Extension
It Starts With Us
Increasing life skills education and leadership excellence for youth and families
Developing Leadership, Volunteers, and Life Skills
Cabrina Buckman, Dennis Morgeson, Melissa Richardson, Taylor Graves, Laura Milburn, SNAP-Ed
Community Leadership Development
21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
Results from the 2019 Kentucky Extension Community Assessment identified the following as top community issues: providing more youth life-skills training, better youth and adult career readiness, and more qualified leaders to prepare community for the future. Advisory councils contributed to this assessment.
Participants of leadership programs will serve as volunteer leaders and/or mentors to others.
Clientele will gain and maintain employment through life skill development.
Families and individuals will make responsible and productive life choices that will contribute to home and community.
Participants will collaborate with coalitions, councils, programs, and other leaders.
Clientele will set and achieve goals through Extension programming.
Extension participants will apply skills learned through Extension programming at home, work, and in their community.
Develop adequate perceptions of leadership due to training opportunities for organizational and community leaders
Clientele will develop an understanding of goal setting
Participants will acquire decision making skills and gain an appreciation for civic engagement
Initial Outcome: Develop adequate perceptions of leadership due to training opportunities for organizational and community leaders
Indicator: Teen Leadership participants will apply lessons in leadership through completing assignments in the program
Method: verbal presentation
Timeline: spring
Intermediate Outcome: Participants will collaborate with coalitions, councils, programs, and other leaders.
Indicator: Participation on advisory councils and in programs
Method: sign in sheets and leader trainings
Timeline: throughout the year
Long-term Outcome: Participants of leadership programs will serve as volunteer leaders and/or mentors to others.
Indicator: return of program alumni to facilitate program
Method: observation
Timeline: continuous
Audience: youth and adult Extension clientele
Project or Activity: Talk Meet, 4-H clothing and food projects, money management classes, meal planning and preparation lessons, safety programming, 4-H Teen Programming, horticulture programming
Content or Curriculum: Extension curriculum
Inputs: Extension resources, community partners, volunteers, and participants
Date: continuous throughout FY 2023
Audience: 7th grade students, high school juniors, council and board members, community participants
Project or Activity: Junior Leadership, Teen Leadership, Master Gardeners, Homemakers, 4-H Council, Agriculture Development Board, WC Cattlemen's Association, Washington on Wellness Coalition
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculum, Positive Employability Curriculum, other Extension curriculum
Inputs: Extension resources and specialists, community and civic organizations
Date: annual programming that will be offered continuously throughout FY 2023
Author: Melissa Schenck
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
According to a 2018 study by Walden University, “Occupational therapy research indicated that women used quilt making as therapy during everyday stress and also during times of exceptional stress.” In fact, many researchers consider that heritage arts are utilized as a form of therapy in rural areas where access to mental health resources are less available. Our Master Clothing volunteer as well as several community volunteers sought to continue on the tradition of quilting for
Author: Cabrina Buckman
Major Program: Family Development General
Summer learning loss refers to the decrease in learning that many school-aged children experience while school is not in session. The Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Extension Specialist for Parenting and Child Development, Dr. David Weisenhorn wrote an article that describes some ways to reduce the learning lost over the summer break. These strategies include reading each day, practicing math, writing, and being physically active. To bring these tips to local parents, the W
Author: Cabrina Buckman
Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
In August of 2021, the Lincoln Trail Area Extension Homemakers conducted a SWOT analysis at their area meeting. This meeting consisted of county and club officers, chairmen, and members from each of the 8 counties in the Lincoln Trail Area. While many strengths of the Extension Homemakers organization were listed, weaknesses still arose. Lack of technology, fundraising, structure, size, and more were all listed as minor weaknesses. However, a few kept rising to the top – mentioned again an
Author: Melissa Schenck
Major Program: Natural Resources
According to a 2022 analysis by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Center for Violence Prevention, gun injuries are the leading cause of death among U.S. children and teens ages 1-19. With that in mind, it is imperative that gun safety is a priority to teach our youth. With that goal in mind the Washington County 4-H Shootings Sports Coaches collectively committed over 250 volunteer hours to the county shooting sports program in 2022. Monthly safety meetings alongside weekly practices
Author: James Morgeson
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
The Horticulture How To workshops have become popular and some have been requested to become annual events such as the wreath making program. Participants learn how to and make a holiday wreath with live greenery to take home, they learn about the types or greenery, and how to keep it fresh through the holidays. There were twenty-seven participants this year. Previous attendees volunteered to help the beginners one on one until they got the hang of it. Each participant completed an evaluation fo
Author: Cabrina Buckman
Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
The elements and principles of art are the basic visual or tactile components of the art we view or create. How these interact impact our conscious or subconscious perception of what we are viewing. Understanding these elements (line, shape, form, space, texture, value, and color) and principles (unity, variety, proportion, balance, contrast, emphasis, movement, rhythm, and pattern) can guide an artist during the creative process or help a viewer objectively evaluate the finished product.T
Author: Cabrina Buckman
Major Program: Super Star Chef
Research has indicated that teaching cooking skills to children encourages healthier food choices. In an effort to teach these life skills, the Washington County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, the Washington County 4-H Youth Development Agent, the Washington County Nutrition Education Program Assistant, and a UK dietetic student worked together to offer Super Star Chef, a three-day camp for students ages 9 through 12 that is designed to teach kitchen safety, food safety, nutrition con
Author: Melissa Schenck
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
Author: Melissa Schenck
Major Program: Camping
To the untrained eye, 4-H camp is a fun week in the hills of Kentucky. A closer look reveals that campers learn, grow, and build upon their experiences at camp. This year's camp is no exception. Within this delegation of campers there were seven first-year campers who reported this experience to be their longest stretch of time spent away from their parents. All seven reported being excited but nervous about the experience. Prior to camp, six teens were selected through a county-wide ap
