Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Adam Barnes
Major Program: Civic Engagement
Kentucky 4-H Early American Heritage Club Travels to Fort Niagara, NYWhat an amazing experience for our Early American Heritage 4-H Project Club over the July 4th weekend thanks to the partnership and a love of history from ANR Agent Adam Barnes in Livingston County and 4-H Youth Development Agent Leslea Barnes in Crittenden County. The Early American Heritage Club formed in 2018 from youth that also shared the same love of history whose interest was sparked by attending the 4-H Spri
Author: Joyce Doyle
Major Program: Civic Engagement
Last summer a homeschool mother came to me and ask if I would offer a homeschool club. Of course, I said yes, and ask her what lessons she would like taught. She said Kentucky History would be a great place to start so I added a homeschool class for each month of the school year.The first class was talking about the History of Kentucky, identifying the state of Kentucky on an United States Map, a craft of the shape of Kentucky, the symbols of Kentucky and the foods that a
Author: Christina Hogue
Major Program: Civic Engagement
After seeing images of the devastation from Hurricane Helene, one 12-year-old Tabletop Farmer 4-H member decided to do his part to help. Learning about community service from the teen leaders of his club, he asked his parents if they could gather donations and take them to an area of North Carolina where current residents of Monroe County once lived. The 4-H member took his idea to his club on Wednesday, October 2, 2024. He announced that he and his family would be collecting d
Author: Elijah Wilson
Major Program: Civic Engagement
Rural youth often lack exposure to diverse experiences that broaden their understanding of national history, government, and culture. Limited travel opportunities and lack of familiarity with large urban environments can inhibit personal growth and a sense of connection to the broader world. Many young people in these communities have not traveled beyond their local region, and the prospect of navigating an unfamiliar city like Washington, DC can be both daunting and exhilarating.In response, a
Author: Toni Humble
Major Program: Civic Engagement
After a 10 month deployment, soldiers from the B Battery 1/623d FA (HIMARS) National Guard Unit from Monticello, Kentucky returned home. Throughout the deployment, Extension provided monthly newsletters with healthy recipes, family activities, financial information, upcoming extension programs, and information provided by the commander. 4-H Ambassadors provided activities for kids at the Family Readiness Group Meetings. Other family issues were addresses as needed. Wayne Co 4-H worked with
Author: Ken Culp
Major Program: Civic Engagement
Volunteers play integral roles in 4-H programs, performing a variety of duties, functions, and tasks and possessing varied and rich knowledge, skills, and backgrounds (Radhakrishna & Ewing, 2011). The success of Extension programming is due, in part, to the dedication of a large cadre of volunteers (Smith, Dasher, & Klingborg, 2005). Although highly valued, volunteer involvement does not guarantee achieving Extension's goals and fulfilling learners' needs (Bolton, 1992). Edu
Author: Ken Culp
Major Program: Civic Engagement
As universities tighten their financial belts and make decisions about program value, the need for evaluation data on program impact becomes increasingly more critical (McClure & Fuhrman, 2011). Extension educators can no longer afford to simply assume that their programs worked or that their worth would be self-evident (Rennekamp & Arnold, 2009). More than 40 years ago, Arnold (1983) admonished Extension professionals that it can no longer be taken for granted that programs a
