension began a collaboration w
Author: Melinda McCulley
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Marketing family and consumer sciences programs is required to maintain our respected presence in communities. Utilizing various forms of social media has allowed us to market our programs to a broad and diverse audience. This year, in addition to the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Facebook page and the Talking FACS podcast, we also have added an FCS Instagram account and we marietthrought the social media accounts for the Plate it up! Kentucky Proud project. Additional
