Extension
It Starts With Us
Career Readiness, Job Sustainability and Financial Education
Income and Workforce Development
Bell, Blankenship, Branstetter
Local Food Systems
Business Retention and Expansion
Financial Education - General
Economic Development
The Kentucky Extension Community Assessment Statewide Report 2019 indicates that money management for families and youth and employee “soft/essential skills” training continue to be important issues statewide. Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center indicates 85% of job success comes from having well developed soft and people skills, and only 15% of job success comes from technical skills and knowledge (hard skills). Employers are often prepared to teach technical job skills; however, the intangible skills of being a team player, time management, and positive attitude are difficult to teach on-sight but critical to success.
- More effective employees and community leaders.
- Improved financial capability for Kentuckians, results in better quality of life and stronger families.
- Practice better employee “soft/essential skills” such as communication, networking, teamwork, time management, problem-solving, etc.
- Improve employability through practical living skills and continued education practices.
- Ongoing participation in the Metcalfe Co. Farmers Market by 20 or more small farm and local arts/crafts vendors, as a result of successful marketing of high – quality, locally produced products and excellent customer service/interaction.
- Increased opportunities for high school aged youth part – time employment to build real life experience and their resumes
- Ability to manage pre – graduation earnings, by employed high school aged youth
- Change knowledge, opinions, skills, and aspirations, to improve employability through work and practical living skills and continuing education practices.
- Increased knowledge, opinions, skills, and aspirations to improve vendor success at the MCFM.
- Increased knowledge, opinions, skills, and aspirations by middle and high school aged youth with regard to financial awareness and money management skills.
Outcome: Improved workforce communication
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported the intent to utilize etiquette practices to improve verbal, written, and electronic communication practices (Communicating Effectively)
Indicator: Number of individuals reporting increased levels of understanding in the area: demonstrate strong verbal and nonverbal communications (Conveying Your Message)
Method: Pre/Post Evaluation
Timeline: Following Positive Employability
Outcome: Improved workplace listening skills
Indicator: Number of individuals reporting increased levels of understanding in the area: how to utilize listening cues (nonverbal, quasi-verbal, and verbal) in conversation (Listening and Inquiry)
Method: Pre/Post Evaluation
Timeline: Following Positive Employability
Outcome: Networking Skills
Indicator: Number of individuals reporting increased levels of confidence in the area: participate in a productive business conversation (Networking for Success) Method: Pre/Post Evaluation
Timeline: Following Positive Employability
Outcome: Farmers Mkt vendor product marketing success
Indicator: Increasing # of annually paid vendor members and number of vendors who pay per set – up at the MCFM, increased market day vendor income
Method: # annually paid member and pay per set up vendor data, daily vendor income report data, customer and vendor market survey data
Timeline: Annually, April – October.
Outcome: Increased knowledge, opinions, skills, and aspirations in school age youth, with regard to their ability to understand basic financial concepts and manage money
Indicator: # youth reporting increased levels of understanding with regard to budgeting, planning for living costs, credit concepts and other money matters.
Method: Pre and/or post session evaluations, during and post session guided discussion and verbal surveying.
Timeline: Annually as requested and conducted during the school year.
Audience: Working-age adults and young adults preparing for the workforce
Project or Activity: 10 Soft Skills for Success
Content or Curriculum: Positive Employability
Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, local employers and community leaders
Date: As requested/needed
Project or Activity: Conveying Your Message
Content or Curriculum: Positive Employability
Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, local employers and community leaders
Date: As requested/needed
Project or Activity: Networking for Success
Content or Curriculum: Positive Employability
Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, local employers and community leaders
Date: As requested/needed
Project or Activity: Metcalfe County Farmer’s Market
Content/curriculum: Farmers Market Tool Kit, Marketing your products at Farmers Markets CFA training materials, Publications
Inputs: FCS Agent, ANR Agent, NEP program assistant, MCFM Board/volunteers, Extension office resources
Date: January – October annually.
Project or activity: Managing in tough times, financial recordkeeping for individuals and farm businesses, retirement/estate planning
Content or curriculum: related publications, managing in Tough Times, Recovering your finances,
Inputs: ANR Agent, FCS Agent, Extension office resources, CASOKY CSBG office staff, local AG Development Board volunteers, local drug court staff, local Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous program coordinators
Date: Ongoing, scheduled as requested/needed
Audience: School age youth
Project/Activity: Activities that build money management skills and financial awareness in school aged youth.
Content or Curriculum: Mini Society The Bean Budget Game, Money Habitudes for Teens Card sorting Money personality insight game, The Good Credit Game, Reality store, Dollars and Sense, 4 – H YD FCS curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agent, 4 – H YD Agent, 21st Century After school staff, Metcalfe County Middle and High School Staff and learning space, curriculum publications and resources
Date: Annually during the school year, as requested/scheduled.
Audience: 4-H Youth 4th and 5th grade
Project or Activity: Mini Society
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Mini Society Curriculum
Inputs: Agents, Staff Support and Teachers
Author: Amy Branstetter
Major Program: Communications and Expressive Arts
My experience in the 4-H Country Ham Project My first year was 7 years ago. I was amazed at the number of kids that would take part in this adventure. After the first couple of years I became friends with youth across the state. The first thing I learned was what kind shape to look for in a champion ham, which is a teardrop. Then, I learned how to salt my ham. The items would be salt, sugar and citric acid
