Investing in Community Leaders
Personal Growth and Leadership Development
Vicki R. Boggs, Dawna Jace Peters, Aaron Redmond
Family and Consumer Science
Leadership
Community Vitality and Leadership -FCS
Community Strategic Planning
Creating a culture of individuals giving back to their community through leadership roles serves a multi-purpose process of personal growth, community engagement, and helps to ensure a new generation of involved citizens. Building the volume of volunteer leaders and partners within Leslie County is critical for the sustainability and growth of our community. With dropout rates of over 35% and escalating poverty concerns (28.6% below poverty level), providing youth and adults these valuable skills and attitudes can break negative generational patterns and prepare them to assume leadership roles both today and tomorrow. Leslie County Extension has 1 Engaged Certified Livestock Volunteer, over 65 KEHA members, 2 Master Clothing Volunteers and various other volunteers who share their expertise, and volunteer time with youth and community families. Through the efforts of Extension agents, paraprofessionals, and volunteers local citizens are engaged, educated and empowered to understand family and community issues and take ownership of implementing local solutions.
-Maintain and/or increase number of volunteers who extend research based information to participants
-Community problems and needs are met through active, engaged local leaders.
- Kentucky communities’ health and economy are strengthened through strong local organizational leadership
-Individuals will serve as Adult and Teen leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger youth
-Practice personal leadership skills in clubs, school, and community service/outreach.
-Use and Apply Improved skills in communication, problem solving, or group process in addressing organizational issues and needs.
-Apply skills to assess needs, develop programs, and implement solutions for community problems.
-Participants will develop communication skills that will allow them to effectively communicate with others.
-Participants will learn effective team management and teamwork practices.
-Participants will aspire to create change in their community through their actions, attitudes, and leadership.
-Participants will gain an appreciation for volunteerism and community service.
Initial Outcome: Gain leadership and communication skills.
Indicator: Individual(s) acquire knowledge, skills, opinions, and aspirations.
Method: Observation; Written and verbal evaluations; Individual reports
Timeline: July 2022 - June 2023
Intermediate Outcome: Leadership and communication skills are put into practice.
Indicator: Individual(s) participate in Extension and community programs and councils.
Method: Observation, membership/attendance logs
Timeline: July 2022-June 2023
Long-term Outcome: Community problems are solved through active, engaged local leaders.
Indicator: Experienced individuals continue and new individual(s) assume leadership roles to address community issues.
Method: Observation and data
Timeline: Ongoing
Audience: Extension Stakeholders
Project or Activity: Leslie County Extension Council and Program Advisory Council Meetings
Content or Curriculum: State Extension Manual, UK Approved Communications
Inputs: Area and Regional Extension Directors, Extension Agents, County Extension Council; FCS Council; Extension Homemaker's Council; Ag Development Council; 4-H Council
Date: July 2022-June 2023
Audience: Extension Homemakers and Community
Project or Activity: Homemaker Lesson/Lunch-n-Learn Program
Content or Curriculum: FCS & KEHA Curriculum
Inputs: Quicksand Area FCS agents
Date: September 2022-May 2023
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Community Service Projects
Content or Curriculum: FCS Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Homemakers; FCS agent; Service Agencies
Date: July 2022-June 2023
Audience: Youth, Extension Homemakers, Community
Project or Activity: Expressive Arts
Content or Curriculum: Arts Council, Approved Core Curriculum
Inputs: Homemaker, Volunteer; FS Agent; Extension Agents, Arts Council
Date: July 2022-June 2023
Audience: Youth (Grades 8-12)
Project or Activity: Leslie County 4-H Teen Council
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Leadership and Extension Curriculum, Community Service Projects
Inputs: 4-H Agent; Cooperative Extension Agents and UK Specialists; Community and Service Organizations; State Teen Officers
Date: July 2022-June 2023
Audience: Youth (Grade:5)
Project or Activity: 4-H Appalachian Heritage Skills Day
Content or Curriculum: County/Area-developed Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent; FCS Agent; Ag Agent; Extension Staff; School and Community Volunteer Leaders; Multi-County Agent Teams
Date: Fall 2022
Audience: Youth (Grades 8-12)
Project or Activity: 4-H State Teen Conference
Content or Curriculum: Teen Leadership
Inputs: 4-H Agent; Teens, 4-H State Teen Council and Officers, Volunteers and UK Specialists
Date: Summer 2023 (Continuing Annual Event)
Audience: Youth (Middle School Grades)
Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Summit
Content or Curriculum: Teen Leadership
Inputs: 4-H Agent; Volunteers, STC Members, 4-H State Teen Council and Officers, UK Specialist
Date: Spring 2023 (Continual Annual Event)
Audience: Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Residential Camp
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Summer Camp Program Activities for Personal Development and Leadership
Inputs:4-H Agent; Extension Agents; Extension Staff; Teen and Adult Volunteers; Summer Camp Staff; Camp Manager; UK 4-H Summer Camp Specialist
Date: Summer 2023, (Annual Event)
Audience: Youth (Grades 3-12) Also, Families/ Adults
Project or Activity: 4-H Horse Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Approved Livestock/Horse Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent; Certified Livestock Volunteers, Parents; Community and Extension Volunteers, Extension Specialists and Specialists in the Field
Date: July 2022 - 2023
Audience: Youth ( 3rd- 12th grades)
Project or Activity: Art and Communication Initiatives: In-School Enrichment Art Program
Content or Curriculum: Extension State Specialists; 4-H and Extension Core Curriculum;
Inputs: 4-H Agent; Extension Agents; Extension Staff and Volunteers
Date: July 2022-June 2023
Audience: Community and Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Mary Breckinridge Festival/ Cultural Arts Displays
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Manual: Cultural Arts Categories; Community Sharing; Tourism; Partnerships,
Inputs: FCS Agent; Extension Homemakers; Extension Staff; Community Service/Partnership, Chamber of Commerce; Community Volunteers
Date: Fall 2022
Audience: Community Artisan Entrepreneurs
Project or Activity: Annual Holiday Craft Bazaar
Content or Curriculum: Local Community Arts Celebration and Promotion
Inputs: Extension Agents and staff; Extension volunteers; community members
Date: Winter 2022
Audience: Community
Project or Activity: Pinterest Make-N-Take
Content or Curriculum: Cultural Arts Promotion
Inputs: FCS Agent; Extension Staff and Volunteers
Date: July 2022-June 2023
Audience: Business Leaders
Project or Activity: Chamber of Commerce
Content or Curriculum: Tourism and Leadership Materials
Inputs: Chamber of Commerce; community professionals; Extension staff
Date: July 2022-June 2023
Audience: Youth (Grades 4-12)
Project or Activity: Leslie County 4-H Youth Recognition
Content or Curriculum: Community Development
Inputs: 4-H Agent; Extension Staff, Leslie County Schools
Date: Spring 2023
Audience: Community Coalitions and Committees
Project or Activity: Community Interest/Involvement Meetings: City of Hyden, Trail-Town, Promise Zone,
Appalachian Horse Center, UNITE/ASAP and SOAR
Content or Curriculum: Agent attendance and Involvement/Community Driven (PSE)
Inputs: Leslie County Extension Agents; Community; Volunteers
Date: July 2022-June 2023: Ongoing
Audience: Engaged/Interested Extension Volunteers; Extension Agents and Staff
Project or Activity: 2024 Kentucky Extension Volunteer Forum
Content or Curriculum: Celebration and Recognition of Extension Volunteers and Youth, Achievements and Accomplishments; Recertification and Professional Development
Inputs: Extension Agents; UK Volunteer Specialist; Extension Volunteer Leaders and Stakeholders
Date: February 2024 ( Bi-Annual Event, even years)
Author: Dawna Peters
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership – 4-H Youth Development
For nearly 40 years, Cloverville has been the face of Kentucky 4-H. Cloverville typically has around 6,000 4-H member exhibits from across the Commonwealth in a village like setting where 4-H’ers display their skills and compete for state-level ribbons. 67 of those exhibits came from Leslie County 4-H. Leslie County 4-H stays busy all Summer long preparing for the Kentucky State Fair. We take pride in our Summer Day Camps which are designed to create State Fair exhibits. Summer Day c
Author: Aaron Redmond
Major Program: Beekeeping
It is estimated that the honeybee’s annual contribution to the United States economy is at least $15 billion. Beyond the profitable products and byproducts harvested directly from honeybee colonies such as honey, wax, propolis, and royal jelly, about one-third of total crop production in the U.S. are dependent upon these prolific pollinators for their survival and prosperity. According to the most recent data from the U.S Department of Agriculture honeybees health took a major decline in 2
Author: Dawna Peters
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership – 4-H Youth Development
Raising funds is an important part of 4-H programming efforts. In Leslie County without fundraising initiatives it would be very difficult for our youth to participate. Raising funds to cover expenses is necessary. Leslie County is a rural county with the median income for a household being $31,627 with 25.8% of families below the poverty line. Therefore, for youth to be able to fully participate in our programs we must raise money for scholarships to sponsor them.Leslie County 4-H has tradition
Author: Dawna Peters
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership – 4-H Youth Development
The Leslie County 4-H Teen Council members have learned many important skills through their involvement with 4-H. Community Service is one of our main focuses during council meetings. Our members discuss what activities and projects they are interested in. This year they decided to participate in Wreaths Across America. The council members partnered with a local volunteer and retired school teacher Mollie Sizemore. December 17th is National Wreaths Across Day. Teens and their families
Author: Vicki Boggs
Major Program: Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD): Developing Core Leadership Skills
Personal Growth and Leadership Development remains a very important part of our plan of work here at Leslie County Extension. According to 2020 U.S. Census Bureau for Small Area and Income Poverty Estimates, 25.8% of Leslie County residents overall lived in poverty. Most recent Census data also reveals a steady decline in population. The need continues to build the volume of volunteer leaders and partners within Leslie County for sustaining growth in our community. Provi
Author: Dawna Peters
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