Extension
It Starts With Us
Developing and Empowering Community Leaders for Engagement
Leadership
Cockerham, Reed, Jeffiers
Empowering Community Leaders (general)
4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
4-H Youth Development Programming
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
It has been agreed upon by all Johnson County Extension Councils that developing new leaders is the key to continued growth in programming and progress. The development of leadership contributes greatly to the positive development of 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). Furthermore, helping people develop leadership competencies makes them better able to solve community problems and enhances their civic participation (O'Brien & Kohlmeier, 2003). Young leaders also demonstrate higher career aspirations, increased self-esteem, and improved high school completion rates (Bloomberg, Ganey, Alba, Quintero, & Alcantara, 2003).
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 others, and fresh perspectives for how to address these problems (Des Marais, Yang, & Farzanehkia, 2000; Zeldin, McDaniel, Topitzes, & Lorens, 2001; McGillicuddy, 1991). Additionally, young people help to re-energize adults and counteract negative stereotypes of youth when they are successfully engaged in leadership within their communities (Zeldin, & Camino, 1999; Fiscus, 2003).
Becoming an active part of the community necessitates that youth and adults value the diversity present and promote inclusivity at all levels of programming and involvement. The demographic makeup of the US has changed significantly over the last few decades and will continue to change in terms of race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, socio-economic status (SES), special needs and educational attainment. This changing population and awareness of diversity will continue to change into the future. Three powerful trends in society have contributed to a focus on diversity, inclusiveness and education about this topic. These trends are: 1) a competitive, globalized market in which the US conducts business; 2) substantial changes in the makeup of the US population and, 3) the celebration of individual differences and a movement away from “fitting in”. Some facts related to this:
* 4 of 5 new jobs are the result of foreign trade.
*The percentage of whites in the population continues to decline. Asians are the fastest growing race group while Hispanics are the largest. By 2050, approximately 1 in 2 people (50%) will be non-white.
*The majority of new workers are women and people of color.
*Taken as a whole, people with disabilities make up the largest minority group (15%) in the US.
*The fastest growing age group are those 75+ years old.
1.Master Clothing Volunteers will share their skills throughout the Northeast Area
2.Kentucky Extension Homemakers will use the skills learned through trainings and hands on practice how to improve themselves, their homes and communities
3.Route 23 Cultural Heritage Network will gain skills necessary in leadership to effectively lead the organization to become self- sustaining
4.Farmers’ market producers contribute to the overall quality of markets and production in the state.
5.Cattle producers help the area develop a reputation as an innovative and progressive cattle farming area.
6.Eastern Kentucky honey and other products are known for their high quality products and skilled producers.
7.Youth will serve as teen and adult leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger youth.
8.Youth will be productive, contributing adults in the future.
9.Youth will use leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace.
10. The Extension Council and other councils will utilize the rotation system, update their by-laws and evaluate their methods of leadership strategies.
11. 4-H volunteers are engaged to support continued 4-H Youth Development programming in the county.
1.Master Clothing Volunteers will learn to plan a program, manage the budget, implement the program and evaluate for the following year
2.KEHA members will implement plans made through council meetings, accept Area and State positions.
3.CHN will attend meetings to improve leadership skills necessary for management, expand their roles, recruit new members and enhance the organization.
4.Farmers’ market producers serve in leadership roles with commodity groups.
5.Beef producers are involved in KCA and other groups as leaders.
6.Beekeepers help to mentor and teach other bee producers.
7.Youth will demonstrate leadership, teamwork and communication skills.
8.Youth will utilize leadership skills learned during their time in 4-H in clubs, activities and other venues with 4-H and other community organizations.
9.High School youth will assist leaders of a 4-H project club, day camp or other project based group of younger 4-H members.
10.Youth will engage in community based service projects selected to address identified needs.
11. The Extension Council and other councils will review their membership and methods of conducting activiies.
12. 4-H volunteers fundraise and provide input on 4-H programming needs to insure county support of 4-H programs.
a.Volunteers in the Northeast Area will attend training and become Master Clothing Volunteers
b.People will pay dues and become KEHA members and accept leadership positions
c.CHN members will pay dues, attend meetings, and accept leadership positions
d.Farmers’ market growers learn about Extension
e.Beef cattle producers understand opportunities in commodity groups
f. Beekeepers network with other area producers
g.Youth will learn the communication, leadership and procedural skills that allow them to run a meeting.
h.Youth will learn about different leadership and personality types and be able to identify positive and negative characteristics.
I. Youth and adults will gain knowledge about how to be an effective leader, team leader and communicator.
j. Youth and Extension leaders will learn about diversity.
k. Youth and Adults will learn about decision making skills and civic engagement.
l. Youth and adults will learn how to set attainable goals.
m. Youth and adults will learn the value of listening to other people who have different ideas.
N. The Extension council and other councils will be trained on what councils are supposed to do.
O. 4-H volunteers organize fundraisers and brainstorm about needed programs for county youth.
*Indicator: Master Clothing Volunteers will share information with attendees
Method: Observation, testimonials
Timeline: 2019-20
*Indicator: CHN members will achieve self-sustainment for their program
Methods: Members will learn skills and methods to create a system that will continue itself by attending meetings and implementing plans. They will apply for grants to implement program ideas
Timeline: 2019-2020
*Indicator: KEHA members will move into leadership positions
Method: KEHA members will attend meetings, Johnson County will host leadership toolbox for all Northeast area members and all counties will be encouraged to take on leadership roles and implement the plans set forth by their councils
Timeline: 2019-2020
*Indicator: Farmers’ market contributes to the overall quality of markets in the state;other markets work with our producers to share strategies for market development.
Method: Communication with producers and agents in other counties
Timeline: 2020
*Indicator: Cattle producers help the area develop a reputation as an innovative and progressive cattle farming area. Projects such as the Heifer Development Project & sale are emulated elsewhere.
Method: Tracking state sales and events
Timeline: 2016-2020
*Indicator: Eastern Kentucky honey is known for its high quality products and skilled producers.
Method: Sales of local honey in other areas; producer feedback
Timeline: 2020
*Indicator: Youth serve as leaders and mentors, are productive contributing adults in future, will use leadership and communications needed to be successful in the workplace; Alumni and working 4-Hers will be active and successful members of their communities.
Method: gathering information on alumni program participants that are attending secondary education, and/or actively employed and/or contributing to their communities
Timeline: 2018 to adulthood
*Indicator: Master Clothing Volunteers will host a fall training session
Method: Observation and documentation of marketing and attendance
Timeline: Fall 2016
*Indicators: 4-H Program evaluations - number of youth serving as teen and adult leaders in their communities, being productive, contributing adults, and using leadership/communication skills in the workplace.
Method: Face to Face discussions, over the phone conversations or paper surveys and follow-ups
Timeline: annually
*Indicator: Number of youth demonstrating leadership, teamwork and communication skills, high school youth becoming leaders/mentors to younger 4-H members, youth indicating increased awareness of diversity issues in their community and personal lives, and youth engaging in community based service projects selected to address identified needs.
Method: Face to face discussion, phone conversations or paper surveys and follow-ups
Timeline: annually
3. Initial Outcome:
*Indicator: Master Clothing Volunteers will plan a fall training session
Method: observable records and planning
Timeline: summer 2016
*4-H indicators:
Number of youth who indicate “they know how to set and accomplish a goal”.
Number of youth who indicate they “listen to people who have different ideas than me”.
Number of youth who indicate they “can finish a job I have started”.
Number of youth who indicate they “can take responsibility for my actions”.
Number of youth provided with diversity focused education.
Number of 4-H members leading or assisting in a group or club.
Number of 4-H members serving as direct mentors to younger youth
Number of youth learning the communication, leadership and procedural skills that will allow them to run a meeting, gaining knowledge about how to be an effective leader, team player and communicator, learning about leadership styles, identifying positive and negative leadership characteristics, decision making, diversity, civic engagement, setting goals and listening to others’ ideas.
Method: Face to Face discussion, phone conversations, paper surveys and follow-ups
Timeline: Throughout the year
1.Audience: Master Clothing Volunteers, Northeast Area Homemakers
Project or Activity: Fall workshop
Content or Curriculum: creative stitchery and other publications
Inputs: Master Clothing Volunteers in the Northeast Area and NE Leaders
Date: 2019
2.Audience: Northeast Area Homemakers
Project or Activity: Leadership Toolbox or other leader trainings
Content or Curriculum: Recommended Homemakers training following state guidelines guiding organizational structure
Inputs: Northeast Area Agents and Leaders
Date: Fall 2019
3.Audience: NE Area Homemakers
Project or Activity: Leadership Toolbox
Content or Curriculum: KEHA curriculum for chairmen for lesson delivery
Inputs: Agents and NEA Leaders
Date: 2019
4.Audience: Johnson County Homemakers
Project or Activity: Leadership Training and hands on practice
Content or curriculum: following KEHA guides and including JC input
Input: Johnson County Extension Homemaker Leadership, NE Area, and State
Date: Year around (hands on practice and multiple meetings and trainings)
5.Audience: Route 23 Cultural Heritage Network
Project or Activity: CHN activities selected by committees, budget planning, and leadership planning (applied learning)
Content or curriculum: hands on experience
Input: Members and Leaders of CHN
Date: 2019-20
6.Audience: Beekeepers
Project or Activity: Honey production workshops
Content or Curriculum: Developed with specialists & state apiarist
Inputs: Demonstration equipment, leaders
Date: Bi-monthly
7. Audience: Beef producers
Project or Activity: Leadership development
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Farm Bureau Leadership
Inputs: Staff, volunteers
Date: 2019
8.Audience: Farmers’ market producers
Project or Activity: Meat & egg handling workshops
Content or curriculum: Food safety from UK
Inputs: Extension facilities, local slaughter facility
Date: 2016-2020
9.Audience: youth grades 4-12
Project or Activity: Community Service projects
Content or Curriculum: 4HCCS and UK Cooperative Extension Curriculum for Citizenship, Civic Engagement, Leadership and online Agent Resource Guide
Inputs: community leaders, extension staff, leaders, local organizations
Date: annually
10. Audience: 4- 6th and 8th graders (High school youth in leadership roles)
Project or Activity: 4-H It’s Your Reality and Dollars and Sense
Content or Curriculum: It’s Your Reality – Dollars and Sense Curriculum
Inputs: State Specialist, Extension Personnel, 4-H Project clubs, 4-H elementary school clubs, Teachers, School Administrators,
Volunteers, local businesses, civic organizations, community leaders
Date: Annually Nov-Dec and Feb-Mar
11. Audience: 4-6 graders
Project or Activity: 4-H Club Officers
Content or Curriculum: UK Cooperative Extension and 4HCCS Curriculum, Parliamentary Procedure materials
Inputs: State specialists, Extension personnel, teachers, leaders
Date: annually August-May
12. Audience: Campers ages 9-14 ( high school youth serving in leadership roles as camp counselors)
Project or activity: 4-H Camp and Counselor interviews and training
Content or Curriculum: UK Cooperative Extension Camp Training Manuals and Updates
Inputs: State Specialists, Extension Personnel, volunteers, community leaders and local businesses
Date: annually spring-summer
13. Audience: 4-H Council and youth volunteers
Project or activity: Fundraising and program brainstorming
Content: Leadership
Inputs: Extension personnel, volunteers, community leaders, councils and local businesses
Date: Annually an decided and requested
Author: Brenda Cockerham
Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
Extension Homemakers continue to be one of the top leadership programs in Johnson County- not just in Family and Consumer Sciences but in the county in general. These volunteers work extensively in the community in a variety of topics and are now growing. Perhaps for the first time in the clubs history, there are more members under 50 than over it. With 118 members and two new clubs, the newer clubs are issue oriented. They are wanting to pursue topics such as the needle exchange, environmental
Author: Brenda Cockerham
Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
Johnson County Extension Homemakers remains one of the top leadership development groups for the Family and Consumer Sciences program. The following is a brief summary of 2019-20 activities:2019 recruiting efforts resulted in a membership of 118, an increase of 34 members from last year. A Juniors Homemakers Club and the Appalachian Makers club resulted as well. The annual Holiday Happenings event had a record attendance, as did the annual Winterfest event held at OSCAR. Many club memb
