Extension
It Starts With Us
Improving Basic Lifeskills, Well-being, and Quality of Life
Strengthening Community Lifeskills
Connor Cooper, Erika Wood, and Katie Jury, FCS, ANR
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Agriculture
Communications and Expressive Arts
According to CEDIK statistics, in Hopkins County, 17% live below the poverty line, 28% of adults report only fair or poor overall health, and 39% of the total population is considered obese. Regarding education, only 6% male and 8% female of Hopkins County residents hold a Bachelor's degree or higher, 85% hold a high school diploma or GED, and the average household income falls behind the national average by almost $14,000 annually. As a result of the demographic data, and availability of Extension resources and programming, the County Extension Council and Area Program Councils recommend that children and families in Hopkins County are in need of life-skill education, including the knowledge and skills to lead a healthy lifestyle, communicate effectively, and manage household resources.
A decrease in the number of obese and overweight children, youth, adults and elderly
Improvement in the overall health and wellbeing of residents, which indicate quality of life.
Increase in adults and families living above the poverty line.
Increase in education and workforce placements.
Maintain appropriate calorie balance and activity level during each stage of life: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and breastfeeding and older age.
Practice healthy lifestyle decision-making that strengthen individuals’ ability to cope with normal life stressors.
Increased practice of skills that increase employability and educational attainment.
Change in knowledge needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices and basic life skills.
Change in opinions and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices and basic life skills.
Change in learned skills needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices and basic life skills.
Initial Outcome: Change in knowledge needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices and basic life skills.
Indicator: increased knowledge of healthy choices and life skills
Method: pre-test/post-test, surveys, NEERS data
Initial Outcome: Change in learned skills needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyle choices and basic life skills.
Indicator: increased skills that facilitate healthy choices and life skills
Method: pre-test/post-test, surveys, NEERS data
Intermediate Outcome: Increased practice of skills that increase employability and educational attainment.
Indicator: surveys, use of local resources including employment workshops and programs
Method: pre-test post test data, surveys of use of local resources
Intermediate Outcome: Practice healthy lifestyle decision-making that strengthen individuals’ ability to cope with normal life stressors.
Indicator: surveys, NEERS data, use of local resources, including mental health
Method: pre-test post test data, surveys of use of facilities
Intermediate Outcome: Maintain appropriate calorie balance and activity level during each stage of life: childhood, adolescence, adulthood, pregnancy and breastfeeding and older age.
Indicator: surveys, use of local recreational facilities
Method: pre-test post test data, surveys of use of facilities
Long-term Outcome: A decrease in the number of obese and overweight children, youth, adults and elderly.
Indicator: CDC and CEDIK data on population weight distribution
Method: data comparison over years
Long-term Outcome: Increase in adults and families living above the poverty line.
Indicator: CEDIK data of household income and poverty statistics
Method: data comparison over years
Long-term Outcome: Increase in education and workforce placements.
Indicator: CEDIK data of employment statistics and educational attainment
Method: data comparison over years
Audience: Producers, Business Owners, and Future Clients
Project or Activity: Budget, Management, Mental Wellbeing and Workforce Preparedness
Content or Curriculum: Moneywise, FarmStart, Consumer In Me, Mini-Society and other content based programming.
Inputs: Extension Agents, Specialists, Community leaders, and Extension publications.
Time Frame: Spring
Audience: Teens and Families
Project or Activity: Suicide Prevention Coalition, FitBlue Challenge, Cooking Lessons, Gardening and Your Health
Content or Curriculum: UK Healthcare specialists, Cooking 101-401, Learn Grow Eat Go
Inputs: Health Dept., community partners, school system, faith-based communities, UK Specialist
Time Frame: Spring
Audience: Youth, Families and Individuals
Project or Activity: 4-H Pinterest Club, Babysitting Program, Softskills Tips and Tricks, Professional Etiquette for Everyone, Mindfulness, Addiction 101
Content or Curriculum: UK publications and Extension information, Communications Curriculum, Mini-Society, Homemaker Lesson, Training for healthcare & social work professionals
Inputs: Extension agent, UK publications and Extension information, community volunteers
Time Frame: All Year
Audience: Hopkins County Homemakers
Project or Activity: Homemaker lessons, local, area, and state-wide KEHA activities
Content or Curriculum: KEHA curriculum, area Homemaker monthly lessons
Inputs: KEHA curriculum, UK specialists and curriculum
Time Frame: All Year
Author: Katie Mills
Major Program: Communications and Expressive Arts
As Covid-19 continues, we are incorporating new ideas for youth to participate in 4-H and have a healthy outlet while staying healthy-at-home. Through the lessons, Hopkins County residence have had the opportunity to pick up Grab-N-Go bags that have educational kits for the youth to put together. Some involve working as a family, creativity, self-engagement, or hand-eye coordination. Examples of the projects are sock gnomes, pumpkin pie in a bag, building and decorating a snow
Author: Katie Mills
Major Program: Agriculture
During the summer, the Cooperative Extension Hopkins County partners with the Hopkins County Madisonville Fair. The summer of 2020 was slightly different though with no carnival rides, food booths, or guest in attendance. This did not stop 4-H, FFA, and Hopkins County Madisonville Fair from working together to still have an event for the youth to enter items and show their livestock animals. This year, youth were able to enter their items that would go into Cloverville into th
Author: Katie Mills
Major Program: Agriculture
This year through the trying times with the pandemic, 4-H Livestock Project youth persevered and completed their educational hours. The youth proved that they were dedicated to the program, their animals, and their responsibilities. To be a youth showing livestock, it takes more than just completing paperwork. They have to be responsible by meeting deadlines for tagging, validation forms and their educational hours. On top of the deadlines, the youth are to take care of
Author: John (Connor) Cooper
Major Program: Community Engagement
In August of 2019, the Hopkins County Extension office had a ribbon cutting on the new Danny Payton Educational Center and Farmers Market. Around 200 community members came to honor the life of Danny Payton and to see the new market in person. In a matter of months, the excitement for the market season would shift to panic as COVID-19 became present in the U.S.A.For a full year programs with Hopkins County Extension were forced to either halt or be transitioned to an online format. The same tren
Author: John (Connor) Cooper
Major Program: Camping
-H Camp is an asset to youth, teens, and adults around the world, but most importantly here in Hopkins County. During the time at 4-H Camp, youth learn the importance of team building, responsibility, decision making, make new friends and meet caring adults. According to American Camp Association, “more than 5,000 families from around the country participated. Results confirmed that camps build skills necessary to prepare campers to assume roles as successful adults. Pare
Author: Katie Mills
Major Program: Camping
4-H Camp is an asset to youth, teens, and adults around the world, but most importantly here in Hopkins County. During the time at 4-H Camp, youth learn the importance of team building, responsibility, decision making, make new friends and meet caring adults. According to American Camp Association, “more than 5,000 families from around the country participated. Results confirmed that camps build skills necessary to prepare campers to assume roles as successful adults. Par
