Better Living Through 4-H ProgrammingPlan of Work

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Martin County CES

Title:
Better Living Through 4-H Programming
MAP:
4-H Family and Consumer Science
Agents Involved:
4-H
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Communications
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Leadership
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Health
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Family and Consumer Science
Situation:

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. 

Long-Term Outcomes:

• 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. 

Intermediate Outcomes:

·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 

Initial Outcomes:

·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 

Evaluation:

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

Learning Opportunities:

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




Success Stories

2nd Annual Martin County 4-H Pet Show

Author: Joe Maynard

Major Program: Leadership

To own and take care of a pet for youth is a very rewarding experience.  One of the most important aspects is a direct positive effect on the owner’s health, both socially as well as directly related to health issues and economy.  The value of pets can be summed up below:·  Being attached to a pet is related to positive emotional functioning ·  Both social as well as cognitive development can be enhanced by owning a pet ·  Positive se

Full Story

Martin County Heritage Days

Author: Joe Maynard

Major Program: Agriculture & Natural Resources

Martin County 4-H participated in Heritage Days at Inez, Eden and Garfield Elementaries. We kept our theme of beekeeping by giving students as mall lesson in the day in the life of a bee. Introducing beekeeping to students is vital because it has a long history of being one of the most important contributors to the production of many agricultural crops.The daylong events offered students many fun and educational activities.  Such as, cooking on an open fire, taxidermy, quilting, home food p

Full Story

4-H Teen Conference

Author: Joe Maynard

Major Program: 21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)

The 100th Annual Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference took place at the University of Kentucky from June 11th to 14th, 2024. The conference aimed to achieve several objectives for its participants, including developing leadership and teamwork skills, improving communication abilities, fostering civic engagement, expanding knowledge in 4-H core content areas, and enhancing social skills through networking. Additionally, the event provided an opportunity for youth to become acquainted with the University

Full Story

2023-2024 4-H Sewing Clubs

Author: Joe Maynard

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

As we progress in to 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

Full Story

Resource Centers

Author: Joe Maynard

Major Program: Leadership

Sometimes it can be hard for any outside group to get classroom time at schools.  This is no different for 4-H.  Even after 19 years of forming relationships in the community and with schools it can still be tough to work in time for extra educational programming.  The need to find classroom time has resulted in a great relationship between 4-H and the Family Resource Centers in every school.  The opportunity to have an agency that works within the school system to schedule f

Full Story
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