Montgomery County CES

County Emphasis:

Financial Stability

Concentration 1:

Financial Security and Economic Well-Being

Concentration 2:

Work and Life Skill Development

Situation:

Montgomery County 4-H Youth Development Program

Context: Economic Hardship & the Need for Resilience

Kentucky faces disproportionate economic challenges, with 39% of Kentuckians living in economically distressed communities—more than double the national rate of 15%. Rising costs in housing, groceries, and other essentials continue to strain family budgets, leaving many households without the financial skills or safety nets to adapt.

To help Kentuckians survive and thrive in this shifting economic landscape, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) offers critical programming focused on:

• Financial literacy

• Family resource management

• Small business engagement and support

The 2023 CES Community Needs Assessment, with nearly 28,000 responses, identified the following as top statewide priorities:

• Building financial literacy/resource management skills

• Supporting local and small businesses

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Youth Development Focus: Preparing Youth for a Stronger Future

Kentucky’s economic uncertainty—driven by agricultural shifts, rural job losses, and industry changes—deeply impacts young people. Youth experience the effects of job insecurity through unstable home environments and reduced access to resources. In 2023 alone, hospitality, retail, and tourism generated over $10 billion in Kentucky, reflecting job growth in culinary arts, tourism, and hobby-based industries, even as the statewide unemployment rate rose by 4.7% from July 2023 to July 2024.

Recognizing these trends, the 2023 Community Needs Assessment also identified key youth development priorities:

• Youth financial literacy and resource management

• Life skill development (leadership, communication, responsibility)

• Workforce readiness (entrepreneurship, job exploration, resume building)

• Engagement of diverse and non-traditional youth audiences

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4-H Response and Program Impact

Kentucky 4-H plays a pivotal role in preparing youth to meet the demands of an evolving economy. Through hands-on learning, service projects, and leadership development, 4-H youth build skills that promote career readiness, civic responsibility, and personal confidence.

Key Program Areas:

• Leadership & Civic Engagement

• Workforce Readiness & Financial Literacy

• Agriculture, STEM, and Environmental Education

• Health & Wellbeing

• Communication & Expressive Arts

Statewide 4-H Impact Data:

• 80% of 4-Hers explored career options through their involvement

• 95% said 4-H helped them identify their personal strengths

• 50% said 4-H helped them with college decision-making

Through 4-H, youth gain the tools to thrive in their personal lives, family lives, and communities, helping to break cycles of economic instability and create a more resilient future workforce for Kentucky.

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County Situation:

Montgomery County 4-H Youth Development Program

Community Context: Youth at the Intersection of Health and Economic Challenges

Montgomery County continues to face persistent challenges related to food insecurity, mental health, early childhood development, and substance misuse. Limited access to nutritious food, rising household stress levels, and developmental delays in young children create barriers to long-term community health and prosperity. The impact of substance misuse—especially within families and caregiving environments—further compounds cycles of trauma and instability that affect both youth and adults.

These challenges directly influence youth by limiting access to consistent nutrition, safe support systems, and opportunities to develop life skills that lead to resilience and independence.

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4-H Youth Development Response: Building Skills for Life

Kentucky 4-H—and its presence in Montgomery County—responds to these challenges by providing youth with a safe, supportive, and skill-building environment. Through structured activities and hands-on experiences, 4-H fosters development in leadership, communication, decision-making, and civic engagement. These competencies are especially critical for youth affected by adversity, equipping them with the tools to break cycles of instability and build successful futures.

Key Program Strategies in Montgomery County 4-H Include:

• Leadership Development: Youth-led clubs, officer roles, and service projects

• Health & Wellness: Mental health awareness, stress reduction, and positive coping skills

• Food Systems & Nutrition: Gardening, cooking, and healthy eating programs

• Workforce Readiness: Financial literacy, entrepreneurship, resume building

• Family Engagement: Events and activities that involve caregivers in youth development

Program Impact Highlights:

• Youth demonstrate increased self-confidence, teamwork, and responsibility

• Participants engage in service-learning that addresses real community needs

• 4-H creates opportunities for youth to envision—and plan for—a future beyond their current circumstances

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Horticulture Program Focus Areas

Urban Garden Profit Pathways

Challenge: Many residents in Mt. Sterling and surrounding urban neighborhoods have limited access to garden space but show interest in growing their own food and generating supplemental income.
Extension Opportunity:

• Promote container gardening, vertical growing, and small-space crop planning

• Offer training on selling high-value crops like herbs, microgreens, and salad greens

• Expand current workshops to focus on low-cost startup models and entry-level entrepreneurship

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Sustainable Herb & Essential Oil Enterprise

Challenge: Local growers are eager to diversify with value-added products like herbs and essential oils but lack access to production, distillation, and marketing training.
Extension Opportunity:

• Host herb-growing and harvesting workshops using UK guidelines

• Provide education on basic oil extraction, labeling, and product safety

• Link growers with farmers markets, boutiques, and KY Proud networks

• Support business planning for small-scale herbal enterprises

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Family & Consumer Sciences Program: Food Access and Community Health

Food Insecurity in Montgomery County

• Estimated local food insecurity rate: 16–18%

• Higher in households with children, especially in rural areas with limited transportation

• Rates exceed both state and national averages, per preliminary USDA and Feeding America data

Extension Response:

• Deliver nutrition education programs (e.g., Cooking Through the Calendar, SNAP-Ed, Super Star Chef)

• Promote family budgeting, meal planning, and gardening for food security

• Support collaboration with local food pantries, schools, and community gardens

• Engage youth in food access solutions through 4-H and gardening programs

Long-Term Outcomes:

Montgomery County Cooperative Extension:Program Outcome Summary

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4-H Youth Development Program

Focus Outcome:
Youth will make sound financial decisions.

Through hands-on learning, financial literacy workshops, and real-world simulations, 4-H programming equips youth with the knowledge and confidence to:

• Create and manage personal budgets

• Understand credit, savings, and responsible spending

• Explore entrepreneurship and workforce readiness
  These skills prepare youth to become financially responsible adults who contribute to the economic stability of their households and communities.

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Horticulture Program

Focus: Urban Garden Profit Pathways

Intended Outcomes:

• Urban households gain supplemental income by growing and selling small-scale specialty crops such as herbs, microgreens, or patio vegetables

• Increased access to fresh produce in urban areas improves nutrition and reduces reliance on convenience foods
  This program bridges food access and economic opportunity in areas with limited land and high need.

Focus: Sustainable Herb & Essential Oil Enterprise

Intended Outcomes:

• Additional income streams for small farms through value-added herbal products and oils

• Expanded availability of local products at farmers markets, boutiques, and direct-sale platforms
  This initiative supports rural entrepreneurship and farm diversification with low-barrier, high-demand products.

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Family and Consumer Sciences Program

Long-Term Outcome:
Montgomery County families will demonstrate improvements in financial well-being, nutrition, and overall quality of life as a result of sustained participation in FCS programs.

Key Impacts:

• Increased ability to budget, save, and manage household resources

• Improved knowledge and practice of healthy food preparation and nutrition

• Strengthened family routines and parenting skills

• Reduced chronic disease risk through better food and lifestyle choices

• More resilient households and communities prepared to navigate economic and social challenges

FCS programs empower families with the tools to make informed, confident decisions that positively affect multiple aspects of daily life—now and into future generations.

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Intermediate Outcomes:

Horticulture Program

Focus: Urban Garden Profit Pathways

Intended Outcomes:

• 
  

  Participants develop consistent, small-scale production routines that generate regular harvests

• 
  

  Urban growers begin participating in CSA or small venue sales

• 
  

  Participants invest in basic infrastructure to scale up production

• 
  

  Peer networks form to support marketing and troubleshooting

• 
  

  Gardeners reinvest income into expansion (new crops, tools, etc.)

Focus: Sustainable Herb & Essential Oil Enterprise

Intended Outcomes:

• 
  

  Participants move from raw herb sales to producing branded value-added products

• 
  

  Herb growers begin participating in multiple retail venues

• 
  

  Extension-trained growers meet compliance for labeling, safety, and marketing

• 
  

  Peer mentoring among participants begins

• 
  

  Enterprises start contributing measurable supplemental income

Initial Outcomes:

Montgomery County Cooperative Extension: Program Outcomes Summary

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4-H Youth Development Program

Core Outcome:
Youth will practice responsible consumer and financial management decision-making, including budgeting and distinguishing needs vs. wants.

Program Impacts:

• Youth learn to create and manage a basic personal budget

• Participants demonstrate understanding of spending priorities and goal setting

• Youth apply financial decision-making in real-life simulations or project-based learning (e.g., entrepreneurship, club treasurer roles)

• Increased confidence in handling money and planning for future needs

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Horticulture Program

Focus: Urban Garden Profit Pathways

Outcome Pathway:

• Participants adopt consistent small-scale production routines to ensure regular harvests

• Urban growers begin selling produce through CSA programs, farm stands, or local markets

• Growers invest in basic infrastructure (e.g., raised beds, drip irrigation, season extension tools) to scale operations

• Peer networks form for shared marketing, troubleshooting, and knowledge exchange

• Participants reinvest income into new crops, tools, or expanded growing space

Focus: Sustainable Herb & Essential Oil Enterprise

Outcome Pathway:

• Growers move from selling raw herbs to developing branded, value-added products (e.g., teas, oils, salves)

• Participants sell in multiple retail venues such as farmers markets, boutiques, and online shops

• Extension-trained growers meet labeling, food safety, and marketing compliance

• Peer mentoring begins to emerge, creating informal support networks among growers

• Enterprises report measurable supplemental income, with some reinvestment into further growth

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Family and Consumer Sciences Program

Outcome Areas & Impacts:

Focus Area	Outcome Statements
Financial Literacy	Participants apply budgeting and money management skills; make informed decisions about spending and saving
Nutrition & Food Skills	Families prepare more meals at home using healthy, affordable ingredients and safe food handling practices
Life Skills	Youth and adults gain hands-on competence in sewing, cooking, and gardening, building confidence and self-sufficiency
Parenting & Family Well-being	Parents and caregivers improve communication, parenting strategies, and stress management at home
Community Resource Utilization	Participants report increased use of local services related to health, nutrition, and wellness
Personal Goal Setting	Individuals begin setting and tracking wellness goals related to nutrition, fitness, or finances
Healthy Food Choices	Adults and youth make healthier decisions using nutrition labels, portion control, and MyPlate guidelines

Evaluation:

Montgomery County Cooperative Extension: Outcomes & Evaluation Framework

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4-H Youth Development Program

Outcome Level	Outcome Statement	Indicator	Method	Timeline
Short-Term	Youth will understand financial decision-making concepts such as “needs vs. wants.”	# of youth who reported learning the difference between purchases made for needs vs. wants	Standard Evaluation Tool for 4-H FCS (Survey)	Immediately post-program (6+ hours)
Medium-Term	Youth will take steps to explore FCS-related careers or job skills.	# of youth who reported pursuing knowledge for a job in Family and Consumer Sciences	Standard Evaluation Tool for 4-H FCS (Survey)	End of program year
Long-Term	Youth will demonstrate sustained growth in financial literacy, career readiness, and life skills.	Participation & growth tracked via National 4-H Index Study	National 4-H Index Study or 4-H FCS Long-Term Survey Tool	1+ years after participation

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Horticulture Program

Focus: Urban Garden Profit Pathways

Evaluation Method	Purpose	Timeline
Pre/post surveys	Assess knowledge gain in gardening and microenterprise	Before/after series
CSA/market participation logs	Track engagement in direct-to-consumer sales	Ongoing
Annual grower interviews	Monitor financial progress and business development	Yearly
Photo documentation	Track improvements in production systems	Throughout program year
Sales log analysis	Estimate economic impact	Annual summary

Focus: Sustainable Herb & Essential Oil Enterprise

Evaluation Method	Purpose	Timeline
Pre/post participant surveys	Measure product development knowledge and readiness	Program start/end
Labeling & compliance reviews	Ensure regulatory and legal standards are met	Mid-program or final
Revenue/product tracking	Monitor income and product line growth over time	2–3 years post-start
Customer feedback	Collect input on product quality and appeal	Ongoing during sales
Case studies	Highlight successful growers and business models	1–2 developed annually

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Family & Consumer Sciences Program

Evaluation Tool	Purpose	Best Use
Pre- and Post-Assessments	Measure knowledge gained or attitude shifts	Nutrition, budgeting, parenting
Skills Demonstration / Observation	Evaluate hands-on ability (e.g., knife skills, sewing, budgeting)	Ideal for youth, in-person programs
Participant Reflections / Exit Tickets	Capture personal takeaways and intentions	Use at end of class/series
Interactive Tools for Youth	Quizzes, games, matching cards	For K–5 or large group settings
Photo or Project Evidence	Show tangible skill progress	Gardening, sewing, cooking projects
Participant/Caregiver Feedback	Assess real-life application and satisfaction	Family wellness, parenting programs

Learning Opportunities:

Montgomery County Cooperative Extension: Program Summary

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4-H Youth Development Program

Audience: Youth (middle school and high school students)

Project or Activity: Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference

Content or Curriculum:

• 4-H Major Study of Emphasis

• Money Habitudes

• Building a Healthy, Wealthy Future

• Jump$tart: Reality Check

• Money Smart

• Building Your Financial Future

Inputs:

• Accredited/certified 4-H Family & Consumer Sciences volunteers

• Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association

• Master Clothing Volunteers

• Four residential 4-H camping centers

• Cooperative Extension educational facilities

• Research-based curriculum from the Land-Grant System

• Support from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation and federal/state/local funding

• Community partnerships for needs-based programming

• Youth, adult volunteers, and Extension personnel for program delivery

Date: September 1 – August 30 (Program Year)

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Horticulture Program

Focus Area: Urban Garden Profit Pathways

Audience:

• Urban residents with limited space

• Individuals seeking supplemental income or part-time self-employment

Project or Activity:

• Urban gardening classes (container gardens, vertical gardening)

• Microgreens & salad mix workshops

• Direct-to-market sales training

• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) coaching

Content or Curriculum:

• UK Extension container gardening resources

• Farmer's Market Handbook

• Market training curriculum and legal guides

Inputs:

• Container gardening supplies, seeds, soil

• Extension agents (Horticulture & ANR)

• Workshop space/facilities

• Printed marketing and pricing resources

Outputs:

• 10 urban gardeners launched

• 3 microgreen businesses started

• 1 new CSA formed

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Focus Area: Sustainable Herb & Essential Oil Enterprise

Audience:

• Growers looking to diversify income

• Farmers market vendors expanding product lines

• Residents exploring herb-based product development

Project or Activity:

• Herb growing and processing workshops

• Labeling & legal compliance training

• Oil distillation demonstrations

Content or Curriculum:

• UK Extension herb production publications

• Essential oil extraction guidelines

• Home-based processing laws & marketing strategies

Inputs:

• Extension agent training and demonstration time

• Distillation equipment and herb starter kits

• Labeling templates, compliance sheets, marketing materials

Outputs:

• 5 growers actively processing oils

• 10 herb-based products launched

• 1 farmers market herb booth established

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Family & Consumer Sciences Program

Participant Learning Outcomes:

Focus Area	Outcome Statement
Nutrition & Health	Participants identify food groups and explain MyPlate nutrition guidelines.
	Youth demonstrate safe knife handling and food safety techniques.
	Participants describe how physical activity supports a healthy lifestyle.
Financial Literacy	Participants list basic financial terms and create simple household budgets.
Life Skills	Adults and youth recognize sewing tools and demonstrate running, whip, and basting stitches.
Family Development	Families describe stress-reduction and communication strategies that enhance well-being.
	Parents explain positive discipline techniques and their impact on child development.
Community Engagement	Participants identify Extension and community resources supporting family stability.

Evaluation:

Montgomery County Cooperative Extension: Outcomes & Evaluation Framework

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4-H Youth Development Program

Outcome Level	Outcome Statement	Indicator	Method	Timeline
Short-Term	Youth will understand financial decision-making concepts such as “needs vs. wants.”	# of youth who reported learning the difference between purchases made for needs vs. wants	Standard Evaluation Tool for 4-H FCS (Survey)	Immediately post-program (6+ hours)
Medium-Term	Youth will take steps to explore FCS-related careers or job skills.	# of youth who reported pursuing knowledge for a job in Family and Consumer Sciences	Standard Evaluation Tool for 4-H FCS (Survey)	End of program year
Long-Term	Youth will demonstrate sustained growth in financial literacy, career readiness, and life skills.	Participation & growth tracked via National 4-H Index Study	National 4-H Index Study or 4-H FCS Long-Term Survey Tool	1+ years after participation

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Horticulture Program

Focus: Urban Garden Profit Pathways

Evaluation Method	Purpose	Timeline
Pre/post surveys	Assess knowledge gain in gardening and microenterprise	Before/after series
CSA/market participation logs	Track engagement in direct-to-consumer sales	Ongoing
Annual grower interviews	Monitor financial progress and business development	Yearly
Photo documentation	Track improvements in production systems	Throughout program year
Sales log analysis	Estimate economic impact	Annual summary

Focus: Sustainable Herb & Essential Oil Enterprise

Evaluation Method	Purpose	Timeline
Pre/post participant surveys	Measure product development knowledge and readiness	Program start/end
Labeling & compliance reviews	Ensure regulatory and legal standards are met	Mid-program or final
Revenue/product tracking	Monitor income and product line growth over time	2–3 years post-start
Customer feedback	Collect input on product quality and appeal	Ongoing during sales
Case studies	Highlight successful growers and business models	1–2 developed annually

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Family & Consumer Sciences Program

Evaluation Tool	Purpose	Best Use
Pre- and Post-Assessments	Measure knowledge gained or attitude shifts	Nutrition, budgeting, parenting
Skills Demonstration / Observation	Evaluate hands-on ability (e.g., knife skills, sewing, budgeting)	Ideal for youth, in-person programs
Participant Reflections / Exit Tickets	Capture personal takeaways and intentions	Use at end of class/series
Interactive Tools for Youth	Quizzes, games, matching cards	For K–5 or large group settings
Photo or Project Evidence	Show tangible skill progress	Gardening, sewing, cooking projects
Participant/Caregiver Feedback	Assess real-life application and satisfaction	Family wellness, parenting programs