Extension
It Starts With Us
Empowering Extension & Community Leaders
Leadership & Community Development and Vitality
Corinne Belton, Regina Browning, Candice Hollingsworth, Elizabeth Coots, Skye Drane (Hort Tech)
Master Gardener
Master Clothing Volunteer
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
Community Engagement
Building the capacity of volunteer leaders within Shelby County is critical for the sustainability of a community infrastructure that supports long-term commitment to strengthen families. Volunteers are important in building engaged and empowered communities.
The Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA) mission is to improve the quality of life for families and communities through education, leadership development and volunteer service. Within Shelby County there are 249 KEHA members. KEHA members are engaged leaders and active volunteers.
Home sewing is now considered an “uneconomic use of time” because today’s marketplace is flooded with easily available, low-priced clothing and other sewn products. In the past, home sewing was a necessity to save money; today it is usually cheaper to buy an off-the-rack item. Although this may decrease the economic need for sewing skills, it is still important to make sure that the craft of sewing and clothing construction is taught and maintained so that these skills are not forgotten. Research studies have also shown that sewing can reduce stress and provide positive feelings as people make creative projects. Shelby County has nine Master Clothing Volunteers who share their expertise in sewing with others.
Master Gardeners share their expertise and volunteer their time with youth and families in their community. The leaders are engaged, educated and empowered to understand issues and to take ownership for implementing solutions.
Demand for home horticulture information continues to increase in Shelby County. Shelby County Master Gardener trained volunteers are able to assist county Extension staff in meeting this need for research-based information and public outreach.
Communities' health and economy are strengthened through strong organizational leadership
Community problems are solved by active engaged local leaders
KEHA members serve as active Extension and community volunteers engaged in addressing community needs.
Master Clothing Volunteers provide the counties 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 and by sewing home décor items.
The public has a positive perception of EMG volunteers as reliable sources for home horticulture information.
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
Increased number of people who: practice personal leadership skills in clubs, schools and community outreach; improved skills in communication, problem solving or group process in addressing organizational issues or needs; apply skills to assess needs, develop programs and implement solutions for community problems.
KEHA - KEHA leaders will practice personal leadership skills through leadership roles at the club, county, area and/or state level.
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
Participants (certified EMG volunteers) put into practice the skills learned when completing volunteer hours and working with clientele
Participants engage as facilitators and presenters for classes, lectures, or workshops delivered
EMG volunteers have positive perceptions of their role as reliable sources for home horticulture information
*Increase KOSA in personal leadership
*Increase KOSA in organizational leadership
*Increase KOSA in community leadership
KEHA - 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 meetings and special interest workshops.
Master Clothing Volunteers are accepted into a group of individuals who share a passion for sewing. Through our MCV training, our volunteers learn standard sewing skills and are exposed to advancements in sewing equipment; they may change point-of-view about the way some sewing techniques 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
Participants gain knowledge in many aspects of home horticulture. This is measured through regular quizzes
Participants become Certified EMG volunteers when they master the curriculum and provide 30 hours in volunteer service to the local Cooperative Extension Office.
Intermediate Outcome: MCV’s increase knowledge and become experienced leaders
Indicator: 1, 2 (from MCV Program Indicators)
Method: Attend Fall MCV training; lead classes
Timeline: on-going
Intermediate Outcome: Sewing class participants gain skills
Indicator: 6, 7, 8 (from MCV Program Indicators)
Method: Attend MCV-led classes
Timeline: on-going
Initital Outcome: KEHA members will gain organizational knowledge through annual officer and chairman training.
Indicator: 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
Initial Outcome: KEHA members will increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership through club lessons and special interest workshops.
Indicator: Number of individuals reporting improved personal and interpersonal leadership knowledge and/or Number of individuals reporting improved personal and interpersonal leadership skills.
Method: end of program evaluations, surveys
Timeline: on-going
Intermediate Outcome: KEHA leaders will practice personal leadership skills through leadership roles at the club, county, area and/or state level.
Indicator: 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: Annual Reports
Indicator: Growth in programs, service hours, community involvement
Method: Survey
Timeline: Annually
Intermediate Outcome: Implementation of Leadership skills
Indicator: Better communication, presentation and problem solving skills
Method: Observation
Timeline: Periodically, following engagement opportunities
Intermediate Outcome: Individuals share new KOSA with others as EMG volunteers.
Indicator: Number of EMG sharing KOSA with others.
Method: End-of-program surveys, observation
Timeline: Annually
Long-term Outcome: Extension leaders strengthen communities
Indicator: Positive observation/narratives
Method: Interviews
Timeline: Annually
Long-term Outcome: EMG assist Extension personell in teaching hort programs and answering questions.
Indicator: Number of EMG assisting with Extension programming
Method: Self-reporting and observation
Timeline: Year-to-year over next decade
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Master Gardener Certification
Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener curriculum
Inputs: MG curriculum, guest speakers, specialists, horticulture technician
Date: Spring 2024
Audience: Adults interested in Horticulture
Project or Activity: Master Gardener Association activities
Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener Training manual
Inputs: MG Training manual
Date: July 2023-June 2024
Audience: General Public
Project or Activity: Garden Tours
Content or Curriculum: MG Curriculum, guest speakers, Extension publications
Inputs: MG Curriculum, guest speakers, Extension publications, specialists, horticulture technician
Date: July 2023-June 2024
Audience: County Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: County Homemaker Leader Training
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Leadership Training Materials; KEHA Manual
Inputs: KEHA Leadership Training Materials; KELD; homemakers, FCS Agent
Date: Aug 2023
Audience: Shelby County Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: State Homemaker Annual State Meeting
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Leadership Training Materials; workshops; Officer Training and Educational Chairman Workshops
Inputs: KEHA Leadership Training Materials; KELD; homemakers
Date: April 2024
Audience: Louisville Area Master Clothing Volunteers
Project or Activity: State-wide Fall Training
Content or Curriculum: Various sewing workshops; classes based on certification needs or requests from members or as determined by the MCV Steering Committee
Inputs: state coordinator, agents, volunteers, other MCVs
Date: Oct 2023
Audience: Louisville Area Master Clothing Volunteers
Project or Activity: Area Work Days and Sewing Programs
Content or Curriculum: Various sewing workshops; record keeping; community service projects
Inputs: FCS, other MCVs, community partners
Date: Feb, Apr and Jun 2024
Audience: Participants of MCV-Led Programs
Project or Activity: Level-Specific Sewing Classes
Content or Curriculum: MCVs teach sewing classes in their counties
Inputs: other MCVs, FCS and 4-H Agents
Date: Sep 2023 – May 2024
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Beginning Spanish
Content or Curriculum: grammar and spoken Spanish; Spanish textbook, instructor
Inputs: Spanish textbook, instructor
Date: Jan – Mar 2024
Audience: Adults and Youth
Project or Activity: Hands-On Open House/Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours
Content or Curriculum: Hands-On Field Day
Inputs: volunteers, community partners
Date: June 2024
Audience: Community Adults & Youth
Project or Activity: Leadership is M.O.R.E.
Content/Curriculum: Leadership is M.O.R..E. Curriculum
Inputs: Agents, Leadership is M.O.R.E. Curriculum
Date: November, 2024
Updated 5/5/2023
Author: Corinne Belton
Major Program: Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development
Current Extension agriculture programming in Shelby County seeks to enhance the sustainability of agriculture as it faces continued challenges of a growing urban-rural interface. In order to facilitate this goal, expansion of the volunteer base and maintenance of a formal council has been and will continue to be imperative to the success of the Extension agriculture and horticulture programs. Active involvement of local citizens via a thriving advisory council and functional committee system gui
