Enhancing Leadership, Volunteerism, and Public Policy AwarenessPlan of Work

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Hopkins County CES

Title:
Enhancing Leadership, Volunteerism, and Public Policy Awareness
MAP:
Community Leadership Development
Agents Involved:
Connor Cooper, Katie Mills, and Erika Wood, Jay Stone and Amanda Dame
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Community Strategic Planning
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Leadership
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Master Gardener
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Camping
Situation:

Leadership development, community analysis and a constant need for volunteers continues to be a fundamental issue faced by various agencies and non-profit entities in Hopkins County. According to the Center for Economic Development in Kentucky, in 2021 Hopkins County had 45,044 citizens. Volunteerism is valued at $24.83 per hour in Kentucky according to Independent Sector. With that said, Hopkins County Extension volunteer hours annually account for over $150,000 in donated time. Extension in Hopkins County will continue to provide enhancement opportunities and strive to promote community based programming that encourages leadership candidates and volunteers.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Hopkins County will be equipped with competent, effective leaders.


Community members engage others to initiate projects.


Civic engagement is possible and desirable for community members.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Citizens put skills into practice by becoming more engaged in the community, taking on leadership roles. Graduates in formal leadership roles increase their involvement/action. Graduates of Extension community leadership programs initiate civic engagement.

Initial Outcomes:

Increase knowledge of effective leadership skills.

Develop/enhance the leadership skills of youth and adults.

Citizens: Informed about community systems, better connected to communication networks, more confident and skilled in identifying and implementing strategies for systemic change.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Analyze and deliver training and other resources to

build leadership capacity.


Indicator: Trainings and activity involvement

Method: Surveys and assessments


Intermediate Outcome: Increased participation on community boards, civic groups and organizations.

Indicator: Number of people who reported new leadership opportunities

Method: Surveys and community statistics


Long-term Outcome: Leaders initiate projects

Indicator: Numbers of community events and programs increase.

Method: Chamber of Commerce Data and post-assessment surveys.


Learning Opportunities:

Audience: New and current leaders; 4-H Club Members

Project or Activity: Parliamentary Procedure Training

Content or Curriculum: Robert's Rules of Order

Inputs: Manuals, Research information, meeting space and extension agents

Time Frame: Fall


Audience: Volunteer, leader and officer trainings.

Project or Activity: Creating reflective learning in leadership classes

Content or Curriculum: Leadership Skills and modules

Inputs: Research information, Partnerships, Materials and Meeting space

Time Frame: Spring and Fall


Audience: Hopkins County Extension Council

Project or Activity: Public Policy and Community Partnerships

Content or Curriculum: KELD curriculum and CEDIK Resources

Inputs: Extension Agents, Specialists, and CEC Members

Time Frame: All Year


Audience: Leadership Hopkins County Group

Project or Activity: Leadership Hopkins County Program Days, Ag Leadership Day

Content or Curriculum: Extension Agriculture curriculum and Specialist presentations

Inputs: Extension Agents, Producers, Specialists and Volunteers

Time Frame: All Year


Audience: Master Gardeners

Project or Activity: Kentucky Extension Master Gardener Program

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Master Gardener Curriculum

Inputs: Extension Agents, Specialist, and Volunteers

Time Frame: All Year


Audience: 4-H Teens

Project or Activity: 4-H Achievement Program, 4-H Adulting, 4-H Midnight Walkers Community Service Club, 4-H Club Officers

Content or Curriculum: Team Building with Teens, Team Challenges, Character Counts

Inputs: Extension Agents, Volunteers

Time Frame: All Year


Audience: 4-H Councilor in Training, 4-H Teen Leader, and 4-H Adult Volunteer

Project or Activity: 4-H Camp

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Camp Manuel 

Inputs: Extension Agents, Specialist

Time Frame: Summer



Success Stories

Marketing Extension and Agricultural Awareness

Author: Jay Stone

Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership - ANR

Agriculture Awareness ranks as a top priority for the Hopkins County Ag Advisory Council. Among the methods of reaching people, the use of social media rose to the top this year as a means of engaging both Ag and Non-Ag sectors of our population. A social media plan was developed and implemented by the Hopkins County Extension Agent for Agriculture. Social media has been identified as an important delivery method because you must engage people where they are. And most of the 98% of non-farmers a

Full Story

4-H Kickoff Event

Author: John (Connor) Cooper

Major Program: Volunteer Development

Like many counties, Hopkins County 4-H had been severely impacted by the lasting impacts of Covid-19. Youth participants along with adult volunteers had decreased. In order to pick numbers back up we knew we had to do something. On August 16th we held a 4-H Kickoff event. The goal of the event was to promote all of our clubs, attract new youth, and gain new volunteers. In order to entice the community to come, we had free T-shirts, free hotdogs, an ice cream truck, and three inflatables for kids

Full Story

Master Gardeners Make A Difference

Author: Erika Wood

Major Program: Master Gardener

Master Gardeners Make A Difference

The Extension Master Gardener program is a volunteer organization dedicated to teaching and training people about horticulture related topics. This program is a part of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and assists county extension agents in providing education and outreach in the community.   Master Gardeners are required to undergo training and complete 40 hours of volunteer service in their first year before becoming certified.  After the first year, Master Ga

Full Story

Mr. KY 4-H VP

Author: John (Connor) Cooper

Major Program: Leadership

In June of 2022, Kentucky 4-H held the annual 4-H Teen Conference. At this event, Lucas Arnold was named Kentucky 4-H Vice President. He is only the fifth person ever in Hopkins County to hold this title. Lucas has faced some tough challenges in his 4-H and personal life like every teen who lived through Covid-19. With Covid-19 affecting the majority of his high school experience, Lucas wanted to make the most of his last year in the program and put all of his efforts into running for a state of

Full Story

Master Gardener Students Complete Training

Author: Erika Wood

Major Program: Master Gardener

Master Gardener Students Complete Training

In January of 2023, a new master gardener class was conducted at the Hopkins County Extension Office.  In order to become a certified master gardener volunteer, gardeners must undergo a minimum 12 week training, which consists of 24 hours of core subject courses including: Cooperative Extension/Volunteerism, Botany, Soils, Plant Pathology, Entomology, and Pesticides/Pesticides Safety/Environmental Issues.  Optional classes such as Annuals and Perennials, Home Vegetable Gardening, Compo

Full Story

Teen Conference 2023

Author: John (Connor) Cooper

Major Program: Leadership

.Teen Conference 2023 Success Story  The 99th Annual Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference was held at the University of Kentucky June 13-16, 2023. The objectives of Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference are: develop leadership and teamwork skills, improve communication skills, foster civic engagement, expand knowledge and skills related to 4-H core content areas, gain club, county and state 4-H program skills, have fun, create a sense of belonging, expand social skills through networking, develop

Full Story

Teen Summit 2023

Author: John (Connor) Cooper

Major Program: Leadership

 According to research, middle school is a time where young people find their place in this world, they are exploring where their strengths and interests align (Fagell. P.L., 2019). Therefore, it is impreative to provide positive experiences where young people may explore the world in a safe environment. Historically, there is a decline in enrollment numbers throughout the middle school years in 4-H programming, Kentucky 4-H hosts the Kentucky 4-H Summit Leadership Conference for middle sch

Full Story
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