Extension
It Starts With Us
Life Skills for Everyone
Youth and Families
Raymer, Shadrick, Green
Family and Consumer Science
Communications
Financial Education - General
21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
The Webster County Community Assessment Survey identified life skills as a top priority for the citizens of Webster County. Life skills promote mental well-being in young people and equips them to face the realities of life. Learning to create and live within a budget, nurture children, form relationships with others, problem solve, express oneself in a positive manner, and communicate effectively with others are basic to everyday life in our society. The ever changing landscape of the family and the consumer highlights the need for a responsive and innovative Extension program while also providing the basic needs that all families have as they navigate life’s many challenges. Financial education, communications programming, expressive arts education, and other life skills development is key.
- Webster County community members were surveyed in 2019 and the results of the Kentucky Extension Community Assessment identified the top three priorities for life skills development among all ages. Results indicated 50% of respondents identified the need for more youth life skills training (money management, life decision making, etc.), 25% identified the need for Better family skills in reducing debt, increasing savings and financial planning and 17% identified the need for Better youth and adult career readiness.
- Providing youth with the ability to enhance and develop communication skills is of great importance in Kentucky. Public speaking is among the greatest fear of individuals; however communication skills are a necessary life skills to be successful in the workforce and in the home. The development of communications skills is one of the primary skills necessary to grow as an individual, a community member and a leader. Using age appropriate activities selected from the approved Kentucky 4-H Communication & Expressive Arts Curriculum, educators can maximize the ability of youth to develop their writing, reading and personal communication capacities. This in turn creates a solid foundation for positive youth development (Jones, K. R. 2006).
- Research consistently shows a correlation between involvement in the arts, academic success and civic engagement. Unfortunately, there has been a sharp decrease over the years in Arts programs in our schools. Webster County 4-H Youth Development has an opportunity to fill this void and inspire future artists across the county.
Webster County Extension seeks to meet these needs through working with youth and families in a variety of situations to increase their consumer awareness, financial management, effective communication, and human development.
Youth will utilize the skills gained to serve as leaders in 4-H and other organizations.
Participants will share the elements of the music, dance, drama and visual arts with their community.
Participants will be advocates for the arts.
Increase practical living skills and make more effective decisions.
Become a contributing member of society.
Youth and teens will develop an increased ability to serve in leadership roles.
Youth are better able to communicate and perform in public situations and will be better prepared to manage relationships.
Youth and Adults will communicate effectively through speaking, writing, and listening.
Individuals will have increased self-confidence not only to speak in front of a group, but to tackle situations which arise in everyday life
Adults and youth will be responsible and contributing individuals and family members.
Individuals will gain and maintain employment through life skill development.
Individuals will be reporting improved family financial stability and economic well-being leading to an improved quality of life and a stronger family.
Interview for a position.
Prepare a 4-H project such as foods, arts& crafts, clothing, wood, etc.
Adults and youth will utilize and practice life skills in projects and life situations.
Youth will practice responsible consumer and financial decision-making.
Youth will adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employability in the future.
Participate in the 4-H speaking events will be able to use the skills they have acquired through the 4-H events to speak comfortably in front of an audience.
The skills gained will benefit them throughout their school career and will aid them in their quest to find a job and communicate effectively at that job
Youth use their communication skills to assume a leadership role in 4-H or other organizations.
Participants will practice resource management behavior(s) resulting in increased savings or investments.
Youth will demonstrate an increased level of confidence when presenting in front of groups.
Youth apply elements of music, dance, drama and visual arts in creating and performing.
Learn how to communicate effectively, make informed and effective decisions.
Learn how to exhibit self-confidence in front of a crowd.
Learn how to research a topic and present it to a group of peers, family, etc.
Learn life skills (cooking, sewing, budgeting, managing, and working, etc.).
Learn proper job skills (interviewing, writing, communicating, thinking, problem solving.
Rally Day entries meet or exceed the standards
Volunteers and leaders will learn basic communication skills, aspire to participate in programs and projects in the community, and acquire the skills to be responsible for their own lives and the well-being of the community
Youth will learn how to organize information, thoughts and ideas into a speech or demonstration.
Youth will learn how to place livestock and then justify that placing through oral reasons
Youth will compete in events and will be recognized for their accomplishments.
Youth will attend day camps and project meetings and begin to learn new skills.
Youth will learn importance of soil conservation.
Youth will learn where food comes from
Raise awareness of possible careers in agriculture
Participants will show increased knowledge and skills related to managing available financial and non-financial resources.
Participants will identify short, medium and long term personal goals and objectives related to maintaining and improving their financial stability and awareness of severe signs of stress.
Youth will gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Sciences projects and programs.
Youth will understand the decision-making process.
Youth will gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action.
Youth will gain knowledge in researching, preparing and presenting a speech or demonstration.
Youth can identify key elements of music, dance, drama and visual arts
Initial Outcome:
Increased awareness, knowledge and skills relating to family consumer sciences, communications, and arts
Indicator: Increased attendance and participation in FCS and Communications and Expressive Arts programming
Method: Curriculum and program evaluation tools including 4-H Common Measures Surveys
Timeline: At time of program implementation
Intermediate Outcome: Positive development of life skills related to communication, FCS, and art
Indicator: Participants demonstrating improved communication skills, utilizing technologies, and setting goals and developing action plans?
Method: Follow-up surveys, personal interviews and observations
Timeline: 1 -3 month follow-up to program implementation
Intermediate Outcome: Individuals and families will utilize goal setting and budgeting to manage financial resources for future planning and practice responsible financial decision making.
Indicator: Individuals attending financial management programs and work force preparation program. ?Families will be updated on help Mental Health awareness programs
Method: Pre and post surveys
Timeline: 2023-2024
Long-term Outcome: Youth will gain and maintain employment through life skill development. Youth will contribute to a safe, pleasant and productive home and family. Youth become more comfortable sharing their thoughts with others. Youth develop into competent, capable, contributing adults as a result of programming.
Indicator: Participants contributing to their family and community in service and leadership roles, and successfully obtaining and maintaining employment
Method: Follow-up surveys, personal interviews and observations
Timeline: 6 months - 1 year follow-up to program implementation
Long-term Outcome: Individuals and families will demonstrate financial literacy and sound basic financial practices to transition through life.
Indicator: Individual and families will use one or more resource management behaviors resulting increased savings.
Method: Post program surveys
Timeline: 6 month - year following program participation
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Robotics Club
Content or Curriculum: Robotics with EV3 curriculum
Inputs: Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leadership
Date: Program 2023-24
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Camp
Content or Curriculum: Annual camp program based on the Kentucky 4-H Camping program and policies
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff and facility, public schools, community action, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business sponsorship
Date: Summer Annually
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Cloverbud Afterschool program
Content or Curriculum: KET Toolkit and other Kentucky 4-H approved curriculum for Expressive Arts
Inputs: Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources
Date: program year 2023-24
Audience: 4th graders county wide
Project or activity: Youth Ag and Safety Days
Content or Curriculum: Progressive Agriculture Foundation; UK
Inputs: Cooperative Extension, NRCS, Conservation District, Family Resource Centers, Farm Bureau, Independence bank, volunteers
Date: Last Thursday in September annually
Audience: Youth
Activity: Science, Engineering and Technology Day Camp
Content or Curriculum: Various approved Kentucky S.E.T. Curriculum
Inputs: Agents, specialist, program assistant, volunteers
Date: summer annually
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Communications Program
Content or Curriculum: Picking up the Pieces curriculum
Inputs: Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leadership
Date: Program year 2023-24
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Local 4-H Performing Arts Program/Club
Content or Curriculum: KET Arts Curriculum and Kentucky 4-H approved core curriculum
Inputs: Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leadership
Date: year round
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Food Club
Content or Curriculum: Super Start Chef, Teen Cuisine, Cupcake wars, Culinary Challenge
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, program assistants, specialists and volunteers
Kentucky CES publications and resources
Date: School Year 2023-24
Audience: Youth
Activity: 4-Horticulture club
Content or Curriculum: State horticulture, Jr. Master Garden
Inputs: Certified volunteers, specialist, teen volunteers, 4-H Agent
Date: Program Year 2023-24
Audience: Middle school students
Activity: Truth and Consequences program
Content or Curriculum: Truth and Consequences curriculum
Inputs: Agents, assistant, Family Resource Coordinator, community volunteers
Date: Fall school year
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: At Risk Youth Camp
Content or Curriculum: Annual camp program based on the Kentucky 4-H Camping program and policies
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff and facility, public schools, community action, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business sponsorship
Date: Summer Annually
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H It's Your Reality Program and Dollars and Sense
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H It's Your Reality and Dollars and Sense curriculum
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leaders
Date: 2024 program year
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Cloverbud Programs
Content or Curriculum: KET Toolkit and other Kentucky 4-H approved curriculum for Cloverbuds and 4-H Exploration
Inputs: Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources
Date: 2023-24 program year
Audience: Local Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Project Clubs, School Clubs, and Workshops
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H approved core curriculum and record books
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents and facilities, public schools, family resource centers, volunteer leadership, community and business leadership
Date: 2023-2024 program year
Project or Activity: 4-H Art Club
Content or Curriculum: Art curriculum and other Kentucky 4-H approved Art curriculum
Inputs: Extension staff and facility, public schools, family resource and youth service centers, volunteer leadership, curriculum and program resources, local organizations and business leadership
Date: 2023-24 program year
Audience: Local Youth (4th Grade)
Project or Activity: 4-H Environmental Day Camp
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H approved curriculum (Project WET, Project WILD, Forensic Entomology, etc.)
Inputs: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) agents, Kentucky 4-H Camp staff and facilities, volunteer leadership, community leaders, public schools, curriculum and program resources
Date: annually in the Fall
Audience: Adults, young adults, and teens
Project or Activity: Money Habitudes Workshop
Content or Curriculum: Money Habitudes online
Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, Money Habitudes cards, APEX, FRYSC, Drug Court
Date: Fall 2023
Audience: Adults, young adults, and teens
Project or Activity: Credit Education
Content or Curriculum: Good Credit Game, Reality Store
Inputs: FCS Agent, curriculum publications and resources, Good Credit Game set, FRYSC, APEX, Drug Court
Date: Fall 2023
Project or Activity: Financial Education
Content or Curriculum: Real Skills for Everyday Life
Inputs: FCS Agents
Date:2022-2023
Author: Wade Raymer
Major Program: Leadership
The 100th Annual Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference took place at the University of Kentucky from June 11th to 14th, 2024. The conference aimed to achieve several objectives for its participants, including developing leadership and teamwork skills, improving communication abilities, fostering civic engagement, expanding knowledge in 4-H core content areas, and enhancing social skills through networking. Additionally, the event provided an opportunity for youth to become acquainted with the University
Author: Wade Raymer
Major Program: Camping
A study reported in the Journal of Extension looked at the long-term impact of being a counselor at a 4-H residential camp. Alumni counselors were asked about their experience and how it related to personal development, the development of skill for working with children and groups, and life skill development. These included: how to handle emergency situations, how to plan an educational activity, how to teach others, how to deal with difficult children, how to be a role model for others, how to
Author: Wade Raymer
Major Program: Leadership
Leadership education builds several important assets in Kentucky youth and provides critical elements of youth development (Search Institute, 2004; Pittman, Irby & Ferber, 2001.) Youth who participate in leadership development opportunities are exposed to a variety of opportunities for personal development. Leadership activities help youth:-develop confidence in their leadership potential and their own sense of identity-improve their self-esteem-enhance their communication skills in sharing,
Author: Wade Raymer
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
According to Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, “The best way to teach kids about eating right is to get them into the kitchen to prepare healthy meals together. Cooking is a valuable life skill that teaches children about nutrition and food safety, as well as building math, science, literacy and fine motor skills.” However, with busy schedules and convenience of fast food restaurants, many youth are at a disadvantage when it comes to gaining skills in the kitchen and acquiring know
Author: Vicki Shadrick
Major Program: LEAP
Nutrition, physical activity and ag literacy were identified by the Webster County Extension Council as top priority educational needs in Webster County. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, adolescent’s ages 6-17 need to get sixty minutes of moderate physical activity every day to prevent poor lifestyle habits that can lead to health problems later in life. Youth are eating less than the recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables. Unfortu
Author: Wade Raymer
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
Nutrition, physical activity and AG literacy were identified by the Webster County Extension Council as top priority educational needs in Webster County. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, adolescent’s ages 6-17 need to get sixty minutes of moderate physical activity every day to prevent poor lifestyle habits that can lead to health problems later in life. Youth are eating less than the recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables. Unfortu
