Community Engagement and Economic Development
Community Development
Jessica Barnes, Jessica Sayre, Shannon Farrell, Shelley Meyer
Family and Consumer Science
Business Retention and Expansion
Building Healthy Coalitions
Build Engaged and Empowered Communities – General
Activities and events are being held in Harrison County, many of them free to the public, to promote the wellbeing of the residents and the community. However, more opportunity is always requested.
The community will work together to offer more programs and awareness resulting in an increased overall wellbeing.
Increased communication and interaction with elected officials and underserved populations.
Create awareness and educate the community on resources available to them.
Initial Outcome: Increased attendance at community and extension events
Indicator: New and improved programs offered by extension office, Public Library, Chamber of Commerce
Method: attendance and registration statistics
Timeline: All Year
Intermediate Outcome: Increased Citizen Participation
Indicator: Farmer's Market Participation, New City Park Improvements. Volunteers continue to participate
Method: Sign-in sheets, phone calls, website hits, news articles, and visits to Extension Office. A perceived more positive attitude about community
Timeline: 4 years or longer
Long-term Outcome: Community Improvements made
Indicator: Community beautification, County and City cleanup, business networking, infrastructure improvements, park development, grants received
Method: Observation and personal testing
Timeline: 3-5 years
Audience: Community
Project or Activity: Continue to develop vision and needs for the future.
Content or Curriculum: Develop vision and needs for next 20 years.
Inputs: Agents, community members, local councils
Date: Ongoing
Audience: Community members
Project or Activity: Media
Content or Curriculum: Radio, Newspaper, Newsletter, Electronic Sign promoting Harrison County activities
Inputs: Agents, paid staff, The Democrat, WCYN radio
Date: July-June
Audience: Public
Project or Activity: Website/ Social Media
Content or Curriculum: Extension to develop and link to other sites related to Harrison County. Update as needed.
Inputs: Extension staff
Date: July-June
Audience: Community members and leaders
Project or Activity: Grant Writing/Resource Acquisition
Content or Curriculum: Guide leaders as they seek dollars for action plans
Inputs: Community leaders
Date: July-June
Audience: Public
Project or Activity: Sponsor Community Blood Drive
Content or Curriculum: Commitment to the Community, work with Central Kentucky Blood Center
Inputs: Central Kentucky Blood Center
Date: 3 to 4 times during the year
Audience: Community members
Project or Activity: Community Health Fairs
Content or Curriculum: Preventative Health
Inputs: Harrison Memorial Hospital, Health providers, volunteers
Date: June
Audience: 4th and 5th grade students
Project or Activity: Safety Day
Content or Curriculum: Prevention
Inputs: local businesses, emergency services, volunteers
Date: Septemeber
Audience: Public
Project or Activity: Harrison County Beef Day
Content or Curriculum: Create Awareness about the Beef Industry and where food comes from
Inputs: Harrison County Beef Cattle Association, Ag Council, Farm supply stores, local vets, volunteers, Homemakers
Date: May
Audience: Public
Project or Activity: Honey Festival
Content or Curriculum: Homemaker awareness, cookoff
Inputs: Beekeepers Association, Harrison County Homemakers, volunteers
Date: September
Audience: Public
Project or Activity: Harrison County Fairgrounds
Content or Curriculum: Advise leaders as they seek funding and development.
Inputs: District Board members, Cooperative Extension Council
Date: All Year
Audience: 4-H members
Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Council
Content or Curriculum: Step Up to Leadership
Inputs: 4-H UK Specialists, neighboring 4-H agents and programs, Kentucky 4-H, SRTLC, Teen Retreat, Middle School Retreat, Teen Summit, Teen Conference, Leadership Bootcamp, State Teen Council, Area Teens, Fashion Leadership Board
Date: All Year
Audience: 4-H members
Project or Activity: Chamber/4-H Young Entrepreneurs
Content or Curriculum: Build Your Future Curriculum, Marketing, Vendor opportunities, presentation skills
Inputs: 4-H UK Specialists, Chamber of Commerce, 4-H Volunteers, Field and Main Bank, Melinda's Boutique, Real Estate Agent, local businesses
Date: All Year
Author: Shelley Meyer
Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
The problemThe Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA) is a volunteer organization that works to improve the quality of life for families and communities through leadership development, volunteer service, and education (Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association, 2023). This organization consists primarily of retired females with a growing audience of working women. With changing times and gender roles, there has been a void in capturing the male audience in this worthwhile organization.
Author: Shannon Farrell
Major Program: Community Engagement
UK Engagement Academy comes to Harrison County Extension success is measured, in part, by its collaborative efforts with community leaders, other entities, and stakeholders. What’s been a major component in Extension’s purpose for years, but being emphasized now more than ever, is the Extension’s ability to partner and share resources with other efforts in the community to meet needs and increase quality of life. A tremendous honor
Author: Jessica Barnes
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership - ANR
UK Engagement Academy comes to Harrison CountyExtension success is measured, in part, by its collaborative efforts with community leaders, other entities, and stakeholders. What’s been a major component in Extension’s purpose for years, but being emphasized now more than ever, is the Extension’s ability to partner and share resources with other efforts in the community to meet needs and increase quality of life. A tremendous honor was held by Harrison County Extension when the
Author: Jessica Hopkins
Major Program: Build Engaged and Empowered Communities – General
Extension success is measured, in part, by its collaborative efforts with community leaders, other entities, and stakeholders. What’s been a major component in Extension’s purpose for years, but being emphasized now more than ever, is the Extension’s ability to partner and share resources with other efforts in the community to meet needs and increase quality of life. A tremendous honor was held by Harrison County Extension when the Regio
Author: Shelley Meyer
Major Program: Build Engaged and Empowered Communities – General
Extension success is measured, in part, by its collaborative efforts with community leaders, other entities, and stakeholders. What’s been a major component in Extension’s purpose for years, but being emphasized now more than ever, is the Extension’s ability to partner and share resources with other efforts in the community to meet needs and increase quality of life. A tremendous honor was held by Harrison County Extension when the Regional Director for area C4, recommended the
Author: Shannon Farrell
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
The 4-H Middle School Academy in Harrison County was a program that developed as an outreach for increased 6th-8th grade involvement in 4-H, coupled with a focus on Appalachian cuisine and local food markets. This idea evolved during a collaboration meeting when Ashford Acres’ (local event venue) executive chef, requested to do a partnership with 4-H. In working to identify youth well suited for this program, the principal of Harrison County Middle School announced school-wide, that anyone
Author: Shannon Farrell
Major Program: Civic Engagement
Monday, November 13th, Harrison County 4-H representatives traveled to Dawson Springs, KY to deliver a monetary check donation and 3 park benches to one of the hardest hit areas of the December 2021 tornados. This delivery has been the culminating trip of a two-year process.The service project idea began in January of 2022 when the Harrison County 4-H Council voted to set aside a certain amount of money as a donation to be used towards the tornado relief efforts. As an added component, the
Author: Jessica Hopkins
Major Program: Build Engaged and Empowered Communities – General
Harrison County and Cynthiana is considered the #1 Fall Destination in Kentucky. With that title, local businesses decorate storefronts, homes are decorated with skeletons and fall décor, there are events held each weekend through September and October and the Harrison County Extension Office is always looking for ways to participate and make their presence known in the community.After a conversation with the Chamber of Commerce director, a suggestion was made to have a Giant Pumpki
Author: Jessica Barnes
Major Program: Build Engaged and Empowered Communities – General
Harrison County and Cynthiana is considered the #1 Fall Destination in Kentucky. With that title, local businesses decorate storefronts, homes are decorated with skeletons and fall décor, there are events held each weekend through September and October and the Harrison County Extension Office is always looking for ways to participate and make their presence known in the community.After a conversation with the Chamber of Commerce director, a suggestion was made to have a Giant Pumpki
Author: Shelley Meyer
Major Program: Community Engagement
The problemHarrison County and Cynthiana is considered the #1 Fall Destination in Kentucky. With that title, local businesses decorate storefronts, homes are decorated with skeletons and fall décor, there are events held each weekend through September and October and the Harrison County Extension Office is always looking for ways to participate and make their presence known in the community.The educational program responseAfter a conversation with the Chamber of Commerce director, a
Author: Shannon Farrell
Major Program: Communications
Harrison County Elementary Digital Learning Coach partnered with Harrison County 4-H to provide a learning opportunity for elementary students to participate in the submission contest for the Creative Digital Arts Projects. This statewide school initiative allows each elementary school to submit 2 entries: Digital Photography and Digital Narrative. Photos entered in either category must be original photos that utilize composition, framing, and feel without over dependence upon software enhanceme