Extension
It Starts With Us
Enhancing Life Skills through Youth Projects and Activities
Developing Leadership Skills for Community and Civic Engagement
Stillwell, Fentress, DeRamus
Leadership
Science, Engineering, and Technology
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Agriculture
According to Michigan State University Extension articles published in January 2013 & August 2016, one of the most important support systems for healthy adolescent development is positive friendships and positive peer influences. These peer to peer relationships can encourage teens to care about people, meet/set higher standards and participate in constructive activities. From the 2019 Hardin County Community Assessment report it was emphasized that we need to continue and expand on "youth life skills training educational opportunities". 4-H programs offer a wide range of life skill opportunities based on an individuals interests and goals. An individuals involvement, regardless of project/program area, will enhance leadership, decision making and money management skills.
Youth will:
*Be advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems.
*Youth will gain and maintain employment resulting from life skill development through 4-H.
*Youth will gain skills to help deal with peer pressures that lead to self-esteem issues, bullying prevention and coping strategies.
Life Skills Program - CD
- Youth will seek out ways to get employment by contacting Career Agencies, Work Prep Programs, Job shadowing & Internships opportunities.
- Youth will be self-sufficient and be able to balance personal finances.
- Youth will be able to develop positive relationships amongst people from different backgrounds.
- Youth will get involved with helping a community organization with bringing awareness to a social awareness issue and help the organization with finding some solutions to help the community.
• Youth will practice and apply skills and knowledge in the production of food and fiber in the areas
of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
• Youth will adopt and practice skills that contribute to employability.
• Youth can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.
• Youth will set a goal and accomplish it.
• Youth can influence the purchase of Kentucky Proud products.
• Youth can practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems.
Life Skills Program - CD
Intermediate Outcomes
- Youth will develop positive relationships amongst people from different backgrounds.
- Youth will know techniques to use to handle conflict and anger when stressful situations arise.
- Youth will be prepared to complete an interview for a position with a potential employer.
- Youth will be able to set some obtainable career goals and be able to make more informed decisions.
Life Skills Program - CD
*Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant
sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
• Youth will gain an understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems.
• Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, record-keeping, leadership and service.
Life Skills Program - CD
- Short Term Outcomes
- Youth will develop skills in oral communication and written communication that will contribute to helping them to be in a future leadership role in a future career or profession.
- Youth will be able to develop a cover letter and a resume to apply for a future position for any profession.
- Youth will be able to identify their strengths and weaknesses thru skills assessments and team building activities.
- Youth will have a basic understanding of how money works and how to apply basic budgeting techniques to personal income.
- Youth will develop an understanding of diversity and see how it helps in establishing positive relationships with peer groups and people from a background different from their own.
Life Skills Program - CD
Initial Outcome: Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in areas of plant, horticulture and/or animal sciences
Indicator: Number of youth who understands the role of agriculture in the production of food and fiber
Method: 4-H Program Agriculture Written Evaluation
Timeline: Spring, late summer and/or Fall
Intermediate Outcome: Youth will set a goal and accomplish it
Indicator: Number of youth who set a goal and accomplished it
Method: 4-H Program Agriculture Written Evaluation
Timeline: Spring, late summer and/or Fall
Long-term Outcome: Youth will be advocates for agriculture while gaining and maintaining employment as result of their participation
Indicator: Number of youth who demonstrate a skill that was learned or improved as a result of their participation in a 4-H ANR project, program, event or activity
Method: 4-H program Agriculture Written Evaluation
Timeline: Spring, late summer and/or Fall
Life Skills Program - CD
Outcome: Youth will be able to develop a cover letter and a resume to apply for a future position for any profession.
Indicator:
- Number of youth participants demonstrating an application of specified life skills.
Method: Surveys will be administered every 3-4 months, Interviews, Testimonials, phone calls, Videos, Zoom Presentations, Botvin Life-skills Transitions Curriculum, 21st Century Life-skills curriculum, Checkbook Math (Life-skills), Practical Life Skills Series, Money Matters for Teens Workbook
Timeline: (January- June) (August-November)
Outcome: Build skills in anger management, perspective-taking, and problem-solving strategies.
Indicator:
- Number of youth who become more aware of ways to attain pertinent life skills.
Method: Surveys will be administered every 3-4 months, Interviews, Testimonials, phone calls, Videos, Zoom presentations, Botvin Life-skills curriculum
Timeline: (January- June) (August-November)
Outcome: Youth will seek out ways to get employment by contacting Career Agencies, Work Prep Programs, Job shadowing & Internships opportunities.
Indicator:
- Number of youth reporting self-sufficiency (developing self-confidence, obtaining employment, pursuing higher education, advocating on behalf of youth and other vulnerable populations).
Method: Surveys will be administered every 3-4 months intervals, Interviews, Testimonials, phone calls, Videos, Zoom presentations, Life-Skills Curriculum Job Search, Moving Out on Your Own, Managing Money, Transportation and Travel, Community Resources, Consumer spending, Getting Ahead at Work, and Car and Driver.
Timeline: (January- June) (August-November)
Life Skills Program - CD
Audience: 4-H youth 5 - 18 years of age
Project or Activity: 4-H Livestock Club
Content or Curriculum: Beef, Sheep, Swine Resource Handbook & Certified Livestock Volunteer Curriculum, Livestock Discovery CD
Inputs: Certified Leaders, Extension Agents, Community Business Leaders
Date: 4-H Program Year, September through August of following year
Audience: 4-H Youth 9 - 18 years of age
Project or Activity: Trailblazers 4-H Horse Club
Content or Curriculum: Basic Horse Safety manual, Horse Achievement Level 1-4, Kansas State Judging manual & DVDs, KY Certified Leaders manual, KY Horse Bowl and horse judging manual
Inputs: Certified Leaders, Extension Agents, Veterinarians & Parents
Date: 4-H program year, September through August
Audience: 4-H youth 5 - 18 years of age
Project or Activity: 4-H Dog Club
Content or Curriculum: Ohio State Dog Learning Lab, American Kennel Club,
Inputs: Leaders, Extension Agents & parents
Date: 4-H Program Year, September through August of following year
Audience: 4-H youth 13 - 18 years of age
Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Communications curriculum
Inputs: Leaders, Extension Agents & parents
Date: 4-H Program Year, September through August of following year
- Life Skills Program - CD
Audience: Youth, (At Risk population, Limited Resource audience)
Project or Activity: CY-FAR Grant Uplift: Empowering Today’s Youth for Tomorrow’s Future
Content or Curriculum: Botvin Life-skills Transitions curriculum (High School and Middle School), 4H Content or Curriculum on Life Skills, Leadership, Jump Start Coalition, Youth Development Academy Series, What's Next? A Simulation of Adult Life Skills
Inputs: FCS Agent, 4-H Youth Specialists, UK Extension Staff & Specialists, Volunteers, Community Leaders, Community based organizations, Schools, Family Resource Centers, Extension Staff Career Centers, Military Youth Programs, Colleges, Library
Date: (January- June) (August-November)
- Life Skills Program - CD
Author: Marla Stillwell
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Developed by the University of Kentucky's Family & Consumer Sciences Extension team, the new cookbook "Cook Together, Eat Together" was released in Spring 2021 and was designed to help families enjoy more home-cooked, healthy meals. While the recipes in the cookbook feature easy recipes for breakfast, soups, vegetables, salads and one-pot meals, it also lays out a strategy to enable families to spend more quality time together while preparing the meals that are affo
Author: Chandra DeRamus
Major Program: 21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
March 2022Over the last year the state of Kentucky has seen some changes in how things are done within communities. For Kentucky State University’s Cooperative Extension program, this process has been challenging and rewarding for the lessons that have been learned throughout the process. Despite the challenges that covid-19 brought about Extension programs went from being just on-line to in person for the first time in months. In order to meet the needs of the community, one f
Author: Sue Ann McCandless
Major Program: Camping
Since canceling camp in 2020 and camping at a reduced capacity in 2021, initial feedback from the 2022 camping registration was slow and lacking in the number of youth committing to attend. The Hardin County 4-H program continues to believe that the camp experience has several positive impacts for youth ages 9-14 including personal growth, eliminating screen time and fostering independence and leadership while creating opportunities for mentorship and positive role modeling from teens and
Author: Dayna Fentress
Major Program: Community Leadership Development
After a meeting between the FCS program in Hardin County and the FCCLA sponsor at John Hardin High School, some risks of low membership and inactive participation in the club were identified. Extension programs were then chosen to help reduce these risks. A leadership day to be taught by the FCS Extension program was established, and FCCLA invited their officer team, and then any member who thought they may be interested in what FCCLA could offer. 18 youth attended the new leadership s
Author: Dayna Fentress
Major Program: Family Development General
Babysitting certification classes offered by the Hardin County Extension Office allow youth to learn critical skills for success as they are caring for youth who may or may not be related to them. The classes are a partnership between the FRYSC centers at our local middle schools, the FCS and 4-H programs, and the NEP program in Hardin County. Youth learn skills in the area of food and nutrition, appropriate snacks and food safety, first aid and physical safety, appropriate games and a
Author: Dayna Fentress
Major Program: Administrative Functions
In the absence and hiring of a 4-H agent in our county, the FCS agent worked closely with the 4-H program assistant to continue providing quality programs for 4-H members and clubs. Forms were filled out correctly and on time, programs were maintained, and new clubs were started (Country Ham Recipe Club). Youth stayed involved, and some clubs, such as Cloverbuds, even saw an increase in participation with former meetings having between 4-10 Cloverbuds and increasing to 25+ Cloverbud youth every
