Extension
It Starts With Us
Developing leadership skills- youth NEW
Leadership Development & Community Engagement
Cole, Spurgeon
Leadership
Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development
Leadership is a needed and important programming emphasis in Kentucky 4-H. The Cooperative Extension Service provides opportunities for youth and families to help improve their leadership ability and create a positive impact on their future. Leadership opportunities for youth create a setting that reduces the access of youth to risk factors that can negatively impact their success.
Basic leadership knowledge & skills are essential for success in almost any field. The skills associated with leadership are necessary when working in a group or communicating with others. Employers look for leadership skills in future employees. Developing leadership in the youth and adults who are involved in the 4-H program is a priority. By assisting the development of leadership skills in today’s youth, we improve their ability to face the challenges of tomorrow (Unlock Your Leadership Potential, University of Florida, 2017).
Kentucky 4-H provides opportunities for youth to actively engage locally and globally to promote life skills [such as leadership] that prepare them for the global marketplace. Through 4-H youth exercise critical thinking skills, learn to appreciate diversity, practice tolerance, develop socio-emotionally, and strive to contribute to their environment (United States Department of Education International Affairs Office of International Strategy). 4-H participants rate their leadership life skills above average, have a positive view of their leadership ability, and have a positive attitude toward diversity and acceptance of others (Locke, Boyd, Fraze, and Howard, 2007).
- Communities are equipped with competent, effective leaders
- Community members engage others to initiate projects
- Civic engagement is possible and desirable for community members
- Communities become more prosperous
- Youth put skills into practice by becoming more engaged, taking on leadership roles
- You improve skills in communication or problem solving in addressing community issues and needs
- Youth participants become more engaged in non-formal leadership roles which increases involvement/action
- Youth participants initiate projects that meet the needs of their community
- Youth are inclusive of all individuals
- Youth will volunteer and participate in community service
- Youth will engage in civic involvement
- Youth will maintain future intentions for civic engagement
- Youth increase knowledge of effective leadership skills
- Youth develop/enhance leadership skills
- Youth are informed of community systems, are better connected to communication networks, are more confident and skills in identifying and implementing strategies for change in their community (local/state/national/global)
Initial Outcome:
Youth become more engaged as a leader in their community (planning a service project, serving as a mentor, increasing participation in local/state/national levels)
Indicator:
- Youth plan a community service project in their community
- Youth report they serve as a mentor for a younger participant
- Youth serve as leaders within their club or county programs
- Youth serve in a state or national leadership position
Method:
- 4-H Common Measures Universal Survey
- Program Indicators
- Number of youth who served as group leaders or officers?(PRACTICE)
- Number of youth who received education related to diversity and inclusivity? (KOSA)
- Number of youth who served as direct mentors to one or more younger youth? (SEEC)
- Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #6 “Is 4-H A place where you get to figure out things for yourself?” (SEEC)
- Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #13 “Is 4-H a place where you have a chance to be a leader?” (SEEC)
Timeline: Year-Round
Intermediate Outcome:
- Youth put skills into practice by becoming more engaged, taking on leadership roles
- You improve skills in communication or problem solving in addressing community issues and needs
- Youth participants become more engaged in non-formal leadership roles which increases involvement/action
Indicator: # Youth serving in leadership roles
Method:
- 4-H Common Measures Universal Survey
- Program Indicators
- Number of youth who served as group leaders or officers?(PRACTICE)
- Number of youth who received education related to diversity and inclusivity? (KOSA)
- Number of youth who served as direct mentors to one or more younger youth? (SEEC)
- Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #6 “Is 4-H A place where you get to figure out things for yourself?” (SEEC)
- Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #13 “Is 4-H a place where you have a chance to be a leader?” (SEEC)
Timeline: Year-Round
Long-term Outcome:
- Communities are equipped with competent, effective leaders
Indicator:
- Youth come back to Pulaski County to take on leadership roles within their community
Method:
- Observation
Timeline:
- Yearly
Audience: Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: Speech and Demonstration
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Communications Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent, 4-H Adult Volunteers, Teachers
Date: School year
Audience: Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: School Clubs; school enrichment
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent, Teachers
Date: school year
Audience: Middle School Students
Project or Activity: Afterschool, Teen Summit
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Art curriculum, Teen Leadership, 4-H Photography curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent, 4-H Adult Volunteers
Date: September 2020- May 2021
Audience: High School Juniors/Seniors
Project or Activity: APES, KY Youth Seminar
Content or Curriculum: 4-H APES Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent, 4-H Adult Volunteers, counselors
Date: school year
Audience: High School Students (freshmen-Senior)
Project or Activity: Capitol Experience, Teen Council, Teen Conference
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent, 4-H Adult Volunteers, teachers
Date: school year
Audience: High School Students (freshmen-Senior)
Project or Activity: Teen Leadership Program
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent, 4-H Adult Volunteers, teachers
Date: school year (September - April) Monthly
Author: Jennifer Cole
Major Program: Agriculture
The 2022 Kentucky State Fair kicked off on Thursday, August 19 at the Kentucky Expo Center in Louisville. Over 800 youth from across the commonwealth traveled to Louisville to finish their 4-H Country Ham Project by giving a speech at the KY State Fair. Pulaski County 4-H had 27 youth make the trip. These 27 youth started the project in January when they placed their hams into cure at the Pulaski County Extension Office. Each youth cures two hams and then only one of theirs ham
Author: Erica Spurgeon
Major Program: Leadership
According to research, middle school is a time where young people find their place in this world, they are exploring where their strengths and interests align (Fagell. P.L., 2019). Therefore, it is imperative to provide positive experiences where young people may explore the world in a safe environment. Historically, there is a decline in enrollment numbers throughout the middle school years in 4-H programming, Kentucky 4-H hosts the Kentucky 4-H Summit Leadership Conference for middle schoolers
Author: Erica Spurgeon
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
One of the greatest aspects of the 4-H program is the plethora of ways that programs can be provided. Agents can reach youth via clubs, school enrichment, camps, and many more avenues. Pulaski County 4-H agents, Erica Spurgeon and Jennifer Cole, have found one of the best ways to engage youth in their county is through specialized day camps.During the summer of 2022, Pulaski County held a total of eight unique day camps. Topics included Beginner Cooking, Poultry BBQ Contest, Art, Cloverbud, Envi
Author: Erica Spurgeon
Major Program: Leadership
The 99th Annual Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference was held at the University of Kentucky June 13-16, 2023. The objectives of Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference are: develop leadership and teamwork skills, improve communication skills, foster civic engagement, expand knowledge and skills related to 4-H core content areas, gain club, county and state 4-H program skills, have fun, create a sense of belonging, expand social skills through networking, develop youth-adult partnerships, and become acquainted with
