Extension
It Starts With Us
Promoting Leadership and Community Development
Community Vitality
Stephens, Pullin, Hieneman, Boyd
Community Leadership Development
Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development
Leadership
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
Volunteers are critical to most communities in our society today. Many community organizations, causes and events rely on individuals who provide services without monetary compensation. This is especially true for the Greenup County Extension Service. Volunteerism is an activity or experience that not only contributes significantly to recipient organizations and the community, but also benefits the health and development of the individual volunteer. Volunteering has been found to improve leadership, interpersonal and communication skills, increase knowledge, and develop organizational and managerial skills.
Leadership is a needed and important programming emphasis in all program areas of Extension. The Greenup County Cooperative Extension Service provides opportunities for youth and families to help improve their leadership ability and create a positive impact on their future. Leadership opportunities for youth create a setting that reduces the access of youth to risk factors that can negatively impact their success. Leadership opportunities for adults create a setting that meets the volunteer at his or her current skill level and provides the training and support needed to grow their own personal leadership skills.
Basic leadership knowledge & skills are essential for success in almost any field. The skills associated with leadership are necessary when working in a group or communicating with others. Employers look for leadership skills in future employees. Developing leadership in the youth and adults who are involved in the 4-H program is a priority. By assisting the development of leadership skills in today’s youth, we improve their ability to face the challenges of tomorrow (Unlock Your Leadership Potential, University of Florida, 2017).
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). 4-H participants rate their leadership life skills above average, have a positive view of their leadership ability, and have a positive attitude toward diversity and acceptance of others (Locke, Boyd, Fraze, and Howard, 2007).
- Communities are equipped with competent, effective leaders
- Community members engage others to initiate projects
- Civic engagement is possible and desirable for community members
- Communities become more prosperous
- Youth and adults put skills into practice by becoming more engaged, taking on leadership roles
- Youth and adults improve skills in communication or problem solving in addressing community issues and needs
- Youth and adult participants become more engaged in non-formal leadership roles which increases involvement/action
- Youth and adult participants initiate projects that meet the needs of their community
- Youth are inclusive of all individuals
- Youth and adults will volunteer and participate in community service
- Youth and adults will engage in civic involvement
- Youth and adults will maintain future intentions for civic engagement
- Youth and adults increase knowledge of effective leadership skills
- Youth and adults develop/enhance leadership skills
- Youth and adults are informed of community systems, are better connected to communication networks, are more confident and skills in identifying and implementing strategies for change in their community (local/state/national/global)
- Outcome to be Evaluated
- Youth become more engaged as a leader in their community (planning a service project, serving as a mentor, increasing participation in local/state/national levels)
- Indicator of Success for Outcome
- Youth plan a community service project in their community
- Youth report they serve as a mentor for a younger participant
- Youth serve as leaders within their club or county programs
- Youth serve in a state or national leadership position
- Method of Evaluation
- 4-H Common Measures Universal Survey
- Program Indicators
- Number of youth who served as group leaders or officers?(PRACTICE)
- Number of youth who received education related to diversity and inclusivity? (KOSA)
- Number of youth who served as direct mentors to one or more younger youth? (SEEC)
- Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #6 “Is 4-H A place where you get to figure out things for yourself?” (SEEC)
- Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #13 “Is 4-H a place where you have a chance to be a leader?” (SEEC)
Audience: 4-H Teens
Project or Activity: Teen Council and other Teen Programming
Content or Curriculum: Various State Curriculum and State Conferences
Inputs: Agents and Volunteers
Date: Ongoin
Audience: County Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Camps
Content or Curriculum: Various Curriculum
Inputs: Agents and Volunteers
Date: Summer ongoing
Audience: School Age Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H School Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Various Curriculum
Inputs: Agents and Teachers
Date: Fall and Spring ongoing
Audience: County Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Community Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Varies based on Club
Inputs: Agents, Staff, Volunteers
Date: Ongoing throughout the year
Audience: School Age Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Communication Days
Content or Curriculum: State 4-H Communications Curriculum
Inputs: Agents, Staff, Volunteers, Teachers
Date: Spring
Audience: Greenup County Community Members
Project or Activity: Greenup County Fair
Content or Curriculum: Various based on program area
Inputs: Agents, Staff, Volunteers
Date: August and September
Audience: Greenup County Community Members
Project or Activity: Greenup County Farm to Table Dinner
Content or Curriculum: N/A
Inputs: Agents, Staff, Volunteers
Date: Summer
Project or Activity: American Private Enterprise System (APES) Local and State Conference
Audience: High School Juniors and Seniors
Content or Curriculum:: APES Curriculum from UK
Inputs: Agents, Teachers
Date: Fall and Summer ongoing
Audience: Master Clothing Volunteers
Project or Activity: Fall training at Jabez
Content or Curriculum: classes based on certification needs or requests from members or as determined by the MCV Steering Committee
Inputs: State Coordinator, Agents, Steering Committee, other MCV’s
Date: Yearly in October
Audience: Master Clothing Volunteers
Project or Activity: Area Work Days
Content or Curriculum: MCV’s get together as determined by their Area Contact or other MCV’s to work on service projects
Inputs: FCS & 4-H Agents or other MCV’s
Date: on-going
Audience: Participants of MCV-Led Programs
Project or Activity: Level-Specific Sewing Classes
Content or Curriculum: MCV’s teach sewing classes in their counties
Inputs: FCS & 4-H Agents or other MCV’s
Date: on-going
Audience: Greenup County Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: KEHA Officer and Chairman Training / County KEHA Kickoff
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Training Toolkit, KEHA Manual, KEHA Website
Inputs: FCS Agents, State Advisors
Date: Annually each fall
Audience: Greenup County Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: KEHA Leader Training and/or Special Interest Workshops
Content or Curriculum: KELD Curriculum, FCS Extension Lesson Resources, FCS Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agents, State Advisors
Date: Monthly
Audience: Greenup County Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: KEHA State Meeting
Content or Curriculum: Officer Training & Educational Chairman Workshops
Inputs: FCS Agents, State Advisors
Date: Annually each spring
Audience: Greenup County Extension Council and District Board
Project or Activity: meetings and projects
Content or Curriculum: CEC and DB training, proper meeting protocol, county projects, county budget process
Inputs: office agent contact as leader and all agents, CEC and District Board membership
Date: ongoing
Audience: Fine Arts affiliated Clubs
Project or Activity: Creativity Club, Woodcarvers Club, Photography Club, Crochet & Knitting Club, Friday Friends Club, Public Speaking Club, Quilt Guild
Content or Curriculum: meetings, workshops, projects, events
Inputs: Fine Arts Agent, club leaders, guest teaching artists, community projects
Date: ongoing
Audience: Collaborations
Project or Activity: Greenup County Intra Agency Council, Area Education Grants Board, Greenup County Tourism Board. Ashland Alliance
Content or Curriculum: meetings, marketing, cross promotion, tourism, educational grants review, classroom visits
Inputs: partner agency programs, teacher projects, tourism projects, community grants, marketing and leadership
Date: ongoing
Author: Anne Stephens
Major Program: Community Engagement
4-H Livestock Program continues to have strong Community Support in 2020The 4-H Youth Livestock Program is the largest animal science project area enabling youth to develop their interest in beef cattle, sheep, swine and other 4-H projects. Youth learn about selection, care, and feeding of livestock, animal health, and importance of good record keeping. Emphasis for these projects continues to be focused on life skill development.In Greenup County 4-H Livestock is one of the biggest 4-H programs
Author: Anne Stephens
Major Program: Community Design/Creative Placemaking
June 12, 2021 marked the fifth annual Singin’ Gatherin’ Old-Time Music Day event at the beautiful McConnell House which is located next door to the Greenup Extension Office. The historic home is the perfect setting for the outdoor concert on the side porch which is a beautiful main stage for the event. Greenup Arts is proud to partner with the McConnell House and our local old-time music friends, Kentucky Memories to bring back an event that actually started in 1932 with the American
Author: Anne Stephens
Major Program: Leadership
4-H Teen CouncilThe teen leadership component of the 4-H program is very important for building and preparing local youth for their next steps in life after high school. Greenup County has a strong 4-H program, especially in the area of livestock, but currently has an agent vacancy. The Greenup County agent co-workers divided out 4-H responsibilities and the Fine Arts Agent took on Teen Council. This is a success story not only about what the Teen Council members accomplished, but also abo
