Extension
It Starts With Us
Enhancing Personal Development through Leadership and Healthy Life Skills and Practices
Leadership & Personal Development
Meagan Klee,
Substance Use Prevention and Recovery General
Family and Consumer Science
Leadership
Volunteer Development
As of 2013, Casey County has a population of 16,067. According to the 2013 Kid Count Data Book, 15.7% of youth are considered obese. With a median household income of $29,303, resources and education are lacking in the Casey County community. In-School, After School and summer activities keep youth involved and provide them with additional educational experiences that target personal development and growth.
Youth will develop self confidence and other healthy life practices. Youth will develop skills and knowledge that can be applied in real-world situations. Youth will understand the importance of having a good education and obtaining a job to receive an income. Youth will seek further education after high school and obtain skills to be applied in the workforce.
Youth will be proficient in communication and team building skills and will take on leadership positions through school and community programs. Youth will communicate effectively, make well-informed and effective decisions, and become self-sufficient. Youth will apply knowledge & skills gained when seeking/applying for jobs and other opportunities. Youth will improve their self-image and gain confidence to address issues of bullying, tobacco and drug use among their peers and in the community.
Youth will increase their knowledge in areas of agriculture, family & consumer sciences, natural sciences, health & nutrition, communication, leadership, and life skills. This will allow youth to be more adept in society.
Intermediate Outcome: Teen Leadership Development through YELP (Youth Engagement Leadership Program)
Indicator: Increase in teen enrollment in 4-H programs, increase in teens participating in district, state and national programs.
Method: One-on-one discussions, evaluations
Timeline: Begin in the Fall
Intermediate Outcome: Environmental Awareness
Indicator: Increase in recycling in schools and community, decrease in open trash burning, littering, and other environmentally hazardous practices, participation in Environmental Education Field Days/Camps
Method: Obtain city and county statistics; interview youth, teachers, parents; pre and post assessment
Timeline: Begin with School Year
Intermediate Outcome: Positive Self-Image & Mentorship
Indicator: Decrease in youth bullying, alcohol, tobacco & drug use; increase in self confidence and communication skills
Method: Interviews with youth, teachers & parents
Timeline: Starting in the Fall
Audience: Youth 9-12 years old
Project or Activity: 4-H School Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Project Wild, Project Learning Tree, Building a Health, Wealthy Future, Professor Popcorn, Character Counts
Inputs: Casey County Board of Education MOA
Date: August - May
Audience: Teens 12-18 years old
Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Summit, 4-H Teen Conference, Issues Conference, Casey County 4-H Teen Club, District 5 4-H Teen Council
Content or Curriculum: Leadership Development
Inputs: Community Volunteers & Parents; United Way Funds
Date: August - July
Audience: Youth 9-18 years old
Project or Activity: 4-H Camp, Cloverbud Camp, Shooting Sports Camp; Environmental Camp
Content or Curriculum: Positive Life Skills, Leadership & Communication Skills
Inputs: Community Volunteers & Parents; United Way Funds
Date: April, July
Audience: Youth 12-17 years old
Project or Activity: Teen Talk, Truth & Consequences, Reality Store, LIFE 101, APES Program, Farm Safety Day
Content or Curriculum: state-supported curriculum
Inputs: Community Volunteers & Parents; Casey County Board of Education MOA
Date: August - May
Audience: Youth 9-18 years old
Project or Activity: Expressive Arts: 4-H Demonstration, Speech, Variety Show, Poster, Writing Contest
Content or Curriculum: state-supported curriculum
Inputs: Community Volunteers & Parents; Casey County Board of Education MOA
Date: August - May
Audience: Youth 9-18 years old
Project or Activity: Country Ham Project, Livestock Club, I Love Cows Essay Contest
Content or Curriculum: state-supported curriculum
Inputs: Community Volunteers & Parents
Date: September - October
Author: Meagan Klee
Major Program: Agriculture
Country Hams are a throwback to the way food was preserved before mechanical refrigeration. The 4-Her’s began curing these hams in the cold months of January by applying a cure mixture of salt, brown sugar, and black and red pepper to the surface of the ham. The cure mixture penetrated the fresh hams during the cold months and by March the hams were fully cured. Country hams develop their characteristic flavor and aroma during the warm summer months, sometimes referred to as the “Sum
Author: Meagan Klee
Major Program: Natural Resources
With limitation opportunities for 4-H school clubs and educational lessons in the classroom, Casey County 4-H continued with the disbursement of 4-H Educational Kits. Earth Month Weekly Activities: 30 Easter Egg Planter Kits – included an Easter egg and seeds for planting.100 Pollinator Kits – included an activity book with a compilation of activities and facts about bees and other pollinators along with 4 different flavor honey sticks with a tasting activity. Distributed a
Author: Meagan Klee
Major Program: Leadership
When the COVID-19 pandemic shut down programming in March 2020 youth, families, and communities experienced long-term isolation and alteration of their typical lives related to in and out of school activities. Youth out-of-school time programs, such as 4-H, are essential ecological assets and their disruption during the pandemic may have a major impact on youth’s developmental pathways (Ettekal & Aganas, 2020). For many youth COVID-19 will be the defining issue of their lives
Author: Meagan Klee
Major Program: Natural Resources
Environmental Education programs bring school children to camp to learn about the natural world out in nature.Due to COVID-19 and the limitations with group gatherings and fields trips, we were not able to conduct and in-person camp. To still provide an environmental educational experience, Casey County 4-H applied and received a $1,500 grant from TC Energy to provide 150 at-home educational kits for all 4th grade students in Casey County.The environmental education kits included a drawstring ba
