Develop and Strengthen Leadership and Life SkillsPlan of Work

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Madison County CES

Title:
Develop and Strengthen Leadership and Life Skills
MAP:
Develop and Strengthen Leadership and Life Skills
Agents Involved:
Amanda Sears, Brandon Sears, Aubrey Clark, Scott Darst, Jessica Hunley
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Build Engaged and Empowered Communities – General
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Leadership
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Family and Consumer Science
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Master Gardener
Situation:

According to the Kentucky Extension Community Assessment Madison County Report (2019), the top priority issues for youth and families were: more youth life skills training (money management, life decision making) and better family skills in reducing debt, increasing savings and financial planning.  There were also top priorities identified impacting leadership, including more qualified leaders to prepare community for the future, more youth community leadership opportunities, and more citizens helping to solve local issues.   From this same report, focus groups identified life skills education and workforce readiness as two of the top five priorities.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Youth will contribute to self, family, community and to the institutions of our society. Youth will obtain the communication and life skills needed to enter the workplace and/or institution of higher learning and lead successful lives. Youth will serve as teen and adult leaders in their communities, community organizations, environmental stewards, and as mentors for younger youth.


Master gardeners will assist with programming and lead classes in the community


Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth will set and achieve goals, develop a positive bond with a caring adult who believe in their success and apply the life skills learned in 4-H in other activities at home, school and in the community.

Volunteers and leaders practice personal leadership skills in clubs, schools and community outreach, improve skills in communication, problem solving, or group process in addressing organizational issues and needs and apply skills to assess needs, develop programs and implement solutions for community problems.

Master Gardeners will coordinate Madison County Master Gardener Club.

Farmer's market leaders will guide their markets during the season.


Initial Outcomes:

Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the decision-making process, and develop life skills. They will also 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.

Clientele increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership.

Residents will understand the importance of sustainable local agriculture to individual health and financial well-being, and will learn to grow, prepare and preserve food

Master Gardeners will learn horticulture skills.

Future Madison County leaders participate in Leadership Madison County to learn about the local agriculture economy.

Work early in season with farmer's market leaders to establish plan for season.

Evaluation:

Outcome: Youth will obtain the communication and life skills needed to enter the workplace and/or institution of higher learning/trade school to lead successful lives

Indicator: Percentage of students who successfully complete the Dollars and Sense Program ad Reality Store Program with a positive bank balance.

Method: 4-H Dollar and Sense Activity Summary Sheet, Reality Store Activity Record Sheet

Timeline: At the end of the program.


Outcome: Youth will obtain the communication and life skills needed to enter the workplace and/or institution of higher learning/ trade schools to lead successful lives

Indicator: Percentage of students who successfully prepare and deliver a 4-H speech or demonstration. Number of students who earn a blue ribbon based on the quality of their presentation overall.

Method: 4-H Speech or Demonstration Score Sheet

Timeline: At the end of the program.


Outcome: Youth will set and achieve goals, develop a positive relationship with a caring adult and apply the life skills learned in 4-H in other activities at home, school and in the community.

Indicator: Number of youth who successfully complete a 4-H project/activity. 

Method: Observation at programs

Timeline: At the end of the program.


Outcome: Youth will learn to read and follow instructions while developing skills in Family and Consumer Sciences projects and programs.

Indicator: Number of youth who reported that they followed instructions step-by step to do or make things themselves (i.e. recipes). 

Method: End of program surveys, observation of completed work

Timeline: Throughout project work, conclusion of the program


Outcome: Master Clothing volunteers practice personal leadership skills in

workshops and community outreach and improve communication and program planning skills.

Indicator: MCV teach workshops and create community projects that improve

skills of participants and serve a need in the community.

Method: MCV reports and class evaluations

Timeline: As projects and classes are completed


Outcome: Leadership Madison County program graduates develop opportunities in local leadership roles

Indicator: Number of graduates who become involved in or are selected for positions of leadership.

Method:Identify past graduates who serve in leadership roles with various local and regional organizations, businesses, elected offices, or agribusinesses/commodity groups.

Timeline: Annually


Outcome: Master gardeners will assist with programming such as county fair and farmer's market events.

Indicator: Increased number of classes offered by master gardeners

Method: Master Gardeners taking on more responsibility with programming.  Master Gardeners will be trained how to handle each program they work with.

Timeline: Throughout the year

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth ages 5-18

Project or Activity: County Communications Contest

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Communications Curriculum, Talk Meet, Demonstrations Booklet, and Contest Rules

Inputs: Volunteer and Agent time, space for contest, awards for participants, copies, equipment

Date: Annually


Audience: Youth ages 5-18

Project or Activity: Communications Contest in the Schools: Speak Up!

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Communications Curriculum, Talk Meet, Demonstrations Booklet, and Contest Rules

Inputs: Agent time, space for contest, awards for participants, copies, equipment

Date: Winter- Spring, Annually



Audience: Middle and High School age 4-H youth

Project or Activity: Leadership Clubs/Teen Council

Content or Curriculum: Unlock Your Leadership Potential, Civic Engagement, district and state level events, 4-H Camp Counselor Training manual

Inputs: 4-H Agent time, volunteer time, funding, curriculum, equipment, meeting space

Date: Monthly Meetings, Year Round


Audience: 4-H Youth ages 9-18

Project or Activity: 4-H Project Clubs/Groups

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Sewing—Keeping 4-H in Stitches; 4-H Cooking—

4-H Cooking 101, 201, 301, 401, Super Star Chef, Visual Arts Curriculum, Utah 4-H Cake Decorating Curriculum

Inputs: 4-H Agent time, volunteer time, funding, curriculum, equipment, meeting space

Date: Time varies by project


Audience: Youth ages 12-18


Project or Activity: Richmond Teen Center

Content or Curriculum: Varies: Unlock your Leadership Potential, National 4-H Mentoring program, Speak Up, Jr MANRRS, 4-H SET

Inputs: 4-H volunteers, resources, curriculum

Date: Annually


Audience: Youth 12-18

Project or Activity: Shooting sports teen leaders

Content or curriculum: varies: shooting sports, Step up to Leadership Mentor guide

Inputs: meeting space and supplies, curriculum, equipment

Date: Annually


Audience: 4-H Volunteers

Project or Activity: Volunteer Training

Content or curriculum: Livestock, Dog, Shooting Sports, Horse, Volunteer Resource Guide

Inputs: meeting space and supplies, curriculum, equipment

Date: One meeting annually, continuing hours


Audience: Board and Council members, clientele

Activity: Family and Consumer Science Council and Homemaker Board, County Extension Council

Content or curriculum: Council Guidelines

Input: KEHA materials, Letters, meals, meeting space, agent and volunteer time

Date: Year Round


Audience: Master Volunteers and clientele

Activity: Master Volunteer in Clothing Program

Content or curriculum: Volunteer Activities, MCV State Training and guidelines

Input: Training fees, agent time, volunteer service hours, samples and supplies

Date: Year Round


Audience: Madison County District Board Members

Activity: District Board

Content or Curriculum: District Board Manual

Inputs: volunteer service, treasurer, Department of Local Government, Fiscal Court

Date: Year Round


Audience: Adults

Activity: Leadership Madison County Program

Content: Madison County Chambers of Commerce in Richmond and Berea (Agriculture Day)

Inputs: Volunteer farmers, ANR agent, Richmond & Berea Chamber resources

Date: September, Annually


Audience: Adults

Activity: Master Gardeners

Content: UK program

Inputs: UK curriculum, specialists, Horticulture Agent

Date: As needed


Audience: Master Gardeners

Activity: Master Gardener Club

Content: As needed

Inputs: Land grant publications, Horticulture Agent

Date: monthly


Audience: Resident Farmers

Activity: Madison County Ag Development Council

Content: Governor’s Office of Ag Policy Program Guidelines

Inputs: GOAP staff, county council members, ANR agent

Date: 3-4 times per year (as needed)



Success Stories

Master Gardener During COVID

Author: Amanda Sears

Major Program: Master Gardener

The Madison County Master Gardener Club meets once a month for continuing education and to help retain volunteers. Historically, each month different members or someone from the community speaks to the group about a horticulture topic. Due to COVID 19 the group was unable to continue to meet face to face. The Madison County Horticulture Agent organized ZOOM meetings each month during the pandemic to help keep the members engaged. The Agent chose topics based on ideas from the group, put together

Full Story

Gardening for Everyone

Author: Amanda Sears

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

People seem to busier than ever! And it is increasingly common to hear a client say they wished they could make it to a class or program at the Extension Office but they just do not have the time. The Madison County Extension Horticulture Agent and the Madison County Extension Horticulture Council brainstormed ways to reach clients that do not have the time or capability to come to the office for a meeting.Horticulture classes were recorded and placed on the Madison County Extension Horticulture

Full Story

Country Ham Auction

Author: Aubrey Lawson

Major Program: Agriculture

The country ham program provides an opportunity for youth to learn about a rich Kentucky tradition through hands on experience of curing and preserving country ham while also building their communication skills. Despite restrictions and cancellations of the public speaking portion of the program, 19 Madison County youth created independent videos of presentations for use in our annual country ham auction. Invitations to bidders were made by the youth themselves giving them additional experience

Full Story

Kentucky 4-H Summit

Author: Aubrey Lawson

Major Program: Leadership

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic the 2021 Kentucky 4-H Summit could not be implemented in the typical face-to-face format. Kentucky 4-H Program volunteers, members, and professionals decided, based on current events and fundamental developmental needs, that middle school youth needed the opportunity to connect to others and practice their leadership skills through 4-H. If adolescents are to develop the skills necessary for adulthood, they must learn basic skills for everyday life (Carnegie Coun

Full Story

4-H Election Day Extravaganza

Author: Brandon Darst

Major Program: Civic Engagement

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Citizenship Washington Focus: Presidential Inauguration 2021 experience was cancelled. Hosted by the National 4-H Center, approximately 68 youth from central Kentucky were planning on attending. In addition to the trip itself, the Kentucky planning committee, made up of agents from around Central Kentucky, had scheduled several civic educational days to be used to supplement the participants’ knowledge of the election and electoral process.

Full Story

4-H Baking Science Bread Club

Author: Aubrey Lawson

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

4-H Baking Science Bread Club

While the pandemic brought on many challenges and set backs, many were also pushed out of their comfort zones to try new things. While traditional 4-H Cooking and Baking clubs were not able to meet together in person, the Madison County 4-H Agent was faced with leading these clubs virtually. The 4-H Baking Science Bread Club was a club that met virtually  to provide at-home educational experiences that foster engagement and new learning opportunities for youth. This club consisted of s

Full Story
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