Extension
It Starts With Us
Educating Youth and Adults on Life Skills, safety, personal and family development
Enhance Life Skills and Consumer Awareness
Carter, Denniston, Tackett, Arthur
21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
Financial Education - General
Food Preparation and Preservation
Family Development General
4-H Youth Development is part of Kentucky Cooperative Extension. Extension’s mission is to make a positive difference in the lives of Kentucky citizens through non-formal education for the entire family. Extension agents and volunteers take the results of university research and explain it in such a way that different age groups can learn and apply the information to their own lives. 4-H is a youth organization committed to building outstanding leaders with marketable skills to succeed in today’s global society. 4-H empowers youth to reach their full potential, working and learning in partnership with caring adults. According to the Kentucky Department of Education (2018-2019), the graduation rate for Kentucky students was 91.1%, which did not meet the state goal of 95%. Research also shows us developing a strong sense of personal identity, responsibility, caring, compassion, and tolerance are essential first steps toward being engaged at the community level (National 4-H Council) Research consistently shows a correlation between involvement in the arts, academic success and civic engagement Kentucky 4-H Youth Development has an opportunity to fill this void across the Commonwealth.
In the United States, only 1/3 of high school seniors are college-ready. Only 1/3 of high school graduates are work-ready
Kentucky Student Transitions - (2016-2017)
College 54.7%
Technical Training 5%
Military 3%
Working 23.4%
Other 13.8%
Sources: Kentucky Dept of Education (2019) US Dept of Education (2019)
Promote positive personal finance behaviors prepares Kentuckians for any future economic shift. The United States has been in an extremely long period of economic expansion; however, expansions are cyclical, meaning growth is eventually followed by recession. Securing financial stability for Kentuckians will help families thrive no matter the economic outlook. Financial stability is achieved when families are able to secure and manage resources needed to supply food, clothing, and shelter. Through increased financial knowledge, families may be able to make wise financial decisions, increase buying power, avoid overextended credit, develop savings habits, and manage risks.
96,000 children in Kentucky live in kinship care. Kentucky ranks first in the nation for the most children in kinship care settings in the country. 15,000 children are in kinship care due to removal from their home. Kinship care providers need support.
- Youth will contribute to self, family, community and to the institutions of our society.
- Youth will have reduced risky behavior now and in the future.
- 4-H alumni will be successful in a global society.
- 4-H youth will successfully enter the workplace and/or institution of higher learning
- Youth utilize the skills gained through education and involvement in Extension programs to serve as leaders in 4-H and other organizations.
- Youth share the elements of the music, dance, drama and visual arts with their community.
- Youth become more comfortable sharing their thoughts with others.
- Youth develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as a result of their participation in 4-H Communications & Expressive Arts Programs
- Gainful employment in rewarding careers
- Lower unemployment rates
- Full participation in local and state community
- Better family money management skills, such as reducing debt, increasing savings, and financial planning.
- More effective employees and community leaders.
- Improved financial capability for Kentuckians, results in better quality of life and stronger families.
- Improve academic success for children in Bourbon County
- Successful completion of post-secondary programs
- Entry into careers of choice
- Lower amounts of student loan debts
- Youth will use scientific decision making techniques to make decisions on a daily basis.
- Youth will express themselves to others in group settings and on an individual bases.
- Youth have a positive bond with a caring adult who believe in their success.
- Youth apply the skills learned in 4-H in other activities at home, school and in the community.
- Youth construct a speech that has a clear introduction, body and closing.
- Youth present before their family, a group of their peers (such as at a 4-H club meeting), a school or county qualifying event.
- Youth demonstrate an increased level of confidence when presenting in front of groups.
- Youth use their communication skills to assume a leadership role in 4-H or other organizations.
- Youth apply elements of music, dance, drama and visual arts in creating and performing.
- Youth set and achieve goals through a 4-H program.
- Practice one or more resource management behaviors resulting in increased savings or investments.
- Adopt financial planning strategies for short-, mid-, and long-term goals
- Increase child and parent social-emotional skills such as heightened self-awareness, responsible decision making, and self-management.
- Increase caregiver advocacy for children in their care including legal, medical, social, and educational services
- Increase access of community services to caregivers
- Better alignment with expectations with Schools, Post-secondary Institutions, and Businesses
- Increased participation in local and state 4-H Programs
- Higher graduation rates
- Increased entry into post-secondary programs
- Increased access to financial aid
- Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the decision making process.
- Youth learn skills need to communicate with others.
- Adult mentors will understand elements of positive youth development.
- Youth learn and develop life skills though 4-H. .
- Youth learn steps in goal setting and developing a plan of action.
- Youth research a presentation topic prior to developing a speech or demonstration.
- Youth write an outline, including an introduction, body and conclusion for their speech or demonstration.
- Youth create a formal presentation, speech or outline using the written outline.
- Youth be prepared to present before their family, a group of their peers(such as at a 4-H club meeting) and a school or county qualifying event.
- Youth can identify key elements of music, dance, drama and visual arts.
- Increased knowledge and skills related to managing financial resources, including savings, credit, and financial planning.
- Change knowledge, opinions, skills, and aspirations, to improve employability through work and practical living skills and continuing education practices.
- Increase financial literacy (knowledge and skills) related to savings and investments.
- Increase awareness of indicators of high-risk adolescent behaviors
- Identify key points of adolescent development
- Establish realistic expectations for teen behavior, and explore changing relationships within families
Initial Outcome: Increase in College and Career Readiness
Indicator: Number of 4-H Members and Participants in College and Career Educational Programs
Method: Recorded attendance in events
Timeline: year round
Intermediate Outcome: Students demonstrate knowledge of interview and resume writing skills
Indicator:Number of youth participating in workshops
Method: surveys
Timeline:year round
Long-term Outcome: High School Graduates College and Career Ready
Indicator:
- Number of 4-H Members and Participants completing and using Resume and Interview Skills
- Number of 4-H Members and Participants completing post-secondary education
- Number of 4-H Members and Participants entering the workforce
Method:
Timeline: May 2023
Outcome: Increased awareness of sound financial behaviors
Indicator(s): Number of individuals who implemented at least one
strategy to reduce expenses or manage money
Number of individuals who made a sound financial decision
(regarding credit, budgeting, savings, and/or debt)
Method: Retroactive pre-post
Timeline: Following financial education workshops
Outcome: Increase knowledge and skills related to
managing financial resources
Indicator: Number of individuals reporting increased levels of
understanding in the area: confidence in handling money issues
or specific financial matters
Method: Retroactive pre-post
Timeline: Following financial education workshops
Outcome: Increase knowledge and skills related to
estate planning
Indicator: Number of individuals who took action toward
implementing at least one estate planning strategy in regard to the subject matter presented
Method: Retroactive pre-post
Timeline: Following financial education workshops
Outcome: Increase child and parent social-emotional skills such as heightened self-awareness, responsible decision making, and self-management.
Indicator: How many children increased their ability to express emotion after attending the program?
Method: Stories, Songs, and Stretches Survey
Timeline: July - June
Outcome: Increase skills and resources of caregivers to provide effective care for young relatives
Indicator: Several – (i.e. How many caregivers improve skills/knowledge in child development, discipline and guidance, legal issues, and advocacy)
Method: Parenting a Second Time Around (PASTA) Evaluation
Timeline: Post program evaluation
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Shooting Sports Education Club
Content or Curriculum: State Curriculum
Inputs: agents, state shooting sports, KY Hunter ed
Date: year round
Activity: 4-H Communications Program
Content or Curriculum: State curriculum
Date: November, March & April
Audience: Tweens and Teens
Activity: 4-H Middle & High Teen Program
Content or Curriculum: State curriculum
Date: Year round
Audience: 5th grade students
Activity: 4-H Dollars & Sense Program
Content or Curriculum: Dollars & Sense Curriculum
Date: January
Audience: Youth
Activity: 4-H Sewing and Needlework Workshops
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculum
Inputs: agents
Date: year round
Audience: Youth - 13 and up
Activity: 4-H Babysitting Workshop
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculum
Inputs: agents, community resources
Date: May 2023
Audience: High School Jr.& Sr.
Activity: Survival 101 for High School Seniors
Content: 4-H Curriculum, FCS materials
Input: Agents, Volunteers, Community partners
Date: 2023
Audience: 5th graders
Project or Activity:Recipe for Life
Content or Curriculum: State curriculum - Recipe for Life
Inputs:All agents time, organization and monitoring
Date: Fall 2022
Audience: 5-8 year olds
Project or Activity: 4-H Cloverbuds
Content or Curriculum: State Curriculum
Inputs: agents, state staff, volunteers
Date: year round
Audience: Adults, young adults, and teens
Project or Activity: Money Habitudes Workshop
Content or Curriculum: Money Habitudes
Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, Money Habitudes cards
Date: Winter
Project or Activity: Credit Education
Content or Curriculum: Good Credit Game
Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, Good Credit Game set
Date: January
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Estate Planning Workshop
Content or Curriculum: Estate Planning
Inputs: FCS Specialist (family finance and resource management), curriculum publications and resources, and local partners such as an attorney, CPA and/or financial planner
Date: 2023
Audience: Recovery Centers
Project or Activity: Financial Education
Content or Curriculum: Recovering Your Finances
Inputs: Coordination with community stakeholders
Date: January
Audience: Parents and/or Caregivers for Youth
Project or Activity: Parenting/Family Development
Content or Curriculum: Stories, Songs, and Stretches
Inputs: FCS Agent, Local Preschool, Library
Date: On-Going
Audience: Kinship Caregivers
Project or Activity: Relatives as Parents Program
Content or Curriculum: Parenting a Second Time Around, AARP Prepare to Care
Inputs: FCS Agent, community partners, schools FRYSC
Date: Monthly
Author: Lois Carter
Major Program: Camping
The Targeted Life Skills model (Hendricks, 1998) has been an important guide to planning, implementing, and evaluating 4-H youth development programs. This model provides a holistic youth development approach, referred to by multiple researchers (Barkman & Machtmes, 2002; Garton, Miltenberger, & Pruett, 2007; Pittman & Yohalem, 2002; Scales, 1996; Wright & Bersamin, 2004.) 4-H based studies using Targeted Life Skills identified a positive relationship between particip
Author: Karen Denniston
Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation
Interest in food preservation has returned! The request for food preservation classes have increased yearly in Bourbon and Clark County extension offices. Our clientele has a genuine desire to know “what” is in their food as well as being concerned about accessibility of food items. Many or the request involved working individuals that could not attend the typical daytime workshops. Bourbon, Clark county FCS agents decided to pool their resources to offer a Food Pre
Author: Lois Carter
Major Program: Leadership
in order to find their place in the world (Fagell. P.L., 2019). Therefore, it is essential to provide positive experiences in which young people are able to explore the world in a safe environment. Historically, Kentucky 4-H sees a decline in enrollment numbers for middle school age youth. In an effort to retain this age group, the Area C1-C4 Teen Council worked to plan, implement, and evaluate an overnight leadership-focused retreat for middle schoolers (grades 6-8). C1-C4 Area Middl
Author: Karen Denniston
Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation
Bourbon County Extension clientele attendance of traditional programming was restricted during the pandemic and proved to be slow returning to pre-pandemic numbers. In a search for a way of reconnecting, the Family & Consumer Science Agent and the SNAP-Ed Program Assistant Senior decided to offer a cooking through the 2022 Food+Nutrition calendar monthly via Facebook Live. Each month the featured recipe preparation was demonstrated for viewing. The demo was sha
Author: Lois Carter
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 impreative 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: Lindsay Arthur
Major Program: Agriculture
Agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries. Farmers are at very high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries; and farming is one of the few industries in which family members who often share the work and live on the premises, are also at risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries. According to CDC statistics, over 100 children are killed on farms each year in the United States. The Bourbon County Extension Office including the Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H Youth Development, Horticult
Author: Anthony Tackett
Major Program: Health
Agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries. Farmers are at very high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries; and farming is one of the few industries in which family members who often share the work and live on the premises, are also at risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries. According to CDC statistics, over 100 children are killed on farms each year in the United States. The Bourbon County Extension Office including the Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H Youth Development, Horticult
Author: Lois Carter
Major Program: Health
“Agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries. Farmers are at very high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries; and farming is one of the few industries in which family members who often share the work and live on the premises, are also at risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries. According to CDC statistics, over 100 children are killed on farms each year in the United States. The Bourbon County Extension Office including the Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H Youth Development, Ho
Author: Karen Denniston
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
“Agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries. Farmers are at very high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries; and farming is one of the few industries in which family members who often share the work and live on the premises, are also at risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries. According to CDC statistics, over 100 children are killed on farms each year in the United States. The Bourbon County Extension Office including the Agriculture and Natural Resources, 4-H Youth Development, Ho
Author: Lois Carter
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
