Extension
It Starts With Us
Securing Financial Stability for our community to build a better community
Securing Financial Security and Management
Brasher ANR, FCS, Barnes 4-H
Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum
Farm Management
Securing Financial Stability (general)
Managing in Tough Times
Crittenden County is a very rural community with not a lot of professional job opportunities available and a low median income. The median household income is $34,261 which is almost $9,000 less than the state average and almost $19,000 lower than the national average. The Poverty level is 6% higher than the national average. We also only have 7.9% obtaining an associates degree and 8.5% obtaining a bachelor's degree which is 11% lower than the national average.
Due to the need for both parents to work in today's economy the number of stay at home parents has decreased and many parents have had to rely on schools teaching life skills to their children. With societal changes and cuts in school budgets, many schools have decreased or even eliminated FCS instruction.
Life choices are often based more on personal desires rather than factual information and people often turn to the internet which may not be researched based or factual resulting in poor decision making in the home.
4-H offers projects in FCS which assist youth in becoming responsible and contributing members of the family and contributing members of Kentucky communities. At the same time, these life skills prepare youth for the families they will establish as adults.
In 2012, Crittenden County had 592 farm operations on 148,795 acres, which represented 64.6% of total county land. In comparison, Kentucky’s farm operations made up 51.6% of the state’s total land area, and U.S. farm operations made up 40.5% of total land area in the county. Market value of Ag products sold was $31,560,000 for the county with $11,679,000 in animal sales and $19,882,000 in crop sales.
-Increase farm economic sustainability
-Increased new crop marketing opportunities
-Maximize or extend resources to maintain or increase financial
-Be responsible and contributing individuals and family members
-Gain and maintain employment through life skill development
-Contribute to a safe, pleasant and productive home and family
-Agriculture producers will research new crop opportunities by utilizing marketing tools and decision making resources
-Examine personal and financial stability on a regular basis (at least annually)
-Utilize and practice life skills in projects and life situations
-Project a positive image and self-confidence
-Practice responsible consumer and financial decision-making
-Make choices that lead to responsible and beneficial results
-Adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employ-ability in the
future
-Producers will have access to up to date information for production agriculture decision making
-Participants will identify short, medium and long term personal goals and objectives related to maintaining and improving their financial stability
-Gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Sciences projects
and programs
-Understand the decision-making process
-Gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action
-Learn to read and follow instructions
Initial Outcome: Utilization of marketing and financial planning tools
Indicator: increase in clients utilizing resources
Method: personal visits and consultation
Timeline: 2018
Intermediate Outcome: increase in new crop opportunities
Indicator: increase in different farm products being marketed
Method: observation
Timeline: 2019- 2020
Long-term Outcome: Increase farm economic sustainability
Indicator: increase in amount of farms that are economically stable
Method: observation
Timeline: 2019 and beyond
Initial Outcome: Youth will learn skills that they can use for career choices to help supplement their income and will have a better understanding how much it costs to live after high school/college graduation
Indicator: pre/post evaluation, number of youth participating in school enrichment programs
Method: School Enrichment, curriculum
Timeline: 2078-2022
Intermediate Outcome: Improve employ-ability through practical living skills and continued education practices
Indicator: pre/post evaluation, number of youth participating in school enrichment programs
Method: School Enrichment, curriculum
Timeline: 2017-2021
Long-term Outcome: Students are better prepared for college and the workforce when graduating
Indicator: High School drop out rate, student GPA, evaluation,
Method: School Enrichment, curriculum
Timeline: 2017-2022
Initial Outcome: clients would learn basic life skills that will allow them to become helpful community members
Indicator: number of people attending the program
Method: educational programs
Timeline: 2017-2022
Intermediate Outcome: audience will put things they learned in the program to use. Such as making a spending plan, budget, and money management
Indicator: continued attendance of program
Method: survey
Timeline: 2017-2022
Long-term Outcome: evaluate and make changes in their daily routine when in regards to finance
Indicator: clients can see their behavior change
Method: survey
Timeline: 2017-2022
Audience: Agriculture Producers
Project or Activity: niche marketing workshops
Content or Curriculum: Extension publications
Inputs: agents, specialists, agriculture groups
Date: 2017-2020
Audience: limited resource audiences, young adults, adults
Project or Activity: Basic Life Skills
Content or Curriculum: educational programs
Inputs: agents, specialists
Date: 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Reality Store, A.P.E.S., YELP, Entrepreneurship Clubs, County and State Fair,
Content or Curriculum: School Enrichment, 4-H Curriculum, Moneywise, Be the E
Inputs: Agents, volunteers, school system, local businesses, Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, Marion Tourism, Festivals
Date:2018-2022
