Mason County CES

Title:

Engaged Communities

MAP:

Community Vitality

Agents Involved:

Tad Campbell, FCS Agent, Macy Fawns, Trever Cole

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Build Engaged and Empowered Communities – General

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Leadership

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Master Gardener

Situation:

The community needs assessment from both Mason County and Kentucky as well as the Mason CEC recognized community vitality as a top priority. They have asked for focus or improvement on community pride, leadership, communications and collaboration, community involvement, emergency preparedness, and taking care of the community. Agriculture is a vital industry to the community.  Preserving farming in a rural community from traditional to new crop opportunities can increase pride and vitality. The Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association mission is to improve the quality of life for families and communities through education, leadership development and volunteer service. 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. The Kentucky Extension Master Gardener (EMG) Program develops trained volunteers to assist county Extension staff in public outreach and provides research-based information.

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Farming continues to provide an economic infrastructure to the local community and businesses.
• KEHA members serve as active Extension and community volunteers engaged in addressing community needs. 
• Master Clothing Volunteers provide the county with experienced leaders who can assist in the implementation of sewing-related programs; develop lasting friendships with other Volunteers thereby gaining a support-group that can improve quality of life
• Participants of MCV-Led Programs continue to engage in sewing-related activities, sustain or increase the participation in sewing-related activities – sew for pleasure or self-expression; gain skills that can be used to benefit livelihood; save money by mending or altering clothing
• 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  
• EMG Volunteers extend the educational outreach of the Cooperative Extension Service in areas such as community gardens, youth gardening, environmentally sustaining lawn and garden practices, and other topics 
• Youth improve skills in communication or problem solving in addressing community issues and needs

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Local businesses work with the farming community to strengthen vitality. 
• KEHA leaders will practice personal leadership skills through leadership roles at the club, county, area and/or state level. The number of KEHA volunteer service hours reported annually for KEHA, Extension and Community activities will increase. 
• Master Clothing Volunteers continue to hone their skills and increase confidence; seek out teaching and leadership opportunities in their communities; generate interest in sewing related activities within their communities 
• Participants of MCV-Led Programs learn more skills, consider mending clothing in lieu of replacing it, sew their own clothing or craft items; are provided with a creative outlet
• Youth put skills into practice by becoming more engaged, taking on leadership roles 
• 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  
• Participants (certified EMG volunteers) put into practice the skills learned when completing volunteer hours and working with clientele 

Initial Outcomes:

• Farmers and businesses gain an understanding that working together will enhance community pride. 
• KEHA members will gain organizational knowledge through annual officer and chairman training. KEHA members will increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership through club lessons and special interest workshops. 
• Master Clothing Volunteers are accepted into a group of individuals that share a passion for sewing; through our MCV training, our volunteers learn standard sewing skills and are exposed to advancements in sewing equipment are exposed to new techniques and standard sewing skills; they may change point-of-view about the way some sewing can be taught or implemented 
• Participants of MCV-Led Programs learn basic sewing skills, accept sewing as a valid hobby, become interested in learning more sewing techniques; improve hand/eye coordination
• 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)   
• Participants become Certified EMG volunteers when they master the curriculum and provide 40 hours in volunteer service to the local Cooperative Extension Office

Evaluation:

Outcome: MCV’s increase knowledge and become experienced leaders

Indicator(s): 1, 2 (from MCV Program Indicators)

Method:  Attend Fall training at Jabez; lead Jabez classes & throughout KY

Timeline: on-going

Outcome: KEHA members will gain organizational knowledge through annual officer and chairman training

Indicator(s): Number of KEHA members who report knowledge gained through county and/or area officer and chairman training.

Method: Program evaluation with pre and post assessment questions

Timeline: on-going

Outcome: KEHA leaders will practice personal leadership skills through leadership roles at the club, county, area and/or state level.

Indicator(s): Number of KEHA members who utilized knowledge gained through officer training to fulfill a KEHA leadership role at the club, county, area and/or state level.

Method:  Observation, review of officer directories

Timeline: on-going

Initial Outcome: 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)

Indicator(s): Number of youth who have improved their communication skills by completing a speech, demonstration, or other public presentation

Method: Pre & Post Evaluations

Timeline: 2023

Intermediate Outcome: Youth will engage in civic involvement

Indicator(s): Number of youth who indicated they are comfortable working in groups (Common Measures – UN 14)

Method:  Pre & Post Evaluations

Timeline: 2023

Long Term Outcome: Youth improve skills in communication or problem solving in addressing community issues and needs

Indicator(s): Number of youth who can take responsibility for their actions

Method:  Pre & Post Evaluations

Timeline: 2023

Initial Outcome:  Master Gardeners volunteer after completion of program.

Indicator(s): Number of master gardeners that have completed certification and were active volunteers in the county during the past year

Method: Observation and interviews

Timeline: yearly

Intermediate Outcome:  Master Gardeners who put their skills to use based on the needs of the county.

Indicator(s): Number of Master Gardener volunteers who became aware of Extension’s role in addressing the needs of local residents

Method:Observation and interviews

Timeline: yearly

Long-term Outcome:  Master Gardeners reach out and make direct contacts 

Indicator(s): Number of direct contacts made by Master Gardener volunteers

Method: Observation and surveys 

Timeline: all year

Outcome:  Stronger leadership for agriculture programming

Indicator(s): Participants begin to serve roles of leadership in community

Method: Personal survey/poll

Timeline: Fall

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Young Farmers

Project or Activity: Leadership Program

Content or Curriculum: UK research based information

Inputs: ANR Agent, local farmers, business leaders

Dates: Fall

Audience: Master Clothing Volunteers 

Project or Activity: Fall training at Jabez 

Content or Curriculum: classes based on certification needs or requests from members or as determined by the MCV Steering Committee 

Inputs: State Coordinator, FCS Agent, Steering Committee, other MCV’s 

Date: October 

Audience: Master Clothing Volunteers 

Project or Activity: Area Workdays 

Content or Curriculum: MCV’s get together as determined by their Area Contact or other MCV’s to work on service projects 

Inputs: FCS Agent, other MCV’s 

Date: on-going 

Audience: Participants of MCV-Led Programs 

Project or Activity: Level-Specific Sewing Classes 

Content or Curriculum: MCV’s teach sewing classes in their counties 

Inputs: FCS Agent, other MCV’s 

Date: on-going 

Audience: Mason County Extension Homemakers 

Project or Activity: KEHA Officer and Chairman Training / County KEHA Kickoff 

Content or Curriculum: KEHA Training Toolkit, KEHA Manual, KEHA Website 

Inputs: FCS Agent, State Advisors 

Date: August 2023

Audience: Mason County Extension Homemakers 

Project or Activity: KEHA Special Interest Workshops 

Content or Curriculum: KELD Curriculum, FCS Extension Lesson Resources, FCS Curriculum 

Inputs: FCS Agent, State Advisors 

Date: Monthly 

Audience: Mason County Extension Homemakers 

Project or Activity: KEHA State Meeting 

Content or Curriculum: Officer Training & Educational Chairman Workshops 

Inputs: FCS Agent, State Advisors 

Date: April 2023

Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Club Community Service Project

Content or Curriculum: UK research based information

Inputs: 4-H Agent, leaders, parents, community partners

Date: Spring

Audience: Adults

Project or Activity: Master Gardeners providing outreach in the community to reach more people

Content or Curriculum: UK research based information

Inputs: Horticulture Agent, volunteers

Date: throughout the year

Success Stories