Extension
It Starts With Us
Develop Individuals for Volunteer and Leadership Roles
Engaged Communities
Shane Bogle, Rhonda Jewell, Ashley White
Leadership
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD): Developing Core Leadership Skills
Community Engagement
Leadership is a needed and important programming emphasis in Cooperative Extension. The Cooperative Extension Service provides opportunities for youth and families to help improve their leadership ability and create a positive impact on their future. Leadership opportunities for youth create a setting that reduces the access of youth 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 future employees. Developing leadership in the youth and adults 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, 2017).
Kentucky 4-H, Family & Consumer Sciences, and Agriculture programs provide opportunities for youth and adults to actively engage locally and globally to promote life skills [such as leadership] that prepare them for the global marketplace. Through extension programs, individuals exercise critical thinking skills, learn to appreciate diversity, practice tolerance, develop socio-emotionally, and strive to contribute to their environment (United States Department of Education International Affairs Office of International Strategy).
4-H participants rate their leadership life skills above average, have a positive view of their leadership ability, and have a positive attitude toward diversity and acceptance of others (Locke, Boyd, Fraze, and Howard, 2007). Agriculture leadership skills are applied to make policy changes that make life better for citizens. Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association mission is to improve the quality of life for families and communities through education, leadership development, and volunteer service. Extension works to improve leadership at the personal level, organizational level, and community level.
*Local economy is strengthened through strong local organizational leadership.
*Community problems are solved through actively engaged local leaders.
*Youth will gain the needed leadership skills that will allow them to serve as teen and adult leaders in their community organization and as mentors for younger youth.
*Youth will receive education in diversity, inclusivity, and multiculturalism.
*KEHA members serve as active Extension and community volunteers engaged in addressing community needs.
*Increased number of individuals who practice personal leadership skills in clubs, schools, and community outreach.
*Participants improve skills in communication, problem solving, or group process in addressing organizational issues and needs.
*Participants apply skills to assess needs, develop programs and implement solutions for community problems.
*Extension volunteer base will increase.
*Youth will demonstrate leadership, teamwork, and communication skills in their day to day lives.
*Senior 4-H members will become leaders or co-leaders of a 4-H project club day other project based group with younger 4-H members.
*Youth will engage in community based service projects selected to address identified needs.
*Participants will indicate an increased awareness of diversity.
*KEHA members will practice personal leadership skills through leadership roles at the club, county, area, and/or state level.
*Participants increase knowledge and skills in personal, organizational, and community leadership. .
*Participants will learn the different leadership styles and be to identify positive and negative leadership characteristics.
*Participants will understand the importance of being involved in the community.
*Participants will increase their knowledge about leadership and how to be an effective leader, team player and communicator.
Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge and skills in personal, organizational, and community leadership
Indicator: number of individuals who report knowledge gained through programming efforts
Method: pre-post survey
Timeline: ongoing
Intermediate Outcome: Increase number of individuals who practice personal leadership skills in clubs, schools, and community outreach
Indicator: number of individuals who utilize knowledge gained to fulfill leadership roles
Method: observation
Timeline: ongoing
Long-term Outcome: Community problems are solved by actively engaged leaders
Indicator: leaders are actively engaged
Method: observation
Timeline: ongoing
Audience: Homemakers, Community Members
Project or Activity: Monthly leader lessons
Content or Curriculum: KEHA approved lessons
Inputs: Extension Agents
Date: September 2020-June 2021
Audience: Community Leaders, Members
Project or Activity: Leadership Caldwell
Content or Curriculum: KELD
Inputs: Extension Agents, Chamber
Date: TBD
Audience: Teens
Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Council
Content or Curriculum: Unlock Your Leadership Potential / Team-building with Teens
Inputs: Extension Agents
Date: 2020-2021
Audience: Teens
Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Summit
Content or Activity: KY 4-H Leadership / Leadership Conference for middle school students
Inputs: Extension Agents
Date: March 2021
Audience: Teens
Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Conference
Content or Activity: KY 4-H Leadership / Leadership Conference for high school students
Inputs: Extension Agents
Date: June 2021
Audience: Teens
Project or Activity: Southern Region 4-H Teen Leadership Conference
Content or Activity: Leadership Conference for teens in Southern Region
Inputs: Extension Agents
Date: September 2020
Audience: Homemaker Leaders
Project or Activity: KEHA Officer Workshop
Content: KELD,
Inputs: Extension Agents
Date: September 2020
Audience: Teens
Project: 4-H Camp Teen Leader
Content: West KY 4-H Camp Program
Inputs: Volunteers (teens and adult), camp staff, Extension Agents
Date: June 2021
Audience: Master Clothing Volunteers
Project or Activity: MCV Fall Training
Content: various
Inputs: UK Specialists, Extension Agents
Date: Fall each year
Author: Rhonda Jewell
Major Program: Leadership
Five Caldwell County 4-H teens participated in a virtual leadership conference with youth from surrounding southern states. The Southern Region Teen Leadership Conference, or SRTLC, is held annually to allow youth and adults to develop leadership skills as well as to practice networking skills with 4-H’ers from other states. To abide with COVID-19 restrictions, this year’s conference was held virtually, with workshops, networking events, virtual campfires and dances, leadership
Author: Rhonda Jewell
Major Program: Leadership
The Caldwell County 4-H Teen Council has been functioning for the past seventeen years. The group met one morning a month before school at 7:00 a.m. at the high school. This worked for the teens because it allowed them to be members and still play sports or work afterschool. When Covid-19 hit in March of 2020 and students were sent home, teen council was put on hold along with all other school related activities. This pause in activity was a chance to rethink and rebuild.
