Extension
It Starts With Us
Enhance Youth Life Skills in Leadership and Personal Development
Growing Grayson County through Rural, Youth, and Community Development
Ewing Jones, K.
Family and Consumer Science
Leadership
A large percentage of Grayson County youth lack the life skills necessary to function effectively in modern society. County school teachers report that students lack problem solving and decision making skills. Parents are often unable to help students, since they also lack these same skills.
Grayson County youth will become responsible, self-sufficient citizens that take an active role in county life. This will include an increase in job readiness skills, aspiration to attain higher levels of education and an increase in use of critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Youth must be able to set personal and career goals and have the self-discipline to attain those goals. All individuals will increase personal stability and increase their self-confidence for obtaining their goals set for the future.
Youth will increase their knowledge of the connection between education and future stability. Individuals will increase their knowledge of effective life skills and have the ability to implement and modify those skills to serve them throughout their lives.
Initial Outcome: Youth accepting leadership roles in their 4-H club(s) at the county level and beyond. Youth will also participate in activities and projects that increase their leadership skills.
Indicator: Youth will accept leadership roles within 4-H and other groups.
Method: Youth will be served on skills learned after participation in activities and events.
Timeline: Teen Leadership Academy (county based)- September through April; county clubs (September through August)
Audience: All 4-H youth with special emphasis placed on teen activities such as Teen Conference and multi-county teen events. Teens will also be encouraged to participate as members of county 4-H Council and County Extension Council.
Project or Activity: County, Area, and State Teen Council membership; Teen Conference, activities such as camper participation and camp teen leaders.
Content or Curriculum: Youth leadership from county Teens In Action Club, youth leadership from Teen Leadership Academy group; Teen Conference, Camp leader training.
Inputs: paid staff and 4-H Volunteers will promote 4-H activities that encourage the development of leadership skills. Efforts will be made to find financial resources to help sponsor lower socio-economic youth so that financial need does not prevent them from being able to participate.
Date: Summer- 4-H Camp; Fall/Spring- Teen Leadership Academy; June- Teen Conference; Spring- Teen Summit
Author: Kindra Jones
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Grayson County 4-H Agent and community volunteer began a new series group called 4-H Everyday Entrepreneurs for 4-H aged youth interested in business development and marketing. The purpose of this group was to teach youth what is an entrepreneur, development of a business and business model, and marketing and branding of the business and products. The series group met monthly from September through April of program year 2022. The group began with 8 youth with business ideas that ranged from hand
Author: Kindra Jones
Major Program: Camping
The return to “normal” programming in Grayson County 4-H has shown payoff for 4-H Camp participation. The 4-H agent was fortunate to be allowed into all four county elementary schools and the middle school after school began session in August of 2021. With programming in nearly all fourth grade classes, several third and fifth grade classes, the agent was able to present 4-H Camp and the potential of that program to those students. The camping program was a new presentation to essent
Author: Kindra Jones
Major Program: Agriculture
In July 2021, the Grayson County Extension Office planned a Fresh Market Day in support and promotion of the Farmers’ Market program. In addition to the regular Farmers’ Market vendors, Extension groups such as the Bee Keepers Association and Homemakers set up booths, as well as Extension programming with fresh samples from the NEP assistant and youth activities with 4-H. 4-H set up a story walk along the sidewalk featuring “The Tiny Seed” and ended at the station se
