Extension
It Starts With Us
Community Enhancement and Leadership Development
Community Enhancement and Economic Development
Karli Jessie, Cathy Weaver, Steve Musen
Business Retention and Expansion
4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
Community Strategic Planning
Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Jessamine County is a community just outside of Lexington which creates both opportunities and issues. Lexington provides an outlet for Jessamine residents to work and to enrich their lives through parks and entertainment. This also creates a number of issues such as congestion on highways, a lack of commitment to this community, a struggling business climate as we compete with Lexington and lower tax revenues to this community. Jessamine County also struggles to compete with Lexington and surrounding communities for good jobs and new employers due primarily to land prices. Jessamine County has been a high population growth county since 1965. This growth in population has provided land development opportunities for housing but has made land prices out of reach for new industry. Raw land, suitable for development has reach over $30,000/acre. Estimated cost of infrastructure is around $12,000/acre bringing our land cost at a break-even point to over $45000/acre. We are also located in an area that does not provide quick and easy access to an intestate. Restaurants are beginning to locate in our community and entertainment facilities are also beginning to locate here which should improve are residents overall opinion of Jessamine County.
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 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).Jessamine County is no exception to this and has found that leadership directly links to community involvement.
4-H Youth Leadership is about:
? Learning about the concept of leadership and your individual role as a leader.
? Using leadership skills to effectively lead small groups and teams toward common goals.
? Work within your community (club/county/state or beyond) to become an engaged leader who can make a difference.
Extension is involved in a marketing study for the city of Nicholasville and extension, through our economic development partner and the fiscal court is supporting a study to identify potential needs for more industrial land for the community. Through efforts like these, we hope to the creation of job opportunities in this community. Extension is also involved in work that is being done to improve our downtown area and our parks. Recreational activities are also planned. All of these events and this work will improve the economic and personal well-being of the people who reside in this community and stimulate overall economic activitiy.
Youth will serve as teen and adult leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger youth.
? Youth will demonstrate the understanding of diversity, inclusivity and multiculturalism in their daily life.
? Youth will identify and address critical issues that impact the community
? Youth will be productive, contributing adults in the future.
? Youth will use leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis.
Work with the cities and county government, along with sister organizations to develop working plans that will bring jobs and stimulate economic growth in the community.
Youth will demonstrate leadership, teamwork and communication skills in their day to day lives.
? 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.
? Senior 4-H members will become leaders or co-leaders of a 4-H project club, day camp or other project based group of younger 4-H members.
? Youth will indicate increased awareness of diversity issues in their community and personal lives.
? Youth will engage in community based service projects selected to address identified needs.
Extension leadership will be empowered to work with elected officials to develop ideas that can improve the community we live in. Conversations can take place to start developing outlines of what we want this community to look like.
Youth will learn the communication, leadership and procedural skills that will allow them to run a meeting.
? Youth will increase their knowledge about leadership and how to be an effective leader, team player and communicator.
? Youth will learn about leadership styles and will be able to identify positive and negative leadership characteristics.
? Youth will learn about diversity and will demonstrate inclusivity.
? Youth will acquire decision making skills and gain an appreciation for civic engagement.
? Youth will learn how to set appropriate, attainable goals.
? Youth wil listen to people who have different ideas from them.
Long-Term Outcome:
Extension and extension leadership being involved in successful programs that bring about an economic impact to the community. Business expansion and retention, infrastructure enhancement and a positive relationship with community organizations working toward economic sustainability.
Extension participation in community decision making indicate a need for extension education in these areas
An increase in economic activity through efforts made by organizations supported by extension is a good indication of success within our community.
o Number of youth who indicate “they know how to set and accomplish a goal”.
o Number of youth who indicate they “listen to people who have different ideas than me”.
o Number of youth who indicate they “can finish a job I have started”.
o Number of youth who indicate they “can take responsibility for my actions”.
o Number of youth provided with diversity focused education.
? Number of 4-H members leading a project group or project club.
? Number of 4-H members serving as direct mentors to younger youth.
Intermediate Outcome:
Extension being able to offer support and being asked to support the efforts of the main street program, chamber, economic development and local governments with projects such as marketing plans, and comprehensive planning tools.
Initial Outcome:
Extension agents and leaders serving in leadership and support roles for various organization and local governments. These ongoing efforts show the need for extension trained leaders who are positive thinkers and hard workers in their community
Leadership Seminar
4-H Officer Training
KEHA Officer Training
Marketing Extension Activities
4-H Camp Counselor Training
Activities from the following:
• Homemaker Council
• FCS Council
• 4-H council
• Extension Council
• District Board
• 4-H Teen Council
•Junior Leadership Team for Middle school youth
•Ag commodity groups
•Beef IRM
•Jessamine County Beef Cattle Executive committee
Involvment with other community organizations
* Chamber of Commerce
* Library
* Transportation Task Force
* Health Department
* Mainstreet Programs (Nicholasville Now)
* Leadership Jessamine County
*Destination Jessamine
* Bluegrass Rape Crisis Center Advisory Board
*Interagency Council
* Youth Leadership Jessamine County
* Economic Development Authority
* Economic Restructuring committee- Downtown
Author: Karli Giles
Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
The Jessamine County Extension Homemaker Association worked together as an organization to make Christmas baskets for a local bank to support their scholarship fund. Thirty Homemaker members donated baked goods and their time to make the baskets. On average, the members spent three hours baking, packaging, and delivering their items to the extension office, which equaled 90 hours of volunteer time. The baskets were assembled at the Extension Office by a team of eight members. The Jessamine Count
Author: Catherine Weaver
Major Program: 4-H Volunteer Programming
Volunteers play integral roles in 4-H programs, performing a variety of duties, functions, and tasks and possessing varied and rich knowledge, skills, and backgrounds (Radhakrishna & Ewing, 2011). The success of Extension programming is due, in part, to the dedication of a large cadre of volunteers (Smith, Dasher, & Klingborg, 2005). Although highly valued, volunteer involvement does not guarantee achievement of Extension's goals and fulfillment of learners' needs (Bolton, 1992).
Author: Catherine Weaver
Major Program: 4-H Leadership Core Curriculum
Youth who participate in organizational leadership roles, planning activities, making presentations, and participating in extra-curricular activities show higher levels of self-efficacy, self-advocacy, and self-determination (Edelman et al., 2004; Larson, 2000, Sagawa, 2003). CES, through the 4-H program planned and implemented programming for high school aged youth through their 4-H Teen Council. The Jessamine County 4-H Teen Council holds monthly meetings, where a leadership activi
