Extension
It Starts With Us
Leadership Development
Developing Effective Extension Leaders
Samantha Saunders, ANR/4-H Agent & Britney Poe, FCS/4-H Agent
Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD)
Community Leadership Development
Leadership
Robertson County is a rural county with a population of 2,161people (according to the 2017 census estimate) and one incorporated town, Mount Olivet. Most employed residents work in non-agricultural jobs outside of the county. Thus, the pool of available leaders within the county is slim. Increased involvement in local activities is needed to strengthen individuals and the community. There are many underlying reasons why Leadership is one of Robertson County Extension’s focus with Plan of Work:
-Having faced a severe threat of folding as a community, the need is as great as ever for well-rounded, informed, strong leaders to become actively involved in decisions. Looking at the 4 age categories: Under 18, 19-44, 45-64, and 65 and older; Robertson County shows a higher percentage in the 19-44 and 45-64 age groups then the others. (Census 2017). However, taking into consideration the size of the county, all age groups are fairly evenly distributed. This is something that could be advantageous to Robertson County Extension in developing leader boards that can have diverse age representation.
-Robertson County Extension is thriving; largely due to an increase in participation and volunteerism with extension programs. Therefore, a continued focus on building and strengthening the extension volunteer base will not only keep extension growing, but also help extension to penetrate within the community as a valuable partner in other community aspects.
-With a growing 4-H program, the responsibility of volunteers and leadership from our youth is increasing in demand.
Many leadership scholars and youth development professionals agree that leadership development is an important, but often overlooked facet of youth development and education (MacNeil ,2000). The development of leadership contributes greatly to the positive development of young people and their communities. Leadership skills, such as goal-setting, problem-solving and sound decision-making, are not just necessary for leaders-these skills are needed for success in today's world (MacNeil, 2000). Furthermore, helping young people develop leadership competencies makes them better able to solve community problems and enhances their civic participation (O'Brien & Kohlmeier, 2003). Young leaders also demonstrate higher career aspirations, increased self-esteem, and improved high school completion rates (Bloomberg, Ganey, Alba, Quintero, & Alcantara, 2003).
By supporting and engaging young leaders, adults, organizations and communities experience direct benefits, through stronger connections to other young people in the community (Zeldin, McDaniel, Topitzes, & Lorens, 2001). They have a greater understanding of the problems facing other youth, and fresh perspectives for how to address these problems (Des Marais, Yang, & Farzanehkia, 2000; Zeldin, McDaniel, Topitzes, & Lorens, 2001; McGillicuddy, 1991). Additionally, young people help to re-energize adults and counteract negative stereotypes of youth when they are successfully engaged in leadership within their communities (Zeldin, & Camino, 1999; Fiscus, 2003).
4-H Youth Leadership is about:
-Learning about the concept of leadership and your individual role as a leader.
-Using leadership skills to effectively lead small groups and teams toward common goals.
-Work within your community (club/county/state or beyond) to become an engaged leader who can make a difference.
-Creating a program that encourages, values, promotes and supports diversity and inclusivity at all levels.
KY 4-H specialists, our County Extension Council, FCS Council, Homemaker Council, 4-H Council, Ag Council, and Ag Development Board were all involved in identifying this situation and developing this program.
-Individuals will serve as teen and adult leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger youth.
-Adults and youth will demonstrate the understanding of diversity, inclusivity and multiculturalism in their daily life.
-Adults and youth will identify and address critical issues that impact the community
-Youth will be productive, contributing adults in the future.
-Adults will be productive, contributing members of extension and within the community
-Adults and youth will use leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis.
-It is the goal that Extension leadership will take on roles beyond what they are called to do by volunteering in whatever capacity they can, leading groups to become more involved in the community, and being inspirational role models to less developed leaders in the county.
-Adults and youth will demonstrate leadership, teamwork and communication skills in their day to day lives.
-Adults and youth will utilize leadership skills learned during their time in 4-H in clubs, activities and other venues with 4-H and other community organizations.
-Senior 4-H members will become leaders or co-leaders of a 4-H project club, day camp or other project based group of younger 4-H members.
-Individuals will indicate increased awareness of diversity issues in their community and personal lives.
-Extension leaders will engage in community based service projects selected to address identified needs.
-Behavioral changes of the leaders will be seen as an increase in community involvement, public speaking skills, public relations, customer service, and assuming a greater amount of responsibility toward the organization or group.
-Adults and youth will learn the communication, leadership and procedural skills that will allow them to run a meeting.
-Individuals will increase their knowledge about leadership and how to be an effective leader, team player and communicator.
-Youth will learn about leadership styles and will be able to identify positive and negative leadership characteristics.
-Individuals will learn about diversity and will demonstrate inclusivity.
-Adults and youth will acquire decision making skills and gain an appreciation for civic engagement.
-Adults and youth will learn how to set appropriate, attainable goals.
-Individuals will listen to people who have different ideas from them.
-In developing leadership skills, individuals must understand the purpose of the organization and group they are representing.
- Leaders will develop a keen sense of responsibility and purpose in their role as a leader. This will lead to the realization of the influence they have on the group and the impact they can lead the group into making.
Initial Outcome: Increased involvement on Extension councils and in Extension programs
Indicator: More business being conducted and carried out from council meetings and clubs
Method: Observation, rosters, activity and program outcomes
Timeline: 2024-2025
Intermediate Outcome: Number of adults and youth who indicate “they know how to set and accomplish a goal”.
Indicator: Meeting outcomes
Method: Group meetings, Observation
Timeline: 2024-2025
Long-term Outcome: Extension leaders with a strong presence in the community.
Indicator: Holding political office, competition to serve on high ranking Extension councils
Method: Observation
Timeline: 2024-2025
Audience: Adult Volunteers
Project or Activity: Volunteer Picnic
Content or Curriculum: Volunteer Appreciation
Inputs: Extension Agents, Volunteers, Blue Licks State Park
Date: Summer/Fall 2024
Audience: 9th-12th grade 4-Hers
Project or Activity: Teen Leadership Academy
Content or Curriculum: Teambuilding with Teens
Inputs: Extension Agents, 4-Her’s, Community Leaders
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: County Beef Producers
Project or Activity: Beef Board of Directors
Content or Curriculum: Youth Livestock Initiative, Annual Beef Meeting, Quarterly Beef Meetings
Inputs: Extension Agent, beef producers, UK specialists and experts
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: Robertson County Extension Council
Project or Activity: Committees: membership, bylaws, public relations, capital construction
Content or Curriculum: Develop extension programmatic decisions and needs
Inputs: CEC members, Extension Agents
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: Extension District Board
Project or Activity: Financial overseerers
Content or Curriculum: Financial decisions for Robertson County Extension
Inputs: Board members, Extension Agents, Extension Secretary, Board Treasurer
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: 4-H Volunteers
Project or Activity: 4-H club leaders in shooting sports, livestock, cloverbud, sewing, project days, etc.
Content or Curriculum: 4-H curriculum and training in each respective area taught by leaders to 4-H members.
Inputs: Volunteers, parents, 4-H members, Extension Agents
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: Ag Development Board
Project or Activity: Appropriation of County Funds
Content or Curriculum: Develop educational program for county farmers
Inputs: Board Members (Conservation, Extension, and FSA Representatives), KOAP Representatives, Extension Agent
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: Extension Homemakers, Nursing Home residents, other Community Organizations
Project or Activity: Homemaker Leader Lesson
Content or Curriculum: Living with Loss: Self-Care and Managing Grief, Reducing the Risk of Identity Theft, Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
Inputs: Specialist-designed curriculum
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: 4-H Teen Clubs (High School and Middle School)
Project or Activity: Monthly Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Citizenship, Social Planning, We Connect: A Global Youth Citizenship Curriculum, Civic Engagement
Inputs: Extension Agent, 4-Hers
Date: 2024-2025
Audience: Camp Counselors (Junior and Adult)
Project or Activity: Cloverbud and 4-H Camp
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky 4-H Camp Counselor Training Guide
Inputs: Youth, Volunteers, Extension Agents, 4-Hers
Date: Summer 2024 & 2025
Audience: Robertson 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 Agents, State Advisors
Date: Fall 2024
Audience: Robertson County Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: KEHA Leader Training and/or Special Interest Workshops
Content or Curriculum: KELD Curriculum, FCS Extension Lesson Resources, FCS Curriculum
Inputs: FCS Agents, State Advisors
Date: Monthly 2024-2025
Audience: Robertson County Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: KEHA State Meeting
Content or Curriculum: Officer Training & Educational Chairman Workshops
Inputs: FCS Agents, State Advisors
Date: Spring 2025
