Improving Life Skills and Financial Literacy of the Community Plan of Work
Boone County CES
County Emphasis:
Improving Life Skills and Financial Literacy of the Community
Concentration 1:
Financial Security and Economic Well-Being
Concentration 2:
Work and Life Skill Development
Concentration 3:
Small Farm Development
Situation:
A significant portion of Kentucky's population faces economic distress, with 39% of residents living in economically challenged communities compared to the national average of 15%. Many households struggle to maintain financial stability as the cost of living continues to rise, making it essential to equip individuals with the skills needed to thrive. The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) is committed to enhancing financial security and economic well-being by promoting financial literacy, resource management, small business support, and workforce readiness programs.
In the 2023 University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Community Needs Assessment, financial literacy, resource management, and life skill development emerged as top concerns for residents. As Kentucky's median household income remains below national averages, nearly 62% of households struggle to meet basic living wage standards. Additionally, economic uncertainty impacts youth, who face unstable family environments and limited career opportunities. With Kentucky experiencing fluctuations in job markets and agricultural shifts, it is vital to prepare the next generation with essential life skills, workforce training, and entrepreneurial knowledge. Programs like Kentucky 4-H play a crucial role, with 80% of participants exploring career options and 95% gaining confidence in their abilities.
Workforce development is critical, especially as the job market evolves with growing demand for digital skills, agriculture professionals, and vocational education. Future job growth will require adaptability, creative problem-solving, and real-world skills, which CES programs help foster. Additionally, small farm development remains a key economic driver, supporting rural communities and ensuring food security. Kentucky’s small farms, which make up over 90% of the state’s agricultural operations, face challenges such as urbanization, farm consolidation, and access to resources. CES continues to support small farm owners through education, technology access, and sustainability practices.
By addressing financial literacy, workforce readiness, youth development, and small farm sustainability, Kentucky Cooperative Extension empowers individuals and communities to build a more resilient and prosperous future.
County Situation:
Boone County, one of Kentucky’s fastest-growing regions, faces both economic opportunities and challenges. While the county maintains a relatively low poverty rate (7.4% of families below the poverty line), economic stability remains a priority as workforce readiness, financial literacy, and small business sustainability are critical to long-term community success.
According to the Boone County Community Needs Assessment, youth life skill training opportunities ranked as the 2nd highest priority issue, highlighting the importance of preparing young people with essential skills in leadership, communication, and problem-solving. Additionally, strengthening youth workforce readiness ranked 6th, reflecting the growing demand for job readiness and career preparation programs. These needs align with broader employment trends, as Boone County had a 6% unemployment rate in 2021 (CEDIK) and must equip its workforce for evolving job market demands.
Financial literacy and resource management skills also remain a concern, ranking 12th in the county’s needs assessment. As the cost of living rises, individuals and families must be equipped with money management skills to sustain financial well-being. Additionally, small business development plays a crucial role in Boone County’s economy, with 3,153 small businesses and 8,569 businesses with no paid employees in 2021. Supporting entrepreneurs and small business owners with financial literacy, resource management, and business development training is essential for continued economic growth.
Agriculture remains a key component of Boone County’s identity, with 45% of the county’s land used for farming and 59% of farms classified as small farms (2022 Ag Census, CEDIK). The sustainability of family farms ranked 3rd in the needs assessment, reflecting the importance of supporting local farmers with business planning, sustainability practices, and access to markets. With over half of the county’s farms being small-scale operations, ensuring long-term viability is essential for the local economy and food security.
The Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) in Boone County is committed to addressing these needs by providing educational programs that enhance financial literacy, workforce readiness, and small business development while supporting the agricultural community.
Long-Term Outcomes:
- Improved financial and economic well-being
- Youth will make sound financial decisions.
- Decrease in state unemployment rates
- Youth will demonstrate necessary leadership, teamwork, and communication skills needed to be successful in the workplace.
- Achieve a stable economic environment where small farms are consistently profitable and competitive within both local and broader markets.
- Improved financial security and stability
Intermediate Outcomes:
- Increased access to community financial resources
- Youth will practice responsible consumer and financial management decision-making such as budgeting, actions on needs verses wants.
- Increased implementation of employability strategies/skills
- Youth will choose to take on leadership roles in their community.
- Assist small farm owners in developing and implementing comprehensive whole farm plans that address financial, production, and environmental aspects.
- Implementation of financial literacy and resource management strategies/skills
- Increased savings (e.g., as a result of budgeting, saving, reducing debt, spending wisely, stretching resources)
Initial Outcomes:
- Improved employability and interpersonal skills
- Youth will increase knowledge in understanding personal financial management.
- Developed skills related to workforce development
- Increased knowledge of career pathways.
- Develop and launch targeted educational programs that focus on sustainable practices, risk management, and cost reduction specifically tailored for small farm owners
- Strengthening financial literacy and well-being, including but not limited to, budgeting, spending wisely, saving, using credit responsibly, reducing debt, estate planning, fraud reduction, etc. for adults
Evaluation:
Outcome:Increased knowledge of incoming horticulture issues (initial)
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported increased knowledge of management of invasive insects/plants.
Number of individuals who reported better understanding of chemical spray options for problematic insects, diseases, and weeds.
Method: Post participant surveys
Timeline: Surveys given in person and followed up by email. Surveys collected within 30 days of the Tristate Green Industry Conference.
Outcome: Improved financial and/or resource management skills (e.g., creating a budget, checking credit report, developing an estate plan, etc.) (initial)
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported developing skills related to family finance and/or resource management
Method: Self-reported surveys
Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration or follow-up evaluation
Outcome: Increased savings (intermediate)
Indicator: Dollars reported saved as a result of participating in a financial education or family resource management program.
Method: Documentation (direct report, repeated survey) or interviews
Timeline: Ongoing/as changes are made and projects progress
Outcome: Improved business development and operation skills (e.g. marketing, branding, customer outreach)
Indicator: Number of small businesses who report developing skills related to business marketing, expansion, or retention through participating in Extension programming.
Method: Self-reported surveys, documentation, direct report
Timeline: Post-program survey administration; follow-up evaluation
:
Learning Opportunities:
Project or Activity: Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference
Content or Curriculum:
4-H Major Study of Emphasis
Money Habitudes
Building a Healthy Wealthy Future
Jump$tart: Reality Check
Money Smart
Building Your Financial Future
Inputs:
4-H Family and Consumer Sciences programs in which youth experience a sense of belonging, and developmental relationships, explore their spark, and actively engage in meaningful opportunities.
Accredited and certified volunteers in 4-H FCS projects.
Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association
Clothing Volunteers
Four residential camping facilities.
Cooperative Extension Educational facilities.
Utilization of approved research-based curriculum.
Outreach of the Cooperative Extension Land-Grant System.
Funding from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc.
Funding from local, state, and federal sources.
Engagement of youth and volunteers in program delivery.
Engaging communities in identifying and implementing programming based on local needs.
Date: September 1 – August 30
Audience: 4-Hers, Extension Professionals, Clientele
Project or Activity: 4-H Core Program Areas (Leadership, Agriculture, Natural Resources, Communication and Expressive Arts, Science, Engineering and Technology, Health and Wellbeing, and Family Consumer Sciences), 4-H Camp, Cloverbud, Volunteerism
Content or Curriculum: Approved Kentucky 4-H Curriculum by Core Program Area or Area of Interest
Inputs: These programs are supported by the research base of the Cooperative Extension Land-grant system, funding from the Kentucky 4-H Foundation, Inc., local, state, and federal sources, grants, and the engagement of volunteers, youth, communities, and external stakeholders.
Dates: Program Year
Audience: Commercial pesticide applicators (medium)
Project or Activity: Tristate Green Industry Conference. CEUs provided in many commercial pesticide categories
Content or Curriculum: Horticulture and entomological presentations created by Extension and community partners.
Inputs: Paid staff, programmatic materials, community partners. Purdue and Ohio State University extension staff
Date(s): February, occurs yearly
Audience: Private pesticide applicators (medium)
Project or Activity: Yearly trainings
Content or Curriculum: Private pesticide applicator training materials
Inputs: Paid staff, programmatic materials
Date(s): January-February, occurs yearly
Audience: Individuals, Families, Employees
Project or Activity: Estate Planning
Content or Curriculum: Estate Planning publication series; Transferring Cherished Possessions curriculum; MONEYWI$E newsletter and podcasts; OneOp; Leader Lessons; farm succession and legacy building programs; etc.
Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, non-profit organizations, schools, farms, community centers, etc.
Date: Ongoing
Evaluation:
Outcome:Increased knowledge of incoming horticulture issues (initial)
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported increased knowledge of management of invasive insects/plants.
Number of individuals who reported better understanding of chemical spray options for problematic insects, diseases, and weeds.
Method: Post participant surveys
Timeline: Surveys given in person and followed up by email. Surveys collected within 30 days of the Tristate Green Industry Conference.
Outcome: Improved financial and/or resource management skills (e.g., creating a budget, checking credit report, developing an estate plan, etc.) (initial)
Indicator: Number of individuals who reported developing skills related to family finance and/or resource management
Method: Self-reported surveys
Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration or follow-up evaluation
Outcome: Increased savings (intermediate)
Indicator: Dollars reported saved as a result of participating in a financial education or family resource management program.
Method: Documentation (direct report, repeated survey) or interviews
Timeline: Ongoing/as changes are made and projects progress
Outcome: Improved business development and operation skills (e.g. marketing, branding, customer outreach)
Indicator: Number of small businesses who report developing skills related to business marketing, expansion, or retention through participating in Extension programming.
Method: Self-reported surveys, documentation, direct report
Timeline: Post-program survey administration; follow-up evaluation
:
- Acting Associate Dean & Director — Craig Wood, Ph.D.
- S107 Ag. Science Center North
- Lexington, KY 40546-0091
- +1 (859) 257-4302
© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment