Better Living Through 4-H Programming
4-H Family and Consumer Science
4-H
Communications and Expressive Arts
Leadership
Health
Family and Consumer Science
Over the last 25 years, the number of stay-at-home parents has decreased. Parents have increasingly relied on schools to teach concepts and skills once taught within the family. With societal changes and cuts in school budgets, many schools have eliminated family and consumer science labs and no longer include or have decreased FCS instruction in the curriculum. In nutrition alone, the lack of basic life skills is evidenced by alarming rises in childhood obesity, poor diets of youth of all ages, and an overreliance on packaged/fast food.
Life choices are often based more on personal desires rather than factual information. Those who seek information often turn to internet sources which may not be based in research. Decision-making may be based on product marketing claims, family tradition, myths, faulty information, and lack of knowledge. Today’s massive health and economic problems are due in part to the lack of instruction in the home by parents and in school through Family and Consumer Sciences classes.
As we continue to progress through the 21st century a number of factors have gained prevalence within Family and Consumer Science driven by the increase of online and mobile shopping, the rise of video based at home tutorials, and the shifting family structures as evident by 17% of stay-at-home parents being fathers. The ever changing landscape of the family and the consumer highlights the need for a responsive and innovative FCS program while also providing the basic needs that all families have as they navigate lives many challenges. Kentucky 4-H Seeks to meet these needs through working with youth and families in a variety of situations to increase their consumer awareness, financial management, nutrition, culinary arts, textiles, housing, and human development.
• Be responsible and contributing individuals and family members
• Gain and maintain employment through life skill development
• Contribute to a safe and healthy home and community.
·Utilize and practice life skills in projects and life situations
·Project a positive image and self-confidence
·Practice responsible consumer and financial decision-making
·Practice healthy eating choices
·Make choices that lead to responsible and beneficial results
·Adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employability in the future
·Gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Sciences projects and programs
·Understand the decision-making process
·Gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action
·Learn to read and follow instructions
Initial Outcome: Youth will gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Sciences
Indicator: Increase in number of youth displaying progress toward knowledge of living a healthy lifestyle.
Method: 4-H Common MeasuresPre and Post Tests
Timeline: July - December 2022-2024
Intermediate Outcome: Youth will project a positive self image of themselves and make health choices.
Indicator: Increase in number of youth applying skills to live a healthy and well rounded lifestyle.
Method: 4- H Common Measures Pre and Post Tests
Timeline: January - June 2022-2024
Long-term Outcome: Youth will become productive members of society.
Indicator: Martin County will have an increased number of college and wok ready students, an increase in community leaders, a decrease in obesity and more family ready citizens.
Method: Observation
Timeline: 4 Years
Audience: Preschool – 8th Grade
Project or Activity: Heritage Days
Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures 1; Acres of Adventures 2; Bee Ambassadors; Local Traditions
Inputs: Curriculum, Extension Professionals, Volunteers, Teachers, Resource Centers, Extension Funding, Donations, School System Funding, Martin County Schools, Martin County Beekeeper Association, Kentucky Farm Bureau, School System Facilities
Dates: September – October 2022-2024
Audience: 9th – 12th Grade
Project or Activity: In-School Sewing Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Style Engineers, Keeping 4-H in Stitches. Upcycle it, Steam Clothing, Instructor Expertise
Inputs: Extension Professionals, Extension Funding Volunteers, Teachers, High School Facilities
Dates: September – May 2022-2024
Audience: 8th Grade, High School Sophomores
Project or Activity: Career Readiness Fair
Content or Curriculum: It’s Your Reality, Career Fair, Operation Preparation
Inputs: Extension Professionals, School Resource Centers, Martin County High School Facilities, Martin County Middle School Facilities, Extension Funds, School System Funds, Kentucky Farm Bureau, High School Staff, Middle School Staff, Volunteers, Community Partners
Dates: Fall and Spring Semester 2022-2024
Audience: 9th Grade
Project or Activity: Workforce Preparation
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Workforce Prep Curriculum, Classroom Instruction
Inputs: Extension Professionals, Volunteers, Teachers, High School Facilities, Extension Funds
Dates: September – May 2022-2024
Audience: 3rd Grade
Project or Activity: In-School Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Professor Popcorn
Inputs: Extension Professionals, Teachers, Elementary School Facilities, Extension Funding
Dates: September - May 2022-2024
Audience: 4th – 12th Grade
Project or Activity: Summer Educational Camps
Content or Curriculum: Variety of 4-H Health Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Professionals, School Resource Centers, Martin County Elementary School Facilities, Extension Funds, School System Funds, Kentucky Farm Bureau, Elementary School Staff, Middle School Staff, High School Staff, Volunteers, Community Partners
Dates: May – June 2022-2024
Author: Joe Maynard
Major Program: Natural Resources
Plants are essential to the balance of nature and in people's lives. Green plants, i.e., those possessing chlorophyll, manufacture their own food and give off oxygen during photosynthesis. Plants are the ultimate source of food and metabolic energy for nearly all animals, which cannot manufacture their own food. Besides foods (e.g., grains, fruits, and vegetables), plant products vital to humans include wood and wood products, fibers, drugs, oils, latex, pigments, and resins. Coal and petrol
Author: Joe Maynard
Major Program: 21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
This year the Martin County Extension Service participated in Heritage Days at each elementary school. Volunteers from the Martin County Beekeepers Association also participated in each of the Heritage Days by offering lessons in beekeeping and the thrill of the students getting to see a live hive of honeybees through the use of our observation hive. Introducing beekeeping to students is vital because it has a long history of being one of the most important contributors to the production o
Author: Joe Maynard
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
According to City-Data.com only 54% of Martin County citizens have a high school diploma, 37% live in poverty and only 25% hold jobs. Of the people employed, the median household income is only $21,859 compared to $40,267 for the state of Kentucky. Due to facts like these and others, the 4-H council along with teachers and administrators at Martin County High School put a lot of effort into hosting “It’s Your Reality”. Due to Covid restrictions the program has been on a 3
Author: Joe Maynard
Major Program: Camping
Because of all the hardships youth struggle with to get quality experiences, it is important that 4-H does everything we can to provide Martin County students with positive experiences. According to City-Data.com only 54% of Martin County citizens have a high school diploma, 37% live in poverty and only 25% hold jobs. Of the people employed, the median household income is only $21,859 compared to $40,267 for the state of Kentucky. All schools in Martin County qualify for the national
Author: Joe Maynard
Major Program: Agriculture
Life cycles are a part of the core Science Standard in Kentucky. To help youth better understand life cycles 4-H has stepped in to give students a hands-on experience. First graders from Eden Elementary and Inez Elementary are participating in chick incubation projects. Warfield Elementary will also participate. We have mixed results so far hatching the chicks, but students are having fun and learning a lot along the way. The program has grown to all 3 Elementary sc