Success Stories By MajorProgram FY2025Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025
Kentucky 4-H Early American Heritage Club Travels to Fort Niagara, NY
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
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KENTUCKY: History/Foods
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
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Donation Drive for hurricane victims
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
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4-H Trip to Washington, DC: Empowering Youth through Civic Engagement and Travel
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
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Welcome Home 623d
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
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2024 Kentucky Volunteer Forum: A Professional Development Opportunity for all Extension Volunteers
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
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Identifying the long-term benefits of the 2024 Kentucky Volunteer Forum through a follow-up quantitative evaluation
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
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Youth learn civic engagement at 2024 4-H Issues Conference
Author: Rusty Wolf
Major Program: Civic Engagement
Kentucky 4-H provides opportunities for youth to actively engage locally and globally to promote life skills [such as leadership] that prepare them for the global marketplace. Through 4-H youth exercise critical thinking skills, learn to appreciate diversity, practice tolerance, develop socio-emotionally, and strive to contribute to their environment (United States Department of Education International Affairs Office of International Strategy). Young voices are the future of this country, and it
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Smithsonian Stories 4-History: McCracken County Youth Uncovering History Together
Author: Heather Hunter
Major Program: Civic Engagement
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kentucky's small businesses faced significant challenges. According to the U.S. Census Bureau's Small Business Pulse Survey, 46% of small businesses in Kentucky reported a large negative impact at the beginning of the pandemic, which decreased to 36% by the end of June 2020.To understand the impact on their community, the 4-Hers in McCracken County decided to focus on small businesses for their Smithsonian Stories 4-History project. Over 10 weeks, they engag
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4-H Homeschool Club Community Service Project
Author: Emilee Bryant
Major Program: Civic Engagement
4-H Homeschool Club members identified a need for a group in the community. Members found that the clients who attend the Foothills Active Day Center (ADC) had minimal visits from other community programs and were in need of items for the upcoming holidays. The Foothills Active Day Center is dedicated to providing valuable resources and personalized care, they support individuals aged 21 and above facing physical or memory challenges. Active Day Services have been serving families for deca
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4-H Paints The Park
Author: Ashley Duvall
Major Program: Civic Engagement
Community Partnership for a Healthier LifestyleThe collaboration between the thirty active members of the 4-H High School Adventure Club members and English 101 student, Aubrie Messer, has exemplified the power of community involvement and service, significantly enhancing the local Mountain View Park in Albany. This partnership of a community service project resulted in the creation of ten interactive physical activities designed for families to enjoy on the park's walkin
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