Extension
It Starts With Us
Developing Life Skills
Youth and Families
Elizabeth Coots, Ryan Farley, Adam Probst, Faye Kuosman
Family Development General
Financial Education - General
Family and Consumer Science
21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
As recognized by county stakeholders, the development of both hard and soft skills is an important aspect of workforce prep. Many are entering the career field not having developed the skills necessary to receive and maintain the job. With the county unemployment rate as of 2017 hovering at around 3.2% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, it is imperative that Woodford County Extension work to develop life skills that clientele can use to better equip themselves for all facets of their life including their careers.
An increase in qualified job candidates and a decrease in unemployment throughout Woodford County.
Clientele will employ specific skills or practices learned from Woodford County Extension programs to better equip themselves as future employees in Woodford County.
Clientele will be able to identify different life skills that are both applicable and necessary to become active and engaged Woodford County citizens.
Initial Outcome: Clientele will be able to identify different life skills that are both applicable and necessary to become active and engaged Woodford County citizens.
Indicator: Self-Report
Method: Evaluations
Timeline: Per program
Intermediate Outcome: Clientele will employ specific skills or practices learned from Woodford County Extension programs to better equip themselves as future employees in Woodford County.
Indicator: Observation
Method: Interviews
Timeline: Annuals
Long-term Outcome: An increase in qualified job candidates and a decrease in unemployment throughout Woodford County.
Indicator: Reports and Statistics
Method: U.S. Census Data
Timeline: Annually
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:
Audience: 4th-8th Grade Youth
Project or Activity: Lego Robotics Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Lego Robotics
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Volunteer Leader Time, Extension Office Facilities/Supplies
Date: January - April
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Communications Contest
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Communications Curriculum
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Volunteers for judging, Support from Kiwanis/Midway Toastmasters
Date: January
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Summertime Fun Project Days
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Expressive Arts Curriculum, 4-H Family and Consumer Sciences Curriculum, 4-H Natural Resources Curriculum
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Volunteer instructors, Materials for teaching, Extension facilities
Date: June-July
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Plant Camp
Content or Curriculum: Junior Master Gardener Curriculum, 4-H gardening curriculum
Inputs: Agent/Program Assistant Time, Volunteer instructors, Materials for teaching, Extension facilities
Date: June-July
Audience: Skills for Life
Project or Activity: Basic cooking, nutrition, budgeting
Content or Curriculum: University of Kentucky Nutrition Education Program "Every Body" Curriculum
Inputs: Agents time, materials, curriculum, Bluegrass Community Action Partnership
Date: Spring
Author: Ryan Farley
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
Engaging youth in interactive and hand on STEM activities provides youth with opportunities to explore and develop critical thinking skills. In partnership with Southside Elementary, Woodford County 4-H led four days of 4-H Lego Robotics lessons with four 4th grade classes. Each class participated in two hour-long classes that taught students how to program their Lego EV-3 robot. Tying the lessons into the 4th grade standard relating to vision, students learned how the color sensor attachment he
Author: Ryan Farley
Major Program: Communications and Expressive Arts
Developing public speaking skills in youth helps set them up for success in their secondary education and post-secondary path. In partnership with Versailles Kiwanis and the Woodford County 4-H Council, Woodford County 4-H implemented the 4-H Communication Contest. Approximately 35 participated in speeches, mock job interviews and demonstrations. Of those that participated, 100% expressed that they enjoyed participating in the contest, 96% expressed they had fun giving their speech or demonstrat
Author: M. Elizabeth Coots
Major Program: Apparel and Textiles (Non-Master Clothing Volunteer)
The Fort Harrod Area Seminar, "It's Not Your Mothers Sewing Room" was originally planned for a limited audience in-person for March 2020, the seminar format was changed and held as a virtual program with an unlimited audience in November 2020. 183 participants viewed the live Zoom program (2.5 hours) which was recorded and made available afterward (228 views since Nov 2020). A Qualtrics evaluation with a 70% return was conducted immediately after the program. One year later a follo
