Extension
It Starts With Us
Fostering Life Skills Education in Youth and Families
Youth and Families Life Skills
Alexander, Dunn, Potts
Financial Education - General
21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
Family and Consumer Science
Leadership
The start of 4-H came about in the early 1900’s as a way to provide hands-on learning to youth so that they may share the learned skills with their families. Today, 4-H is known as one of the largest youth development organizations in the country. As many families in Daviess County live within broken homes, with 436 of every 1000 youth in foster care, 21% of children living in poverty, and a 45 of every 1000 juvenile incarceration rate, the need for both youth and families to gain valuable life skills has never been greater. As guardians strive to meet family needs in single-parent households, 36% of homes with children in Daviess County, there is little time to teach these skills at home. As many schools no longer include family and consumer science classes in their curriculum, youth must learn these skills elsewhere. 4-H is able to utilize in-school, after-school, club, and camp settings to engage and educate youth in these areas. Additionally, the Family and Consumer Sciences program provides parents, guardians, caregivers, and young adults with parenting skills, financial education, and estate planning, as city and county schools respectively show the following statistics for age-appropriate youth; 42.8% and 56.7% are kindergarten ready, 48.1% and 59.5% display 4th grade reading level preparedness, 47.2% and 48.4% are 8th grade math proficient, and 84.1% and 92.3% graduate high school on time.
*Source: Kentucky Kids Count Survey
Youth and families will improve financial stability
Extension youth will seek post-secondary and career development
Youth and families will make decisions to improve independence and resiliency
Participants create a budget
Participants prioritize activities and needs
Individuals implement one or more activities to secure financial future
Families use appropriate learning activities and positive discipline
Participants apply one or more life skills in daily life
Individuals evaluate home or workplace for safety
Participants can distinguish between wants and needs/fixed expenses
Individuals discuss time management
Individuals define financial terms/literacy
Participants can match ages and stages
Identify/observe life skill practices
Individuals can name two or more safety practices
Long-term Outcome: Development in life skills in youth and families
Indicator: Youth and families will make decision to improve independence and resiliency
Method: Observation, written pre/post surveys, personal testimonies
Timeline: School year, duration of the program
Audience: Youth Ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Cooking, Food Safety, Nutrition
Content or Curriculum: Super Star Chef, Fantastic Foods, Luv-an-Eff, Put it Up! Food Preservation, Cooking 101-401, What's on Your Plate?
Inputs: 4-H Agents, 4-H Program Assistant
Date: School Year 2020-2021
Audience: Youth Ages 9-18
Project or Activity: 4-H Camp
Content or Curriculum: West KY 4-H Camping Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agents, West KY 4-H Camping Faculty
Date: June/July 2021
Audience: Elementary School Youth Ages 9-12
Project or Activity: Progressive Agriculture Youth Safety Day
Content or Curriculum: Progressive Ag Safety Materials, Approved Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agents, 4-H Program Assistant, Extension Volunteers
Date: 2021
Audience: Youth Ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Project Day Camps
Content or Curriculum: Approved 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agents, 4-H Program Assistant, Extension Volunteers
Date: Summer 2021
Audience: Youth Ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Shooting Sports
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Shooting Sports Approved Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent, Certified 4-H Shooting Sports Coaches
Date: October 2020-September 2021
Audience: Youth Ages 16-19
Project or Activity: Adulting 101
Content or Curriculum:Approved 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Daviess County Extension Agents, volunteers
Date: Spring 2021
Audience: Recovery Center participants, youth Ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Financial lessons, credit score, budgeting
Content or Curriculum: Money Habitudes, CreditWise, Needs v. Wants
Inputs: Extension Agent
Date: Fall 2020
Audience: Individuals and Families
Project or Activity: Beginning Vegetable Gardening
Content or Curriculum: Extension Publications
Inputs: Agent and Extension Master Gardeners
Date: February/March 2021
Audience: College Students
Project or Activity: It's Your Reality
Content or Curriculum: It's Your Reality
Inputs: Extension Agents, Volunteers
Date: 2020/2021
Author: Stacey Potts
Major Program: Agriculture
Concept of Mastery taught through the 4-H Feeder Calf Project “In order to develop self-confidence, youth need to feel and believe they are capable, and they must experience success at solving problems and meeting challenges. By exploring 4-H projects and activities, youth master skills to make positive career and life choices. Additionally, youth need to have a safe environment for making mistakes and getting feedback, not just through competition, but also as an ongoing
Author: Stacey Potts
Major Program: Health
A new survey commissioned by National 4-H Council, and conducted by the Harris Poll, finds that 7 in 10 teens are struggling with their mental health in the wake of COVID-19. More than half of those surveyed shared that the pandemic has increased their feelings of loneliness, with 64 percent believing it will have a lasting impact on their mental health. The survey, conducted in May 2020, is among the first to examine the impact this unprecedented public health crisis has had on U.S. teens. (4-H
Author: Stacey Potts
Major Program: Agriculture
According to the 2012 Kentucky Equine Survey, there are approximately 1400 horses and ponies in Daviess County. Over the past 10 years, Daviess County 4-H has had approximately 87 youth participate in equine programs, club events, shows and other competitions. Nearly 50% of all sports-related traumatic brain injuries are equestrian related. According to the CDC, the rate of serious injury per number of riding hours is estimated to be higher for horseback riders than for motorc
Author: Stacey Potts
Major Program: Civic Engagement
Kentucky 4-H focuses on eight essential elements of positive youth development and the 4-H sewing project works toward the essential element of mastery. The primary goal of the Kentucky 4-H Sewing program is to teach youth about the art and skill of creating useful items using needle and thread. This includes not only the use of a hand needle and thread, but also the sewing machine and serger. Sewing can be used to create clothing and wardrobe essentials, as well as usefu
Author: Stacey Potts
Major Program: Leadership
Continued engagement of high school aged 4-H teens was the goal when the Daviess County 4-H Teen Board was established in 2019. The 4-H Teen Board provides high school aged 4-Her’s further education in the areas of college and career readiness, leadership and communications. Members have assisted with decision-making for the 4-H program and elected officers; some serving their first time in that role. Additionally, it provides an opportunity for the 4-H Teens to continue
Author: Annette Heisdorffer
Major Program: Horticulture, Commercial
Managing trees and shrubs on city property can be time consuming and costly, especially if not managed properly. The Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service and City of Owensboro partnered to offer the Certified Arborist Preparation Training at the request of the City Grounds Manager. The grounds manager wanted to become a Certified Arborist and to teach the employees he supervises how to properly prune and manage trees in parks, along streets, and in sports complexes owned by t
Author: Annette Heisdorffer
Major Program: Master Gardener
The Extension Master Gardener Program develops leadership skills and contributes to the community. A strategic plan was developed by the Extension Master Gardeners, with the help of Dr. Nicole Breazeale, Department of Community and Leadership Development, and the horticulture agent to make the most impact with the volunteers’ time in the community through horticultural programs. The plan was started with a Ripple Effect Mapping session attend by 29 Green River Area Extension Master
