Extension
It Starts With Us
Leadership Development
Empowering Community, Leaders, and Volunteers
Dana Anderson, Tara Duty, Jessica Bessin, Linda McClanahan
Community Leadership Development
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
Community Engagement
Leadership
The development of leadership contributes greatly to the positive development of young people and their communities. Leadership skills, such as goal-setting, problem-solving and sound decision-making, are not just necessary for leaders-these skills are needed for success in today's world (MacNeil, 2000). Cooperative Extension Service provides opportunities to youth and families to help improve their leadership ability and create positive futures. Leadership opportunities for youth and adults create a setting reducing the access to risk factors that can negatively impact their success.
Basic leadership knowledge & skills are essential for success in almost any field. The skills associated with leadership are necessary when working in a group or communicating with others. Employers look for leadership skills in the candidate for hire. Developing leadership in youth and adults who are involved in both the entire Extension program and the 4-H program is a priority. By assisting the development of leadership skills in today’s youth, we improve their ability to face the challenges of tomorrow. (Unlock Your Leadership Potential, University of Florida)
By supporting and engaging young leaders, adults, organizations, and communities experience direct benefits, through stronger connections to other young people in the community (Zeldin, McDaniel, Topitzes, & Lorens, 2001). They have a greater understanding of the problems facing other youth, and fresh perspectives on how to address these problems (Des Marais, Yang, & Farzanehkia, 2000; Zeldin, McDaniel, Topitzes, & Lorens, 2001; McGillicuddy, 1991).
The development of life skills [such as leadership] allows youth to cope with their environment by making responsible decisions, having a better understanding of their values, and being better able to communicate and get along with others. (Boyd, Herring & Briers, 1992, Journal of Extension).
Providing leadership opportunities and helping clientele develop leadership skills provides Extension the chance to strengthen our community, develop our community, and build our Extension programs.
Youth and adults will:
• serve as teen and adult leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger youth
• demonstrate the understanding of diversity, inclusivity, and multiculturalism in their daily life
• identify and address critical issues that impact the community
• be productive, contributing adults in the future
• use leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis
Extension clientele/leaders will:
• Community issues are solved through active engaged local leaders.
Youth and adults will:
• demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and communication skills in their day to day lives
• utilize leadership skills learned during their time in 4-H in clubs, activities and other venues with 4-H and other community organizations
• indicate increased awareness of diversity issues in their community and personal lives
• engage in community-based service projects selected to address identified needs
• Senior 4-H members will become leaders or co-leaders of a 4-H project club, day camp, or other project-based groups of younger 4-H members
Extension clientele/leaders will
• Serve in volunteer and leadership roles to address community issues
• Identify emerging issues
• Serve in leadership roles to enhance the Cooperative Extension Service program areas
• Implement knowledge gained about leadership positions and leading various groups
• Improved skills in communications, problem-solving or group process in addressing organizational issues and needs
Youth and adults will:
• learn the communication, leadership and procedural skills allowing them to lead a meeting
• increase knowledge about leadership and how to be an effective leader, team player, and communicator
• learn about leadership styles and will be able to identify positive and negative leadership characteristics
• learn about diversity and will demonstrate inclusivity
• acquire decision-making skills gaining an appreciation for civic engagement
• learn how to set (SMART) specific, measurable, attainable, and timed goals
• listen to people who have different ideas from them
Extension clientele/leaders will
• Understand group decision making, team building, and conflict resolution
• Identify, prioritize, and address community issues
• Collaborate with local agencies to address community issues
• Learn about various leadership positions in Extension advisory groups, boards, and committees
• Develop desires and interests in attaining leadership positions on Extension advisory groups, boards, and committees or positions in community programs
Initial Outcome: High School 4-H leadership participants ability to effectively lead a school 4-H club meeting with proper communication and leadership skills
Indicator: Change in participants ability to lead
Method: Testimonials of supervising teacher and participants
Timeline: September-May
Intermediate Outcome: Youth have increased awareness of community needs
Indicator: Number of youth involved in Community/Civic service projects
Method: written evaluation and testimonials of participants and community leaders
Timeline: on-going
Long-term Outcome: Progression from being a member to becoming a leader in 4-H activities and community activities
Indicator: Number of individuals taking a leadership role within 4-H and other organizations
Method: Personal contact of current leader to identify social and practice changes
Timeline: On-going
Audience: Youth and Adults
Project or Activity: 4-H camp leader training
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Camp leader guide and Youth Protection guidelines
Inputs:Extension staff, volunteers, Cooperative Extension Service Offices.
Date: April - May
Audience: Youth and club leaders
Project or Activity: 4-H school and specialty club officers
Content or Curriculum: 4-H club officer guide
Inputs:Extension staff, volunteers, Cooperative Extension Service Offices.
Date: All-year
Audience: Middle school youth
Project or Activity: Mercer County 4-H Citizenship Academy
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Citizenship Curriculum
Inputs:Extension Staff, Mercer County and Burgin Independent Schools, community, state and federal leaders
Date: August - September - May
Audience: Youth and Adults
Project or Activity: Youth Leadership Program Advisory
Content or Curriculum: Leadership
Inputs: Extension Staff, Cooperative Extension Facility, local businesses
Date: ongoing
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Mercer Youth Leadership Program
Content or Curriculum: APES, Unlock Your Leadership Potential
Inputs: Extension Staff, Chamber of Commerce, CES facilities, local businesses
Date: year long
Audience: Adults/Teens
Project or Activity: 4-H Council
Content or Curriculum: identify issues and conduct relating to 4-H and youth programming
Inputs: Extension Staff, Cooperative Extension Facility, 4-H Council
Date: On-going
Audience: Extension District Board
Project or Activity: Cooperative Extension Service
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Guidelines, and the State of Kentucky
Inputs: Extension Staff, Cooperative Extension Facilities, Volunteers
Date: on-going
Audience: Adults/Teens
Project or Activity: Extension Council
Content or Curriculum: Identify issues relating to Mercer County and Extension Programs and assist in the implementation
Inputs: Extension Staff, Cooperative Extension Facility, volunteers
Date: On-going
Audience: County fair advisory groups
Project or Activity: Livestock shows
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Department of Agriculture and Kentucky State Fair guidelines
Inputs: Extension Staff, Cooperative Extension Facility, Mercer County Fairgrounds
Date: January - July
Audience: Master Clothing Volunteers
Project or Activity: Master Clothing
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Master Clothing Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Staff, Cooperative Extension facility, volunteers
Date: on-going
Audience: Adult and teens
Project or Activity: Mercer County Youth Investment Sale committee
Content or Curriculum: Established guidelines for Mercer County
Inputs: Extension Staff, Cooperative Extension Facilities, collaborating agencies, volunteers
Date: On-going
Audience: Youth Protection Committee
Project or Activity: Youth Protection
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Youth Protection Guidelines
Inputs: Extension Staff, Cooperative Extension facilities, volunteers
Date: on-going
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association
Inputs: Extension Staff, Cooperative Extension facilities, volunteers
Date: on-going
Activity: Media (news articles, newsletters, videos, podcasts, social media - Facebook
Content or Curriculum: Exclusives, 4-H Agent News Releases, publications, HEEL materials, etc.
Inputs: Extension Staff, Extension Specialist University of Kentucky Ag Communications
Date: Year-long (on-going)
Audience: Master Gardener Volunteers
Project or Activity: Volunteer activities
Content: Master Gardener Manual
Inputs: Extension Staff, Cooperative Extension facilities, volunteers
Date: on-going
Audience: Farmers Market Advisory Council
Project or Activity: Farmers Market
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky Department of Public Health
Inputs: Extension Staff, Cooperative Extension facility, Mercer County Farmers Market Location, local producers
Date: On-going
Audience: Fort Harrod Beekeeping Club
Project or Activity: Beekeeping information
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension, KY State, KY State Beekeeping association
Inputs: Extension Staff, Cooperative Extension facility, Volunteers
Date: On-going
Audience: Mercer County Tree Board
Project or Activity: provide oversight and advice on trees in Harrodsburg and throughout Mercer County, educational programs about trees
Content or Curriculum: Tree Board University, Kentucky Division of Forestry
Inputs: Extension Staff, KDF Staff, community volunteers
Date: On-going
Audience: Agriculture Advisory Council
Project or Activity: Identify agriculture and natural resource issues and program needs for Mercer County
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service guidelines, State Ag Advisory Council information
Inputs: Extension Staff, Cooperative Extension facility, volunteers
Date: On-going
Audience: Agriculture Development Council
Project or Activity: Identify and prioritize agriculture and related needs for funding in Mercer County and regional or state projects
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Office of Ag Policy guidelines
Inputs: Extension Staff, Cooperative Extension facility, volunteers, KOAP
Date: On-going
Audience: Farm City Celebration Committee
Project or Activity: Farm City Celebration
Content or Curriculum: National Farm-City Council, American Farm Bureau Federation, content targeted to needed educational effort identified by the committee
Inputs: Extension Staff, Cooperative Extension facility, Mercer County Exhibit Hall, collaborating agencies
Date: January - March
Audience: Mercer County Field Day Committee
Project or Activity: Mercer County Agriculture Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Cooperative Extension Service guidelines, content targeted to educational effort identified by the committee
Inputs: Extension Staff, Cooperative Extension facilities, host farm, collaborating agencies, sponsors
Date: March - October
Audience: Leader in Me School 4-H Club Lessons - Third Grade Students at Mercer County School and Burgin Independent School
Project or Activity: Leadership
Content or Curriculum: The Leader in Me Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Staff, 4-H Teen Leaders, school staff
Date: August - April
Author: Tara Duty
Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
Fort Harrod Area Extension Homemaker 2024-2025 Officer and Chairperson Training Success Story? Research shows when people understand their purpose, they are more likely to engage deeply in their personal activities, such as being an Extension Homemaker. Whether you joined a homemaker club recently, or have been a member for years, now is the perfect time to refresh your perspective on what it means to be an Extension Homemaker. The Fort Harrod Area Family and C
