Extension
It Starts With Us
To foster the development of personal and interpersonal skills, stimulate volunteer leadership, and
Empowering Community Leaders- Igniting Success
Tiffany Bolinger, Matt Futrell, Kelly Jackson, Kaitlyne Metsker, Kendriana Price, Ag Agent
Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
Master Gardener
Facilitation Training
According to the United States Department of Labor- Bureau of Labor Statistics, the volunteer rated declined by 0.4 percentage point to 24.9 percent for the year ending in September 2015. Approximately 62.6 million people volunteered through or for an organization at least once between September 2014 and September 2015 (Bureau of Labor Statistics, "Volunteering in the United States, 2015"). There is an increasing need for educated volunteers to assist agents to address local needs. Volunteers provide nonprofit institutions the opportunity to provide additional programs and services. Persons that volunteer need to be educated to be able to accept volunteer and leadership opportunities and understand the importance of volunteering as a contribution to the community. By providing education and resources to those volunteers, the foundation has been laid to empower them as community leaders and ignite success in the programs offered by extension.
* Youth will serve as teen and adult leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger youth.
* Youth will demonstrate the understanding of diversity, inclusivity and multiculturalism in their daily life.
* Youth will identify and address critical issues that impact the community
* Youth will be productive, contributing adults in the future.
* Youth will use leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis.
* Christian County citizens will be volunteering on a regular basis to the extent that volunteerism is recognized as a valuable resource in the community.
* Extending the outreach of the Cooperative Extension Service by improving knowledge and communication skills of Master Gardeners, Extension Volunteers, 4-H Leaders and Volunteers, Extension Homemakers thus creating a pool of volunteers with the abilities and willingness to apply their many skills in leading and educating the public through community education projects and activities.
* Youth will demonstrate leadership, teamwork and communication skills in their day to day lives.
* Youth will utilize leadership skills learned during their time in 4-H in clubs, activities and other venues with 4-H and other community organizations.
* Senior 4-H members will become leaders or co-leaders of a 4-H project club, day camp or other project based group of younger 4-H members.
* Youth will indicate increased awareness of diversity issues in their community and personal lives.
* Youth will engage in community based service projects selected to address identified needs.
* The Christian County population will volunteer more hours or will take on additional leadership roles.
* Number of hours reported by extension volunteers.
* Youth will learn the communication, leadership and procedural skills that will allow them to run a meeting.
* Youth will increase their knowledge about leadership and how to be an effective leader, team player and communicator.
* Youth will learn about leadership styles and will be able to identify positive and negative leadership characteristics.
* Youth will learn about diversity and will demonstrate inclusivity.
* Youth will acquire decision making skills and gain an appreciation for civic engagement.
* Youth will learn how to set appropriate, attainable goals.
* Youth will listen to people who have different ideas from them.
* Clientele will become more aware of the needs of their community.
* Clientele will become more educated in specific subject matter areas to teach, lead and train others.
* Number of volunteers participating in Master Gardener classes.
Initial Outcome: Stronger, more cohesive, productive 4-H Council
Indicator: Completed goals, committee work
Method: Workshops, education programs and incentives
Timeline: Program year 2018-2019
Initial Outcome: Extension Boards and Councils will have increased diversity and numbers of members attending.
Indicator: Increased participation and attendance in council and committee meetings, functioning committees, and regular rotation of leadership roles.
Method: post test evaluations of programs
Timeline: at the conclusion of program
Intermediate Outcome: Youth leaders exhibit improved leadership skills.
Indicator: Youth assume leadership roles in clubs, councils and committees, and develop community service projects.
Method: Observation through increases programs and teen involvement
Timeline: Program year 2018-2019
Intermediate Outcome: Increased number of Master Gardener volunteer hours reported by active members.
Indicator: A minimum of 25 Master Gardeners will repay volunteer hours, resulting in 375 volunteer total hours.
Method: Master Gardener volunteer hours recording form.
Timeline: Forms are to be completed quarterly, totals reported by December each year.
Audience: Youth and volunteers
Project or Activity: Empowering youth and adult volunteers to become community leaders
Content or Curriculum: Civic engagement, Citizenship, Service Learning, My Leadership Workbook, Character Counts, Extension council trainings
Inputs: Program administration, Staff & Support Staff Time, Volunteer Support and time, Volunteer & youth development research based information, funding, travel, printed and online resources, communications & networking, commitment to inclusivity, partnerships with community & state organizations, facilities, local, county, district, state, and national network.
Date: Program year 2018/2019
Audience: County & Military Youth
Project or Activity: Jr. Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources and Related Sciences (Jr. MANRRS)
Content or Curriculum: Civic engagement, Citizenship, Service Learning, My Leadership Workbook, Character Counts, Leaders in Me
Inputs: Extension Agents, community partners, University administration and departments, Colleigiate MANRRS, travel, local, state, and national conferences to include workshop presenters, career/opportunity fair exhibitors and agriculture industry sponsors and partners
Date: Program year 2018/2019
Audience: Master Gardener Volunteers
Project or Activity: Training of Master Gardeners (usually 12-15 weekly 2 to 3 hour sessions) taught by specialists, agents, and local experts.
Content or Curriculum: The Master Gardener Curriculum, including core classes in volunteerism, botany, soils and fertility, plant pathology, entomology, pesticides, and IPM.
Inputs: Agents; staff; State Extension Staff; Program Fees; County Funding; Master Gardener materials
Date: Fall 2019
Audience: Hopkinsville Beautification Commission
Project or Activity: Litter Abatement; Ft. Campbell Boulevard improvements
Content or Curriculum: Keep America Beautiful programming materials, America in Bloom program; CEDIK First Impressions
Input: Agents; staff; city government; public works; community leaders; city council; home owners; media; grants; CEDIK professionals
Date: year round
Audience: Homemaker Members
Project or Activity: Officer Training; Leader Lessons
Content or Curriculum: Officer Training on Responsibilities/Roles; Monthly lessons, volunteer opportunities
Inputs: agent, facilities, curriculum, extension resources
Date: year round
Author: Kaitlyne Metsker
Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
September 2015, I had been an agent in Christian County for approximately a month and a half and it was time for the first Teen Club meeting of the new program year. Another 4-H agent and myself set up the meeting room, prepare the agenda, got the icebreaker games out and waited. Only two teens showed up to that first meeting. So we cleaned up and said we'll see you next month. At the next meeting one teen attended and none the month after that. For the remainder of the program year we
Author: Kaitlyne Metsker
Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
Each year 4-H members from across the great state of Kentucky sit down and complete the Kentucky 4-H Achievement Application. The 4-H Achievement program is intended to recognize 4-H members for their accomplishments and to provide an incentive for youth to increase their knowledge, skills, and abilities. This year two outstanding Christian County 4-H members submitted their applications for the Gold level. Brothers, Drew and Nick Sanderson have been actively involved in the Christian Count
Author: Kaitlyne Metsker
Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
Christian County 4-H participated in a multi-county 4-H Leadership Teen Ski Trip to Paoli Peaks, Indiana. Those involved was Christian, Hopkins, Livingston, and Muhlenberg County with 36 youth, and eight adults participating. During this adventurous trip, some activities that were planned were Ice Breakers, Team Building Tower, and Follow My Lead. Each of the activities were meant to build the teens together, incorporate communication a
Author: Tiffany Bolinger
Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
The Christian County Homemakers have been a staple in the community for nearly a century. The organization is continually working to recruit new members in an ever changing society. Last year the Christian County Homemaker Advisory Council decided to work on recruiting from the ground up by implementing a Jr. Homemakers club (for youth ages 9-18) in the county.The Homemakers decided to team up with the Pennyroyal Area Christian Home Educators of Kentucky (PACHEK) for the pilot season of Jr. Home
Author: Jeremiah Johnson
Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
Christian County 4-H participated in a multi-county 4-H Leadership Teen Ski Trip to Paoli Peaks, Indiana. Those involved was Christian, Hopkins, Livingston, and Muhlenberg County with 36 youth, and eight adults participating. During this adventurous trip, some activities that were planned were Ice Breakers, Team Building Tower, and Follow My Lead. Each of the activities were meant to build the teens together, incorporate communicat
Author: Kelly Jackson
Major Program: Master Gardener
Master Gardeners is a program run by the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service to train citizens in many areas of horticulture. Upon completion of the Master Gardener education program, participants are expected to return 30 hours of community volunteer service through organized projects within one year to earn the title Master Gardener and 15 hours annually to maintain their volunteer status. During the 2018 program year Master Gardeners volunteered:731 hours of service in planti
