Author: Regina Browning
Major Program: Civic Engagement
According to the National Education Association, high quality civics education has positive benefits to youth who become more likely to vote and discuss politics at home, volunteer and work on community issues and speak publicly and communicate with elected officials. It also develops skills in critical thinking, civil debate, and classroom confidence. The Shelby County 4-H Agents planned an educational trip to Washington D.C. for Shelby County 4-H Teen Council Members to provide th
Author: Bridgett Poteet
Major Program: Civic Engagement
The Edmonson County 4-H for the first time in county's history, had 4-H events during the county fair. The Edmonson County fair is unique in that it occurs a couple weeks after the state fair when the new 4-H year is beginning. This year, one of my goals as well as the 4-H council was to get 4-H contests and events during this year's county fair. I joined the Lions Club and the Fair Board as the 4-H representative to advocate for these events. What started out as
Author: Candice Hollingsworth
Major Program: Civic Engagement
According to the National Education Association, high quality civics education has positive benefits to youth who become more likely to vote and discuss politics at home, volunteer and work on community issues and speak publicly and communicate with elected officials. It also develops skills in critical thinking, civil debate, and classroom confidence. The Shelby County 4-H Agents planned an educational trip to Washington D.C. for Shelby County 4-H Teen Council Members to provide th
Author: Shannon Farrell
Major Program: Civic Engagement
Monday, November 13th, Harrison County 4-H representatives traveled to Dawson Springs, KY to deliver a monetary check donation and 3 park benches to one of the hardest hit areas of the December 2021 tornados. This delivery has been the culminating trip of a two-year process.The service project idea began in January of 2022 when the Harrison County 4-H Council voted to set aside a certain amount of money as a donation to be used towards the tornado relief efforts. As an added component, the
Author: Heather Coleman
Major Program: Civic Engagement
The goal of the Kentucky 4-H Issues Conference are for delegates to; enrich their citizenship and civic engagement roles, enhance their leadership skills, develop public presentation skills, gain an understanding of local issues and to learn the process of addressing local issues. During the three-day intensive conference, a partnership occurs between the Delegates (youth) and the Facilitators (adult) which leads to a successful learning experience. Delegates were involved in 20 hours of h
Author: Lisa Jones
Major Program: Civic Engagement
Whitley County is about to create a community that will come together to fix a big problem in education. They see that young people often don't know important life skills they need to succeed. Whitley County 4-H is taking charge by working with local teachers to plan a Life Smarts Series. These lessons will be created to help middle and high school youth learn practical things to handle life's challenges.This program is going to change how schools teach by bringing in fun lessons. T
Author: Mary Beth Riley
Major Program: Civic Engagement
Using our hands for larger service is not only a part of the 4-H pledge but an action that Lyon County 4-Hers demonstrated during the 2023 can food drive. According to youth.gov two-thirds of adults that volunteer as an adult started volunteering when they were young. Having civic engagement opportunities is vital to the success of our youth. The 4-H Lyon County High School Teen Club took the call upon themselves to decide, plan, and organize a community service project before the holiday season
Author: Aubrey Lawson
Major Program: Civic Engagement
In a 2016 survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, one in four youth were unable to name the three branches of government. In addition, in July 2018 the Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) 158.141 stated a student must pass a civics test at a rate of 60% or higher, composed of 100 questions to graduate from a public high school with a regular diploma. To address this need, Kentucky 4-H Capitol Experience was established with the objectives of: Developing a positive relationship between elec
Author: Leslea Barnes
Major Program: Civic Engagement
The impact of the recent Crittenden and Lyon County 4-H Kentucky State Capitol on March 12, 2024 visit extends far beyond the walls of government buildings, as evidenced by the overwhelmingly positive post-program evaluation statistics. Empowering youth as leaders and fostering a deeper understanding of civic engagement lies at the heart of this transformative initiative, and the results speak volumes.A total 50 youth, teens and adults from Crittenden and Lyon County 4-H met with our local legis
Author: Elizabeth Easley
Major Program: Civic Engagement
According to a survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center in 2016, one in four youth were unable to name the three branches of government. Additionally, in July 2018 the Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) 158.141 stated a student must pass a civics test at a rate of 60% or higher, composed of 100 questions to graduate from a public high school with a regular diploma. To address this need, Kentucky 4-H Capitol Experience was established with the objectives of: Developing a positive relati
Author: Crystal Smith
Major Program: Civic Engagement
The “4-H Food and Culture” Program gives 4-H youth in Letcher County, Kentucky, the opportunity to both see and taste other cultures from around the world. Created through the need for citizenship education in local schools, this program integrates food, language, geography, music, art and dance into the classroom experience. Each month, a new country from a different continent is chosen and students get to participate in hands-on activities that bring this country to life. Bot
Author: Lisa Jones
Major Program: Civic Engagement
Whitley County 4-H has begun implementing the Life Smart Series for the senior high school class at Williamsburg City School. A growing problem among our young youth today is the importance of life skills. We have just completed a 6-week session with 53 high school students. Youth learned how to grocery shop on a budget, prepare meals for two and introduction kitchen cooking. 4-H's motto is "Learn by Doing," and we did just that. We brought in fun and engaging activities that
Author: Adam Barnes
Major Program: Civic Engagement
Bringing History to Life: Spring Muster 2024 Livingston County ANR and Crittenden County 4-H worked together to successfully bring history to life through the Early American Heritage Program. This unique initiative culminated in the Spring Muster event, offering a dynamic and immersive experience for 4-H members, adult volunteers, and school groups. Participants, including 45 students from Hopkins County, 21 from Livingston County, 6 from Crittenden County, and 4 from other areas, witnessed
Author: Madalyn Hale
Major Program: Civic Engagement
In a 2016 survey by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, one in four youth were unable to name the three branches of government. In addition, in July 2018 the Kentucky Revised Statute (KRS) 158.141 stated a student must pass a civics test at a rate of 60% or higher, composed of 100 questions to graduate from a public high school with a regular diploma. To address this need, Kentucky 4-H Capitol Experience was established with the objectives of: Developing a positive relationship between elec
Author: Kimberly Thomas
Major Program: Civic Engagement
Taylor County 4-H was well represented at the 2023 Kentucky State Fair through multiple entries and events. Forty 4-H fair entries were entered in Cloverville resulting in six white ribbons, eleven red ribbons, twenty-two blue ribbons, two class champions and one division champion reserved.New this year, we had a team to compete in the 4-H Land Judging Competition. We also had a participant in the Lawn Tractor driving competition, which we had not participated in for the last few years.Our Horti
Author: Elijah Wilson
Major Program: Civic Engagement
Civic engagement and leadership programs are crucial for the development of young people as they foster a sense of responsibility, community awareness, and active citizenship. These programs equip youth with the skills needed to address societal issues, advocate for positive change, and participate in democratic processes. By engaging in such initiatives, young people learn collaboration, critical thinking, and leadership, empowering them to become proactive members of their communities. Additio
Author: Catherine Webster
Major Program: Civic Engagement
In our increasingly interconnected world, young people must acquire the knowledge and skills to engage effectively. Local economies now rely more than ever on international resources, and those who thrive in this interconnected economy are adaptable individuals who embrace multiculturalism. Passport Kitchen is a program designed to help young people take their first steps in developing these skills. It not only promotes family mealtime but also fosters life readiness skills. By collaboratively w