Extension
It Starts With Us
Leadership and Communications
Developing Youth, Volunteer Leadership and Communications
Branstetter, Blankenship, Bell
4-H Youth Development Programming
Communications and Expressive Arts 4-H Core Curriculum
Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
Many leadership scholars and youth development professionals agree that leadership development is an important, but often overlooked facet of youth development and education (MacNeil, 2000). The development of leadership contributes greatly to the positive development of young people and their communities. Leadership skills, such as goal-setting, problem-solving and sound decision-making, are not just necessary for leaders-these skills are needed for success in today's world (MacNeil, 2000). Furthermore, helping young people develop leadership competencies makes them better able to solve community problems and enhances their civic participation (O'Brien & Kohlmeier, 2003). Young leaders also demonstrate higher career aspirations, increased self-esteem, and improved high school completion rates (Bloomberg, Ganey, Alba, Quintero & Alcantara, 2003).
By supporting and engaging young leaders, adults, organizations and communities experience direct benefits, through stronger connections to other young people in the community (Zeldin, McDaniel, Topitzes & Lorens, 2001). They have a greater understanding of the problems facing other youth, and fresh perspectives for how to address these problems (Des Marais, Yang & Farzanehkia, 2000; Zeldin, McDaniel, Topitzes & Lorens, 2001; McGillicuddy, 1991). Additionally, young people help to re-energize adults and counteract negative stereotypes of youth when they are successfully engaged in leadership within their communities (Zeldin & Camino, 1999; Fiscus, 2003).
4-H Youth and Volunteer Leadership is about:
- Learning about the concept of leadership and your individual role as a leader.
- Using leadership skills to effectively lead small groups and teams toward common goals.
Work within our community (club/county/state or beyond) to become an engaged leader who can make a difference.
•Youth and Volunteers will serve as teen and adult leaders in our community, organizations, and as mentors for younger youth. Youth will be productive, contributing adults in the future, leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis.
•Homemaker members in the County will grow their club memberships beyond current levels, through recruitment of new and diverse members.
•Youth and Volunteers will demonstrate leadership, mentor, teamwork and communication skills in their day to day lives. They will utilize leadership skills learned during their time in 4-H in clubs, activities and other community organizations.
•Homemaker members will serve as active volunteers in creating and carrying out, their annual County plan of work aiding with Family and Consumer Sciences and 4 – H activities and conducting service projects that benefit the community.
•Youth and Volunteers will increase their knowledge about leadership and communication, how to be an effective leader, team player, decision maker, listening and communicator.
•Metcalfe Co. Homemakers will increase their knowledge regarding the connection between the local Homemakers organization, the area organization of Mammoth Cave and the State level organization, KY Extension Homemakers Association and the opportunities available to them as members, to serve beyond their own community.
Long Term Outcome: Youth and Volunteers will serve as teen and adult leaders in our community, organizations, and as mentors for younger youth. They will be productive, contributing adults in the future, leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis.
Indicator: Number of volunteers and youth in leadership and communication roles
Method: Observation, Pre and Post Written Test
Timeline: 2018-19
Intermediate Outcomes: Youth and Volunteers will demonstrate leadership, mentor, teamwork and communication skills in their day to day lives. They will utilize leadership skills learned during their time in 4-H in clubs, activities and other community organizations.
Indicator: Number that participate in county, area and state events
Method: Observation, Pre and Post Written Test
Timeline: 2018-19
Initial Outcome: Youth and Volunteers will increase their knowledge about leadership and communication, how to be an effective leader, team player, decision maker, listening and communicator.
Indicator: Number that participate in county, area and state events
Method: Observation, Pre and Post Written Test
Timeline: 2018-19
Long term outcome: Homemaker members in the County will grow their club memberships beyond current levels, through recruitment of new and diverse members.
Indicator: Number of new members who join Homemakers each year.
Method: Review membership renewals and new member enrollments, in November annually.
Timeline: 2017-2020 Intermediate outcome: Homemaker members will serve as active volunteers in creating and carrying out, their annual County plan of work; aiding with Family and Consumer Sciences and 4 – H activities and conducting service projects that benefit the community.
Indicator: Member volunteer service hour log records, members and club applications to the KEHA VSU award program, 4 – H and FCS volunteer sign – in sheets, County Homemaker Council Plan of Work and sign – in sheets from
Method: Observation, review and documentation of Volunteer service data sources as listed in Indicators above.
Timeline: 2017 - 2020
Initial outcome: Metcalfe Co. Homemakers will increase their knowledge regarding the connection between the local Homemakers organization, the area organization of Mammoth Cave and the State level organization, KY Extension Homemakers Association and the opportunities available to them as members, to serve beyond their own community.
Indicator: Member participation in local and area Homemaker leader training activities. Member support and adoption of service learning projects, supported at the Area and State levels. Members serving in officer or chairperson positions at the Area or State level.
Method: Observation; review of leader training sign – in sheets and evaluation information, documentation of County homemaker participation in Area ad State level activities.
Timeline: 2017-2020
Intermediate outcome: Homemaker members will serve as active volunteers in creating and carrying out, their annual County plan of work; aiding with Family and Consumer Sciences and 4 – H activities and conducting service projects that benefit the community.
Indicator: Member volunteer service hour log records, members and club applications to the KEHA VSU award program, 4 – H and FCS volunteer sign – in sheets, County Homemaker Council Plan of Work and sign – in sheets from
Method: Observation, review and documentation of Volunteer service data sources as listed in Indicators above.
Timeline: 2017 - 2020
Initial outcome: Metcalfe Co. Homemakers will increase their knowledge regarding the connection between the local Homemakers organization, the area organization of Mammoth Cave and the State level organization, KY Extension Homemakers Association and the opportunities available to them as members, to serve beyond their own community.
Indicator: Member participation in local and area Homemaker leader training activities. Member support and adoption of service learning projects, supported at the Area and State levels. Members serving in officer or chairperson positions at the Area or State level.
Method: Observation; review of leader training sign – in sheets and evaluation information, documentation of County homemaker participation in Area ad State level activities.
Timeline: 2017-2020
Intermediate outcome: Homemaker members will serve as active volunteers in creating and carrying out, their annual County plan of work; aiding with Family and Consumer Sciences and 4 – H activities and conducting service projects that benefit the community.
Indicator: Member volunteer service hour log records, members and club applications to the KEHA VSU award program, 4 – H and FCS volunteer sign – in sheets, County Homemaker Council Plan of Work and sign – in sheets from
Method: Observation, review and documentation of Volunteer service data sources as listed in Indicators above.
Timeline: 2017 - 2020
Audience: 4-H Volunteers
Project or Activity: 4-H Volunteer Orientation
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Agent, Extension Office, Volunteers
Date: Fall 18
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Officer Orientation
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Agent, Extension Office
Date: Fall 18
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Club meetings
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Agent, Extension Office
Date: 2018-19
Audience: 4-H Council
Project or Activity: Monthly Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Volunteer Development
Inputs: Agent, Extension Office, Community Partners, Volunteers
Date: Monthly meetings 2018- 19
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Communications and Expressive Arts
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Agent, Extension Office, Volunteers
Date: Fall 18 and Spring 19
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: Metcalfe County TAG
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Agent, Extension Office, Community Partners
Date: Fall 18 and Spring 19
Audience: Metcalfe County Residents interested in sustainable gardening and community gardening
Project or Activity: Metcalfe County Extension Sustainable Community Garden Project and establishment of Community garden vegetable, flower and herb seed bank
Content or Curriculum: SNAP Gardening curriculum; FCS and ANR Extension Horticulture Publications; USDA materials
Inputs: FCS & ANR County Agent time; SNAP- Ed Program Assistant time, community volunteer time, Extension District Board Property for garden space; Metcalfe Co. Extension District Budget funds for project implementation, Extension farmer’s Market pavilion storage space for garden tools, seed matches and storage, SNAP incentive items & reimbursement funds, Extension Agent program funds, Extension office water source and copying.
Date: June18 - July 2019
Audience: Metcalfe County Homemaker Volunteers
Project or Activity: 10 annual Homemaker Club meetings (4 traditional Homemaker clubs currently organized, 1 special interest Quilting club and Homemaker members at large).
Content or Curriculum: Extension needlework, sewing, quilting and heritage craft resources, monthly Homemaker Leader Training materials, other Extension publications, research based programs from partner organizations such as Alzheimer’s Know the 10 Signs, Alzheimer’s Association.
Inputs: Homemaker volunteers, Extension Agent, Extension Office space and resources such as copying, Community Partners.
Date: Ongoing, 2017 – 2020
Audience: Metcalfe County Homemaker Volunteers
Project or Activity: 5-6 annual Homemaker County Council meetings attended by the County officers, chairmen and Club presidents.
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association manual, by-laws and constitution; Mammoth Cave Area Homemakers manual, by-laws and constitution; Metcalf Co. Homemakers by-laws and constitution; Metcalfe Co. Homemakers Annual budget; minutes from previous meetings, Robert’s Rules of Order; IRS financial and fundraising guidelines for 501 – C 3 organizations.
Inputs: Homemaker volunteers, Extension Agent, Extension Office space and resources such as copying, Community Partners.
Date: Ongoing, 2017 – 2020
Audience: Metcalfe County Homemaker Volunteers
Project or Activity: 5-6 annual Mammoth Cave Area Homemaker Council meetings and KEHA Annual State meeting attended by the County Homemaker president and the MCA Homemakers 1st VP for Program, who is a Metcalfe County Homemaker member and the Metcalfe County Homemakers Vice President (President elect) and other Metcalfe County Homemaker member volunteers.
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association manual, by-laws and constitution; Mammoth Cave Area Homemakers manual, by-laws and constitution; Metcalfe Co. Homemakers Annual budget; minutes from previous meetings, Robert’s Rules of Order; IRS financial and fundraising guidelines for 501 – C 3 organizations.
Inputs: Homemaker volunteers, Extension Agent, Extension Office space and resources such as copying, Community Partners.
Date: Ongoing, 2017 – 2020
Audience: Metcalfe County Homemaker Volunteers
Project or Activity: Annual fundraiser activities to support the annual Homemaker provided college scholarship, 4 – H camp scholarships, donation to the Metcalfe County Library summer reading project and the University of Kentucky and KEHA Ovarian Cancer Research and Screening project.
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association manual, by-laws and constitution, Mammoth Cave Area Homemakers manual, by-laws and constitution; Metcalf Co. Homemakers by-laws and constitution; Metcalfe Co. Homemakers Annual budget; IRS financial and fundraising guidelines for 501 – C 3 organizations.
Inputs: Homemaker volunteers, Extension Agent, Extension Office space and resources such as copying, Community Partners.
Date:Ongoing, 2017 – 2020
Audience: Metcalfe County Homemaker Volunteers
Project or Activity: Metcalfe County Homemakers, Mammoth Cave Area Homemakers and KY Extension Homemakers Cultural Arts Contests.
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association manual, by-laws and constitution; cultural Arts contest guidelines, Mammoth Cave Area Homemakers manual, by-laws and constitution; Metcalf Co. Homemakers by-laws and constitution; Metcalfe Co.
Inputs: Homemaker volunteers, Extension Agent, Extension Office space and resources such as copying, Community Partners.
Date: June 2018, October 2018 and May 2019
Audience: Producer members and customers of the Metcalfe Co. Farmer's Market
Project or Activity: Metcalfe Co. Farmer's Market volunteer Board of Directors
Content or Curriculum: KYDA Farmers MArket manual, KYDA training guidelines for the SR and WICFMNP vouchers, SNAP guidelines, GAP guidelines, Robert's Rules of Order
Inputs: Volunteer time, Extension FCS and ANR Agent time, Extension District Board property and office space, copying
Date: Ongoing 2017 – 2020
Audience: Metcalfe County Residents
Project or Activity: Metcalfe County Floral Hall Adult and Youth open competitions.
Content/Curriculum: Metcalfe County Fair board and Extension guidelines for floral hall Ag competitions. Rules and class guidelines for the Floral Hall Adult and Youth Open event.
Inputs: Volunteer time, Extension office staff time, Extension FCS Agent time, Extension office space, Metcalfe County Fair board funds
Date: June 2018
Author: Amy Branstetter
Major Program: Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports Education Program began in Kentucky in 1988, mirroring the same program in Texas. The program grew rapidly where now it involves approximately 8,000 youth and 1300 volunteers statewide. It is a program for all youth, 9 to18 years of age (4-H age). The program believes that:Youth development is the number one goal of the Shooting Sports Education ProgramIt provides an effective tool for human growth and development for youth and adultsIt is an introduction to the
Author: Amy Branstetter
Major Program: Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
The Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources' Hunter Education regulation requires everyone born on or after January 1, 1975 and age twelve or older, to have a hunter education course completion card (Orange Card) in their possession while hunting, as well as the appropriate Kentucky hunting license. Many 4-H members in Metcalfe County were having to travel to other counties for the Orange Card certification. A Metcalfe County 4-H Shooting Sports Certified Volunteer saw the ne
Author: Amy Branstetter
Major Program: Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
The State 4-H Program has only one tractor driving course that is shared all over the state. The Metcalfe County 4-H Council asked the 4-H Agent to put together a tractor driving course that is patterned after the state kit, to enable us to host a county and area contest. Metcalfe County is a rural county and several of our youth are involved with large and small tractors on a day to day basis. The youth are able to participate in the 4-H Tractor Driving event at the county, area, and state
