Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Mollie Tichenor
Major Program: Health
During the pandemic Spencer County Extension Agents have had to pivot their programing, much like everyone else, to online platforms. This is so that we can still reach much needed audiences. Every Wednesday our program assistant demos a Kentucky Proud or SNAP recipe though our county extension Facebook page. Not only does she provide the recipe step by step with our audience, she gives them detailed cooking and safety instruction. Such as, knife safety, appliance safety, hand washing, and food
Author: Christy Eastwood
Major Program: Health
The Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior recently published the results of a 10-year longitudinal study conducted by researchers at the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health. The aim of the study, which tracked more than 1, 100 participants, was to answer a simple question: Can knowing how to cook as a young person lead to healthier eating practices in adulthood? The researchers arrived at a compelling—if unsurprising—conclusion: It can.During the global pand
Author: Dianna Reed
Major Program: Health
In March of 2020, the Johnson Cooperative Extension Service along with government officials, local leaders, school personnel and community members were challenged to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and offer ways to be of service to our communities and clientele. UK administration worked with state officials to develop guidelines, inform personnel of UK, gubernatorial and CDC directives, and encouraged counties to provide outreach and information to our clientele in a safe manner. To address th
Author: Brittany Osborne
Major Program: Health
The 4-H Backpack program was established fifteen years ago by McCracken County teenagers at a 4-H Issues Conference. Teens were to take an issue that impacted our community and find a way to make a difference. Many of our children in the City and County school systems are fortunate enough to have parents who are able to provide for them. Unfortunately, there are many who do their best to make ends meet and still need additional help. With Covid-19 sweeping the world in unp
Author: Alexandria Bryant
Major Program: Health
The need for nutrition education is great in Kentucky, as it is a relatively poor state with a heavy burden of chronic disease related to poor nutrition practices. The Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance Survey provides data on overweight Kentucky youth and reveals that our youth rank 15.6% compared to the nationwide 12.7%. From a dietary standpoint less than 20% of high school students meet the dietary recommendation for fruit and vegetable consumption. In 2014, the Breckinridge County
Author: Lisa Hagman
Major Program: Health
The COVID-19 pandemic was a public health crisis that halted the daily routines for nearly all of us. One of the biggest impacts was on our youth and our school systems. Students were sent home to finish out the school year virtually. While we were staying “Healthy at Home,” the Hancock County 4-H program had to discover a new way to reach local youth and families.The Tuesday Take and Make Kits were created to reach our youth who were sent home from school and into a situation no one
Author: Raymond Cox
Major Program: Health
The Harlan County 4-H Council and the 4-H Program identified a need for more students and adults to become interested and involved in a structured fitness program due to an overwhelming number of overweight students identified from the school's Fitness Fairs. These Fitness Fairs are conducted in all schools in Harlan County and Harlan Independent by Appalachian Regional Hospital, the 4-H program, and the Family Resource Centers. The Fitness Fairs also identified and alarming number of elemen
Author: Crystal Smith
Major Program: Health
2020 Letcher County 4-H started in the Health Rocks program through the NMP10 Grant. What is 4-H Health Rocks Program. Health Rocks! aims to: Reduce youth smoking and tobacco use; Help youth build life skills that lead to healthy lifestyle choices with special emphasis on youth smoking and tobacco use prevention; Help youth understand influences and health consequences of tobacco, drug, and alcohol use to make healthy choices. Letcher County has 15 youth involved in the program and 3 teen leader
Author: Joe Maynard
Major Program: Health
As we continue to navigate the Covid-19 pandemic, new ways of presenting programs and activities have emerged. Martin County has strictly followed the Healthy at Work Guidelines in an effort to slow down and stop the spread of the virus. To stay within the guidelines and keep our clientele safe, we have offered virtual and socially distanced programs. Since reopening the office we have strictly enforced social distancing, made sure staff and clientele wear face coverings, provi
Author: Paul Adkins
Major Program: Health
The Bullitt County Cooperative Extension Service built a coalition of multiple community agencies to participate in the Bullitt County Story Path committee. The goal for the committee was to partner together to provide opportunities for families to spend valuable time together, through an educational, healthy, experience. With a total of eight different agencies, including city and county government participating as part of the committee, the first Story Path was offered in downtown Mt. Washingt
Author: Mary S Averbeck
Major Program: Health
The ability to obtain fresh fruits and vegetables is a challenge for many Kenton County families. Cost is a barrier, as well as availability. The COVID pandemic exacerbated this situation. In response to this need the Kenton County Extension Council volunteers, 4-H families and agents from all program areas collaborated with three Kenton County schools and the Freestore Foodbank to host a Pop-Up Produce event at the Kenton County Extension Office. Financially eligible families were recrui
Author: Lindsay Arthur
Major Program: Health
The Nicholas County Extension Office has incorporated many virtual options and pick-up kits into our outreach programming efforts. During the last week of October our office offered The Great Pumpkin Carving Contest pick-up kit incorporating aspects of 4-H Youth Development, Agriculture and Natural Resources as well as Family and Consumer Sciences. Families signed up in advance to receive their package with everything they needed to create two pumpkin recipes, a STEM pumpkin catapult project and
Author: Shelley Meyer
Major Program: Health
One very popular area with Pendleton 4-H has been 4-H Cooking. Six years ago, the 4-H Cooking Club was started due to interest of youth throughout the county. Its growth in numbers grew the club exponentially creating the need for 2 separate clubs. Both clubs consisted of 20-30 members which met monthly over the past 4 years. After COVID-19 shut programs down, other avenues had to be explored if continuation was to happen. ObjectivesIn an effort to keep kids cooking at home, a 4-H Cooking C
Author: Kindra Jones
Major Program: Health
Each year the Grayson County 4-H Council hosts a series of 5K events that are a part of the community festivals; Grayson County Freedom Festival, Clarkson Honey Festival, and Hometown Christmas. These 5K events have served as the primary fundraising events for the 4-H Council and 4-H Clubs. At the events, the club members are encouraged to be part of the route crew, which entails duties such as handing out water to the participants, giving directions, and calling times. Those that show up
Author: Paula McCuiston
Major Program: Health
Story Walk increases literacy and local food awareness.In 2013-2015, 31.9% of adults in Hickman County age 20 and over reported no leisure-time physical activity (Hickman County Data Profile, CES Community Assessment 2019). Simultaneously, only 76.1% of children entering kindergarten are ready to learn (2020 Early Childhood Profile). Physical activity, healthy local food choices, and early community literacy opportunities were strategically combined through the Story Walk experience. The Hi
Author: Stacey Potts
Major Program: Health
A new survey commissioned by National 4-H Council, and conducted by the Harris Poll, finds that 7 in 10 teens are struggling with their mental health in the wake of COVID-19. More than half of those surveyed shared that the pandemic has increased their feelings of loneliness, with 64 percent believing it will have a lasting impact on their mental health. The survey, conducted in May 2020, is among the first to examine the impact this unprecedented public health crisis has had on U.S. teens. (4-H
Author: Courtney Brock
Major Program: Health
When the COVID-19 global pandemic forced Kentuckians into quarantine, schools closed to in-person instruction. By early September 2020, schools began welcoming limited numbers of youth back into classrooms, while others opted for virtual learning. A middle school teacher and 4-H volunteer reached out to the Lincoln County 4-H Program seeking educational programming for proper handwashing for her students. At the time, visitors were not permitted in
Author: Kimberly Ragland
Major Program: Health
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2021 Kentucky 4-H Summit could not be implemented in the typical face-to-face format. Kentucky 4-H Program volunteers, members, and professionals decided, based on current events and fundamental developmental needs, that middle school youth needed the opportunity to connect to others and practice their leadership skills through 4-H. If adolescents are to develop the skills necessary for adulthood, they must learn basic skills for everyday life (Carnegie Council f
Author: Patrice Thompson
Major Program: Health
Planning for the "Your Thoughts Matter" program that is being presented to my 4-H club at western, I decided to get a bit more virtually creative in the ending project details. "Your Thoughts Matter" is a program that introduces the participants to what mental health entails and how they can become better citizens by gaining a clear understanding then putting their understanding to use. At the end of 4-H programs the club has to decide on a project that will impact their scho
Author: Cathy Sparks
Major Program: Health
The Youth Service Center Director for the Herald Whitaker Middle School contacted our office concerning some issues that the school had been having with Self Esteem and Behavior among their students. There had been concerns of students teasing other students and even some issues with aggressive behavior of students toward one another, since their return to in-person learning. Concerns were also expressed about the effects that the isolation of Covid-19 has had upon students and their behav
Author: Paula Jerrell
Major Program: Health
Ballard County has had 45 youth involved in afterschool nutrition education classes through the 21st Century Afterschool Program. We have had fifteen K-1, fifteen 2-3 and fifteen 4-5 graders. They rotate through the class every three weeks. We have focused on where our food comes from, food groups, serving sizes and they applying what they have learned by each of them making a MyPlate of their own and then a menu for a day of their own. Each lesson also includes physical activity. &n
Author: Sarah Redmon
Major Program: Health
As students start heading back into the classroom since the start of the pandemic, teacher and Family Resource Coordinators are looking for ways to help youth cope with the anxiety and stress Covid-19 has caused. Yoga for Kids is a great way to help youth learn how to cope with feelings, anxiety, and stress. The Scott County 4-H Youth Development Agent planned and implemented four, one hour lessons. In total 51 students in 4th grade participated in a month long 4-H enrichment during their
Author: Elijah Wilson
Major Program: Health
In an effort to increase the consumption of healthy fruits and vegetables, the Cumberland County 4-H Program was awarded a $1000 grant from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation to support the Cumberland County 4-H Horticulture and Plant Science program and the Plant It, Grow It, Eat It Initiative. The funds are be used to incentivize youth to enroll in 4-H, and to try gardening, and eat more fruits and vegetables . The first 100 young people who enroll are provided with plants, soil analysis, seeds,
Author: Alexandria Bryant
Major Program: Health
The obesity epidemic threatens the quality and years of life of Kentuckians. Fourteen (14) percent of Breckinridge County respondents identified fewer chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer, as a priority during the Kentucky Extension Community Assessment. Obese individuals are at increased risk for many chronic health conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, stroke, and some types of cancers. The obesity rate in Kentucky increased 90 percent over the last 15 y
Author: Lora Stewart
Major Program: Health
Due to COVID restrictions, Gallatin County 4-H had to rethink one of our more popular day camps: cooking. The Gallatin County 4-H Council , got together and brainstormed new ideas and came up with the 4-H DIY Cookbook. The council decided on the cookbook concept after hearing what our youth had to say about the 4-H Cooking Camp in the Box. This was project that went throughout the school year. Thirty-two children came to the office once a month to pick up supplies and re
Author: Mollie Tichenor
Major Program: Health
After moving into our new educational facility in 2013, the Spencer County Cooperative Extension Council decided in 2017 to start the process of developing the 10 acres around our office. In the spring of 2018, a University of Kentucky Landscape Architecture student used our facility as his senior project and he presented his ideas for the development at a council meeting later that spring.After the initial plan was developed, the council and district board agreed to move forward to hire
Author: Esther "Susan" Turner
Major Program: Health
Youth Yoga is one of our 4-H programs which was offered at each elementary school during the summer school sessions. The youth in grades Kindergarten to fifth grade participated in a weekly yoga class for four weeks. Pre-program evaluations showed that 59% of the youth had never tried yoga as a form of exercise and 25% did not know how to use their breathing to help calm their feelings or to help them relax. The youth learned deep breathing techniques and practiced the techniqu
Author: Esther "Susan" Turner
Major Program: Health
Monroe County is a predominately rural area in which youth are exposed to a variety of conditions that could lead to unsafe conditions in the home, at school, or on the farm. Educating youth how to avoid an accident or what to do in an emergency was the goal of the Monroe County 4-H Progressive Agriculture Safety Day. Monroe County 4-H partnered with the Progressive Agriculture Safety program to host a safety day for all students attending summer school. Ninety youth pa
Author: Cathy Toole
Major Program: Health
The Summer of Wonder at the Eminence Independent Schools was a five week educational exploration. Due to so many children missing classroom time and interaction with peers this past year due to Covid-19, students were invited and encouraged to join in the fun. Each week had a different theme, such as: facing challenges, failure to success, self-control, and here we grow.The resource coordinator reached out to partner with the Henry County Cooperative Extension Service for hands on educati
Author: Jessica Morris
Major Program: Health
Encouraging outdoor activities and opportunities has been a focal point here at the Extension Office since the pandemic began. For the first time we scheduled activities for all age ranges of clientele to participate in to celebrate and take part in the longest day of play. Our day started with Sunrise Yoga at the Lake for 17 ladies. We then transitioned to holding a Color Fun Run/Walk at the Wolfe County Sports Complex where all participants walked or ran a 5K. We had roughly 40 participants in
Author: Paula McCuiston
Major Program: Health
Ready Set Run during Covid-19.According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website, obesity still remains at about 17% among our nation’s young people ranging in ages 2-19 years even though the rate of obesity in 2-5-year-olds has been on a downward slope. Because of local support and interest in this program, the Hickman County 4-H and FCS Agents teamed up to continue our fifth year of Ready Set Run Club despite the challenges due to COVID-19. Ready Set Run is m
Author: Ryan Farley
Major Program: Health
As the past year has shown, developing healthy habits within youth is more vital than ever. Whether it is healthy nutrition, mindfulness, emotional intelligence or physical activity, youth need to start early developing healthy lifestyle habits that they can carry on throughout their entire life. In an effort to address healthy habits within Woodford County youth, Woodford County 4-H developed a two-part series of workshops to expose and educate youth on choices they could make that would benefi
Author: Krista Perry
Major Program: Health
From the closing of schools in Spring 2020 to the late Fall, Franklin County saw an increase of crime and emergency room visits with adolescents, according to the Franklin County Sheriffs office and the Frankfort Regional Hospital. Most of the crime incidents and emergency room visits were related to drugs and alcohol, which led to the need and hosting of the Truth & Consequences program, virtually. The Truth & Consequences program is typically set up as scenarios to provide
Author: Jennifer Cole
Major Program: Health
Like most agents across the bluegrass and country, we had to think outside the box when developing programs for this year. The need for parents to provide educational resources and activities for their distance learners was high. With the help of the Washington County 4-H agent, “Projects in a Box” were developed to not only enhance a child’s at-home learning experience, but to expose and introduce them to 4-H. Three different themes were offered: S.E.T., Embr
Author: Glenna Bentley
Major Program: Health
Summer Sensation Being healthy is very important and there are many ways to achieve this. Being physically active, eating right, and learning to reduce stress are some of the ways youth can build strong muscles, lower the risk of serious disease and illness, and lower their emotional stress. The past year was a difficult and stressful time for youth. Activities were limited for youth to participate in. The Lewis County Extension Office par
Author: Laura Huffman
Major Program: Health
Unhealthy health statistics such as low levels of physical activity, unhealthy nutrition, and poor mental health are all determinants of several chronic diseases. To address this issue the Hart County 4-H Youth Development Agent and Family Consumer Science Agent partnered with the Healthy Hart Coalition to write a grant from the Healthy Communities Grant with the University of Kentucky. This is an adult/youth partnership grant to provide wellness opportunities in a community. The co
Author: Kelsey Chadwick
Major Program: Health
This year, Graves County 4-H has partnered with several organizations serving low-income and underserved populations in Graves County to offer Extension programming to youth outside the traditional 4-H audience. The 4-H Agent provided a STEM program to Big Grannie's Daycare Summer Care Program, Exploring 4-H and Home Envrionment virtual programs to CARDS After Hours 21st Century Program, Fashion Magic and Home Environment virtual programs to Mayfield High School LINKS Program, Christmas Assi
Author: Alexandria Brasher
Major Program: Health
According to the American Heart Association, teaching youth how to prepare their own food will give them a skill they can use for a lifetime, they will be more likely to eat healthier as adults and build self-confidence through cooking. In order to address the growing concern about children not knowing how to prepare food safely led to the Henderson County 4-H program offering a two-day cooking camp involving UK Snap-Education resources, 4-H Curriculum, and a UK Poultry Specialist. This program
Author: Brandon Darst
Major Program: Health
According to Kentucky Health News, Kentucky ranks 3rd in child obesity, a disease tied to a long list of other health issues; treatment requires changes in family lifestyle. On top of the growing rates of childhood obesity, families were forced to navigate through a pandemic. COVID-19 changed a lot of dynamics with families. Parents were reluctant to let their kids play outdoors in fear of them catching the virus. In an effort to get children in Madison County moving and conseq
Author: Lloyd Saylor
Major Program: Health
We often are unaware of the positive impact 4-H is having on entire families. This spring, I was approached by a mom, her kids have participated in many programs, camps etc. over the past 15 years. She is employed in youth work as well. She told me "4-H save her son last year". Like many he was having difficulty adjusting to the COVID world. He was on some meds for depression, but things were getting worse. Unaware of this we, trying to do our jobs in the
Author: Isaac Hilpp
Major Program: Health
2020 was a year that saw a substantial upheaval in our country and state. The COVID-19 pandemic ravaged our state and forced a shutdown of many of our traditional programs. It forced the 4-H program to reevaluate the delivery models of many of its programs as face-to-face delivery was no longer an option. During this same time period, the murder of Briana Taylor and George Floyd Sparked a renewed call for racial justice and social equality. During this critical time in which social unrest and ra
Author: Leah VanMeter
Major Program: Health
Per the CDC, by the time students complete high school, 2/3 of students have tried alcohol and 1/2 report having ever used marijuana. According to the CDC, teen substance use can affect the growth and development of teen, specifically brain development, increases the odds of other risky behavior such as unprotected sex and dangerous driving, and can contribute to the development of chronic health issues as adults. The CDC also notes that early initiation of substance use increases the chan
Author: Brittany Osborne
Major Program: Health
Learning to swim is a life-or-death skill, essential for every child. Formal swim lessons between ages 1 and 4 can help reduce the risk of drowning by 88% according to a study conducted in 2009. [1] Drowning is the number one cause of accidental death for children ages 1 to 4 and a leading cause for young people up to 14 years of age. (American Academy of Pediatrics)Providing youth with the ability to enhance and develop this life-or-death skill is of great importance for 4-H in McCra
