Extension
It Starts With Us
Investing in Community Leaders
Personal Growth and Leadership Development
Vicki R. Boggs, Dawna Jace Peters, Michelle Brock
Family and Consumer Science
Leadership
Community Vitality and Leadership -FCS
Community Strategic Planning
Creating a culture of individuals giving back to their community through leadership roles serves a multi-purpose process of personal growth, community engagement, and helps to ensure a new generation of involved citizens. Building the volume of volunteer leaders and partners within Leslie County is critical for the sustainability and growth of our community. 2020 data revealed an estimated 25.8% of Leslie County residents overall lived in poverty, and an estimated 31.8% of children under age 18 lived in poverty, according to U.S. Census Bureau Small Area and Income Poverty Estimates. Providing youth and adults with these valuable leadership skills and attitudes can break negative generational patterns and prepare them to assume leadership roles both today and tomorrow. Leslie County Extension has 1 Engaged Certified Livestock Volunteer, 1 screened club leader, over 69 KEHA members, 2 Master Clothing Volunteers and various other volunteers who share their expertise, and volunteer time with youth and community families. Through the efforts of Extension agents and staff, paraprofessionals, partners and volunteers, local citizens are engaged, educated, and empowered to understand family and community issues and take ownership of implementing local solutions. Leslie County Extension Councils support, participate and provide leadership services for many programs.
-Maintain and/or increase number of volunteers who extend research based information to participants
-Community problems and needs are met through active, engaged local leaders.
- Kentucky communities’ health and economy are strengthened through strong local organizational leadership
-Individuals will serve as Adult and Teen leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger youth
-Practice personal leadership skills in clubs, school, and community service/outreach.
-Use and Apply Improved skills in communication, problem solving, or group process in addressing organizational issues and needs.
-Apply skills to assess needs, develop programs, and implement solutions for community problems.
-Participants will develop communication skills that will allow them to effectively communicate with others.
-Participants will learn effective team management and teamwork practices.
-Participants will aspire to create change in their community through their actions, attitudes, and leadership.
-Participants will gain an appreciation for volunteerism and community service.
Initial Outcome: Gain leadership and communication skills.
Indicator: Individual(s) acquire knowledge, skills, opinions, and aspirations.
Method: Observation; Written and verbal evaluations; Individual reports
Timeline: July 2024 - June 2025
Intermediate Outcome: Leadership and communication skills are put into practice.
Indicator: Individual(s) participate in Extension and community programs and councils.
Method: Observation, membership/attendance logs
Timeline: July 2024-June 2025
Long-term Outcome: Community problems are solved through active, engaged local leaders.
Indicator: Experienced individuals continue and new individual(s) assume leadership roles to address community issues.
Method: Observation and data
Timeline: Ongoing
Audience: Extension Stakeholders
Project or Activity: Leslie County Extension Council and Program Advisory Council Meetings
Content or Curriculum: State Extension Manual, UK Approved Communications
Inputs: Area and Regional Extension Directors, Extension Agents, County Extension Council; FCS Council; Extension Homemaker's Council; ANR Development Council; 4-H Council
Date: July 2024-June 2025
Audience: Extension Homemakers and Community
Project or Activity: Homemaker, KEHA Leader Lesson/Lunch-n-Learn Program
Content or Curriculum: FCS & KEHA Curriculum
Inputs: Quicksand Area FCS Agents
Date: September 2024-May 2025
Audience: Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Community Service Projects
Content or Curriculum: FCS Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Homemakers; FCS agent; Service Agencies
Date: July 2024-June 2025
Audience: Youth, Extension Homemakers, Community
Project or Activity: Expressive Arts
Content or Curriculum: Arts Council, Approved Core Curriculums
Inputs: Homemaker, Volunteer; FCS Agent;4-H Agent, Extension Agents, Arts Council
Date: July 2024-June 2025
Audience: Youth (Grades 8-12)
Project or Activity: Leslie County 4-H Teen Council
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Leadership and Extension Curriculum, Community Service Projects
Inputs: 4-H Agent; Cooperative Extension Agents and UK Specialists; Community and Service Organizations; State Teen Officers
Date: July 2024-June 2025
Audience: Youth, Families, Community
Project or Activity: Appalachian Heritage and Cultural Skills Programs
Content or Curriculum: County/Area/UK-developed Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent; FCS Agent; ANR Agent; Program Assistant, Extension Staff; School and Community Volunteer Leaders
Date: July 2024- June 2025
Audience: Youth (Grades 8-12)
Project or Activity: 4-H State Teen Conference
Content or Curriculum: Teen Leadership
Inputs: 4-H Agent; Program Assistant, Teens, 4-H State Teen Council and Officers, Volunteers and UK Specialists
Date: June 2024 and 2025 (Continuing Annual Event)
Audience: Youth (Middle School Grades)
Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Summit
Content or Curriculum: Teen Leadership
Inputs: 4-H Agent; Program Assistant, Volunteers, STC Members, 4-H State Teen Council and Officers, UK Specialist
Date: Spring 2024 and 2025 (Continual Annual Event)
Audience: Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: 4-H Summer Residential Camp
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Summer Camp Program Activities for Personal Development and Leadership
Inputs: 4-H Agent; Program Assistant, Extension Agents; Extension Staff; Teen and Adult Volunteers; Summer Camp Staff; Camp Manager; UK 4-H Summer Camp Specialist
Date: Summer 2024 and 2025 (Annual Event)
Audience: Youth (Grades 3-12) Also, Families/ Adults
Project or Activity: 4-H Horse Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Approved Livestock/Horse Curriculum
Inputs: 4-H Agent; Certified Livestock Volunteer, Parents; Community and Extension Volunteers, Extension Specialists and Specialists in the Field
Date: July 2024 - 2025 (Year round)
Audience: Youth ( 3rd- 12th grades)
Project or Activity: Art and Communication Initiatives: In-School Enrichment Art Program
Content or Curriculum: Extension State Specialists; 4-H and Extension Core Curriculum;
Inputs: 4-H Agent; Program Assistant, Extension Agents; Extension Staff and Volunteers
Date: July 2024-June 2025
Audience: Community and Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: Mary Breckinridge Festival/ Cultural Arts Displays and Recognition of Homemaker Leaders and Participants
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Manual: Cultural Arts Categories; Community Sharing; Tourism; Partnerships,
Inputs: FCS Agent; Extension Homemakers; Extension Staff; Community Service/Partnership, Chamber of Commerce; Community Volunteers
Date: Fall 2024 and 2025 (Annually)
Audience: KEHA Extension Homemakers
Project or Activity: KEHA Extension Homemakers Annual Meeting/Cultural Arts Displays and Recognition of Homemaker Leaders and Participants
Content or Curriculum: KEHA Manual: Cultural Arts Categories
Inputs: FCS Agent; Extension Homemakers; Extension Staff; Community Service/Partnership, Community Volunteers
Date: Fall 2024 and 2025 (Annually)
Audience: Community Artisan Entrepreneurs
Project or Activity: Annual Holiday Craft Bazaar
Content or Curriculum: Local Community Arts Celebration and Appreciation Promotion
Inputs: Extension Agents and staff; Extension volunteers; community members
Date: Winter 2024 and 2025 (Annual Event)
Audience: Community, Adults/Youth/Families
Project or Activity: Special Interest/ Make-N-Take
Content or Curriculum: Cultural Arts and Special Interests Educational Resources,
Inputs: FCS Agent; Program Assistant, Extension Agents, Extension Staff and Volunteers
Date: July 2024-June 2025
Audience: Community/Homemakers
Project or Activity: Come Sew with Us
Content or Curriculum: Cultural Arts & Sewing project Resources,
Inputs: Quicksand Area Master Clothing Volunteers, FCS Agents; Extension Staff and Volunteers
Date: July 2024-June 2025 (Held Annually at two rotated locations)
Audience: Business Leaders
Project or Activity: Chamber of Commerce
Content or Curriculum: Tourism and Leadership Materials
Inputs: Chamber of Commerce; community professionals; Extension staff
Date: July 2024-June 2025
Audience: Youth (Grades 4-12)
Project or Activity: Leslie County 4-H Youth Recognition
Content or Curriculum: Community Development
Inputs: 4-H Agent; Extension Staff, Leslie County Schools
Date: Spring 2024 and 2025
Audience: Community Coalitions and Committees
Project or Activity: Community Interest/Coalition Meetings: City of Hyden, Trail-Town, Promise Zone, UNITE/ASAP and SOAR
Content or Curriculum: Agent attendance and Involvement/Community Driven (PSE)
Inputs: Leslie County Extension Agents; Community; Partners, Volunteers
Date: July 2024-June 2025: Ongoing
Audience: Engaged/Interested Extension Volunteers; Extension Agents and Staff
Project or Activity: 2025 Kentucky Extension Volunteer Forum
Content or Curriculum: Celebration and Recognition of Extension Volunteers and Youth, Achievements and Accomplishments; Recertification and Professional Development
Inputs: Extension Agents; UK Volunteer Specialist; Extension Volunteer Leaders and Stakeholders
Date: February ( Bi-Annual Event, even years)
Author: Dawna Peters
Major Program: Communications & Expressive Arts
Describe the Issue or SituationLeslie County faced a need for engaging youth during the summer months when they are out of school. Many young people in our community were at risk of losing connection to educational programming and opportunities to develop essential life skills. The pandemic in 2020 had also disrupted traditional participation in events like the Kentucky State Fair, leaving a gap in youth engagement and recognition.Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partne
