Extension
It Starts With Us
Enhancing Life Skills through Youth Projects and Activities
Developing Leadership Skills for Community and Civic Engagement
Jolly, Stillwell, Fentress, DeRamus
Leadership
Science, Engineering, and Technology
Active Living and Health Promotions General
Agriculture
According to Michigan State University Extension articles published in January 2013 & August 2016, one of the most important support systems for healthy adolescent development is positive friendships and positive peer influences. These peer to peer relationships can encourage teens to care about people, meet/set higher standards and participate in constructive activities. From the 2019 Hardin County Community Assessment report it was emphasized that we need to continue and expand on "youth life skills training educational opportunities". 4-H programs offer a wide range of life skill opportunities based on an individuals interests and goals. An individuals involvement, regardless of project/program area, will enhance leadership, decision making and money management skills.
Youth will:
*Be advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems.
*Youth will gain and maintain employment resulting from life skill development through 4-H.
*Youth will gain skills to help deal with peer pressures that lead to self-esteem issues, bullying prevention and coping strategies.
Life Skills Program - CD
- Youth will seek out ways to get employment by contacting Career Agencies, Work Prep Programs, Job shadowing & Internships opportunities.
- Youth will be self-sufficient and be able to balance personal finances.
- Youth will be able to develop positive relationships amongst people from different backgrounds.
- Youth will get involved with helping a community organization with bringing awareness to a social awareness issue and help the organization with finding some solutions to help the community.
• Youth will practice and apply skills and knowledge in the production of food and fiber in the areas
of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
• Youth will adopt and practice skills that contribute to employability.
• Youth can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.
• Youth will set a goal and accomplish it.
• Youth can influence the purchase of Kentucky Proud products.
• Youth can practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems.
Life Skills Program - CD
Intermediate Outcomes
- Youth will develop positive relationships amongst people from different backgrounds.
- Youth will know techniques to use to handle conflict and anger when stressful situations arise.
- Youth will be prepared to complete an interview for a position with a potential employer.
- Youth will be able to set some obtainable career goals and be able to make more informed decisions.
Life Skills Program - CD
*Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant
sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
• Youth will gain an understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems.
• Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, record-keeping, leadership and service.
Life Skills Program - CD
- Short Term Outcomes
- Youth will develop skills in oral communication and written communication that will contribute to helping them to be in a future leadership role in a future career or profession.
- Youth will be able to develop a cover letter and a resume to apply for a future position for any profession.
- Youth will be able to identify their strengths and weaknesses thru skills assessments and team building activities.
- Youth will have a basic understanding of how money works and how to apply basic budgeting techniques to personal income.
- Youth will develop an understanding of diversity and see how it helps in establishing positive relationships with peer groups and people from a background different from their own.
Life Skills Program - CD
Initial Outcome: Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in areas of plant, horticulture and/or animal sciences
Indicator: Number of youth who understands the role of agriculture in the production of food and fiber
Method: 4-H Program Agriculture Written Evaluation
Timeline: Spring, late summer and/or Fall
Intermediate Outcome: Youth will set a goal and accomplish it
Indicator: Number of youth who set a goal and accomplished it
Method: 4-H Program Agriculture Written Evaluation
Timeline: Spring, late summer and/or Fall
Long-term Outcome: Youth will be advocates for agriculture while gaining and maintaining employment as result of their participation
Indicator: Number of youth who demonstrate a skill that was learned or improved as a result of their participation in a 4-H ANR project, program, event or activity
Method: 4-H program Agriculture Written Evaluation
Timeline: Spring, late summer and/or Fall
Life Skills Program - CD
Outcome: Youth will be able to develop a cover letter and a resume to apply for a future position for any profession.
Indicator:
- Number of youth participants demonstrating an application of specified life skills.
Method: Surveys will be administered every 3-4 months, Interviews, Testimonials, phone calls.
Timeline: February 2021-June 2021
Outcome: Build skills in anger management, perspective-taking, and problem-solving strategies.
Indicator:
- Number of youth who become more aware of ways to attain pertinent life skills.
Method: Surveys will be administered every 3-4 months, Interviews, Testimonials, phone calls.
Timeline: August 2020-November 2020
Outcome: Youth will seek out ways to get employment by contacting Career Agencies, Work Prep Programs, Job shadowing & Internships opportunities.
Indicator:
- Number of youth reporting self-sufficiency (developing self-confidence, obtaining employment, pursuing higher education, advocating on behalf of youth and other vulnerable populations).
Method: Surveys will be administered every 3-4 months, Interviews, Testimonials, phone calls.
Timeline: March-June 2021
Life Skills Program - CD
Audience: 4-H youth 5 - 18 years of age
Project or Activity: 4-H Livestock Club
Content or Curriculum: Beef, Sheep, Swine Resource Handbook & Certified Livestock Volunteer Curriculum, Livestock Discovery CD
Inputs: Certified Leaders, Extension Agents, Community Business Leaders
Date: 4-H Program Year, September through August of following year
Audience: 4-H Youth 9 - 18 years of age
Project or Activity: Trailblazers 4-H Horse Club
Content or Curriculum: Basic Horse Safety manual, Horse Achievement Level 1-4, Kansas State Judging manual & DVDs, KY Certified Leaders manual, KY Horse Bowl and horse judging manual
Inputs: Certified Leaders, Extension Agents, Veterinarians & Parents
Date: 4-H program year, September through August
Audience: 4-H youth 5 - 18 years of age
Project or Activity: 4-H Dog Club
Content or Curriculum: Ohio State Dog Learning Lab, American Kennel Club,
Inputs: Leaders, Extension Agents & parents
Date: 4-H Program Year, September through August of following year
Audience: 4-H youth 13 - 18 years of age
Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Communications curriculum
Inputs: Leaders, Extension Agents & parents
Date: 4-H Program Year, September through August of following year
- Life Skills Program - CD
Audience: Youth, (At Risk population, Limited Resource audience)
Project or Activity: CY-FAR Grant Uplift: Empowering Today’s Youth for Tomorrow’s Future
Content or Curriculum: ARISE Leadership Training, Trauma Informed Resiliency, 4H Content or Curriculum on Life Skills, Leadership, Jump Start Coalition, Youth Development Academy Series
Inputs: FCS Agent, 4-H Youth Specialists, UK Extension Staff & Specialists, Volunteers, Community Leaders, Community based organizations, Schools, Family Resource Centers, Extension Staff Career Centers, Military Youth Programs, Colleges, Library
Date: August 2020-November 2020, February 2021-June 2021, August 2021-November 2021
- Life Skills Program - CD
Author: Marla Stillwell
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
As the year 2020 continued to unfold, the Hardin County 4-H/Extension Staff knew they had to adapt quickly in order to keep their members and volunteers engaged while inviting new participants into the world of 4-H. Therefore, the 4-H at Home Summer Discovery Series was developed and was all online and accessible from our county Extension website as well as our county Extension Facebook page. It was evident we had to be flexible and offer more than one way for our community to connec
Author: Marla Stillwell
Major Program: Natural Resources
In an effort to provide a unique opportunity for our 4-H members to stay engaged and connected to 4-H while under the strict COVID guidelines of no in-person programs, a virtual program was developed called 4-H in a Box. The objectives of the 4-H in a Box program was to keep our members engaged and learning while at home through 4-H. The 4-H in a Box program included thoughtfully planned out activities and lessons that correlated with three of our Kentucky 4-H core curriculum areas i
Author: Marla Stillwell
Major Program: Communications and Expressive Arts
2020 was not the year anyone had planned for. The effects of the restrictions placed on our communities due to COVID-19 forced state and local Extension professionals to think outside the box in order to somehow continue programming by means of utilizing technology in ways that had never been done. The term ‘virtual’ became a buzzword almost overnight and encouraged many to begin altering traditional programs., such as art and photography. The Hardin County 4-H progr
Author: Dayna Fentress
Major Program: Family Development General
When Extension Offices across the state had to close their doors to foot traffic, Hardin County quickly found a few ways to continue reaching our audiences. In fact, Hardin County 4-H, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Horticulture programs not only reached our traditional audience, but an entirely new sector of Hardin County residents as well.In an effort to make our programs as accessible as possible, the three Hardin County agents, along with two program assistants, offered two options during
Author: Marla Stillwell
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 and affec
