Grayson County CES

County Emphasis:

Community Sustainability and Workforce Readiness

Concentration 1:

Work and Life Skill Development

Concentration 2:

Family and Youth Development

Concentration 3:

Sustainability, Natural Resources and Wildlife Management, and Environment

Concentration 4:

Financial Security and Economic Well-Being

Situation:

Kentucky faces interconnected economic and environmental challenges that demand comprehensive, community-based solutions to ensure long-term sustainability and prosperity for its residents. A disproportionate number of Kentuckians—39%, compared to 15% nationally—live in economically distressed communities. The state’s median household income stands at approximately $55,100, or just 74% of the U.S. median, and nearly 62% of households are estimated to earn below the living wage needed to meet the average cost of living. Rising housing and grocery expenses have further strained families, many of whom are ill-equipped to adapt to these financial pressures. Most households are concerned with securing a quality of life that allows them not only to survive but to thrive in an increasingly challenging economic environment.

To address these pressing issues, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) is committed to improving the financial security, economic well-being, and overall quality of life for families across the Commonwealth. CES offers programming aimed at enhancing financial literacy, developing comprehensive family resource management skills, supporting small businesses, and promoting economic resilience. Workforce preparation, job readiness, soft skills development, and professionalism are also key focus areas in CES initiatives designed to build human capital.

The relevance of these programs is confirmed by the 2023 CES Community Needs Assessment, which drew nearly 28,000 responses from across the state. Kentuckians identified Building Financial Literacy and/or Resource Management Skills and Building Employee Soft Skills as top-ten individual and family development needs. Additionally, Support for Local and Small Businesses ranked among the top ten community and economic development priorities.

While these economic challenges are significant, Kentucky also faces mounting environmental concerns that threaten the sustainability of its natural resources. The state is rich in environmental assets, including hardwood forests covering 50% of the land, abundant waterways, and diverse wildlife. With woodlands present in all 120 counties and forest industries in 110, the state’s forests contribute $13 billion annually to the economy and support over 28,000 jobs. Moreover, forests offer recreational benefits and play a crucial role in biodiversity and sustainability efforts. However, many landowners struggle to implement sustainable practices due to economic constraints, technological gaps, and workforce shortages.

Environmental degradation is further driven by urban development and the increasing demand for food, leading to overuse of land and water resources, soil erosion, deforestation, and water scarcity. Kentucky’s vulnerability to climate change is also growing. The state has experienced some of the warmest and wettest years on record, and it ranks as the ninth most at-risk state from long-term climate impacts. Extreme weather events—such as the 2021 Western Kentucky tornado and the 2022 Eastern Kentucky flooding—are becoming more severe and frequent. Additionally, invasive species, including insects, pathogens, animals, and plants, are increasingly threatening the health and sustainability of Kentucky’s forests and natural areas.

In response, Kentucky Extension continues to develop adaptive management strategies to protect the long-term sustainability of farms, forests, and natural ecosystems. Implementing soil and water conservation practices in both rural and urban areas is vital to preserving Kentucky’s environmental health and resilience.

Through a unified focus on economic empowerment, workforce readiness, environmental sustainability, and community resilience, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service plays a pivotal role in equipping Kentuckians with the knowledge, tools, and support needed to build a more secure and sustainable future.

County Situation:

Grayson County, Kentucky faces interconnected economic and environmental challenges that require targeted, community-based solutions to ensure long-term sustainability and well-being for its residents. A disproportionate number of Grayson County households live in economically distressed conditions, reflecting a broader state trend in which 39% of Kentuckians live in distressed communities—more than double the national average of 15%. With a median household income below state and national averages, many families in Grayson County struggle to meet basic living wage standards. Rising housing, utility, and grocery costs continue to outpace income growth, making it difficult for residents to maintain a quality standard of living and plan for financial stability.

To address these local challenges, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (CES) remains deeply committed to improving the financial security and economic resilience of Grayson County families. Through its local Extension office, CES offers vital programming focused on financial literacy, family resource management, workforce readiness, and small business support. These initiatives aim to equip residents with the tools necessary to adapt and thrive in a changing economic landscape, including soft skills training, professionalism, job preparedness, and entrepreneurship development.

The relevance of these efforts is underscored by findings from the 2023 CES Community Needs Assessment, which included responses from Grayson County and across the state. Residents identified Building Financial Literacy and Resource Management Skills and Building Employee Soft Skills as top individual and family development needs, while Supporting Local and Small Businesses ranked among the top community and economic development priorities.

At the same time, Grayson County must also address growing environmental concerns to safeguard its natural resources. Like much of Kentucky, Grayson County is rich in environmental assets, including forests, farmland, and waterways that contribute both ecological and economic value. Kentucky’s hardwood forests cover 50% of the state, with forest industries present in 110 counties and woodlands in all 120—Grayson County among them. These forests support over 28,000 jobs statewide and contribute approximately $13 billion annually to the economy. Locally, they provide recreational opportunities, wildlife habitats, and economic benefits through the timber industry.

However, many Grayson County landowners face barriers to implementing sustainable land management practices due to limited financial resources, access to technology, and labor shortages. These challenges are compounded by the growing impacts of climate change. Kentucky has experienced some of the warmest and wettest years on record in the past decade and is ranked as the ninth most vulnerable state to long-term climate change impacts. Grayson County has not been immune to extreme weather, including heavy rainfall events and windstorms that disrupt agriculture, infrastructure, and natural ecosystems.

In addition, invasive species—including pests, diseases, and non-native plants—pose a threat to the health of local forests, farmland, and waterways, further complicating management efforts and endangering long-term sustainability. These environmental pressures, if unaddressed, will jeopardize the region’s ecological integrity and economic viability.

The Grayson County Cooperative Extension Service remains dedicated to advancing adaptive management practices and promoting conservation through community education and technical support. Local programs encourage the adoption of soil and water conservation strategies in both urban and rural settings, aiming to protect natural resources and increase resilience against future environmental threats.

By addressing the unique economic and environmental challenges of Grayson County, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service plays a critical role in fostering a more financially secure, environmentally sustainable, and resilient future for the community.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Adult

Increased digital access improves economic and educational opportunities.

Communities recover faster from disasters/economic disruptions

Sustained investment in public spaces strengthens local economies

Improved quality of life through connection and civic engagement

Increased financial literacy skills

Improved financial security and stability

Improved financial and economic well-being

Economic, social, physical, or environmental situations that will change because individuals or communities adopted new (or improved existing) actions, practices, and behaviors (these also take time to mature)).

Improved quality of workforce

 

Youth

Youth will demonstrate the necessary leadership, teamwork, and communication skills needed to be successful in the workplace.? 

Youth participation in community involvement increases.??? 

Youth will serve in leadership roles in their community.?? 

Youth will more effectively communicate, work with others, and contribute to driving change and shaping the future.??

Youth will demonstrate the necessary leadership, teamwork, and communication skills needed to be successful in the workplace. 

Youth participation in community involvement increases.

Youth will serve in leadership roles in their community.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Adult Increased sound financial decision making Implementation of financial literacy and resource management strategies/skills More individuals engage in local governance and civic groups. New partnerships and networks address community challenges New or improved practices, behaviors, or choices that will occur in participants or communities because of the knowledge or awareness they gained from their contact with Extension (these are behavior change outcomes that are typically measured in follow-up evaluations because they require time to mature.)    Youth Youth will practice responsible consumer and financial management decision-making such as budgeting, actions on needs verses wants.       Youth will practice habits and skills that contribute toward sound economic and financial well-being. Youth will practice teamwork, responsibility, communication, conflict resolution techniques, and problem-solving skills.?? Youth will practice skills gained from 4-H natural resources projects and clubs.??? Youth will choose to take on leadership roles in their community.

Initial Outcomes:

Adult 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. Improved financial literacy knowledge Improved employability and interpersonal skills Improved awareness of civic engagement opportunities. Greater knowledge of community partnerships and collaboration strategies Increase the awareness of sustainable forest management practices, economic pressures and technological barriers facing woodland owners and other interested individuals Developed skills related to workforce development Improved employability and interpersonal skills   Youth Youth will increase knowledge in understanding personal financial management.  Youth will aspire to make SMART (specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound) economic and financial well-being decisions.  Youth will expand life and work readiness skills, gaining awareness of the diverse opportunities within the field of natural resources.? Youth successfully worked in a team environment to accomplish a task.?? Youth identify personal strengths that contribute to life and work skill development. Increased knowledge of career pathways.

Evaluation:

Adult:

Outcome: Developed skills related to workforce development (initial)

Indicator: Number of individuals who reported learning new skills to prepare or improved themselves for the workforce as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration

Outcome: More individuals engage in local governance and civic groups (int)

Indicator: Number of participants who reported increased involvement in local governance, community groups, or public forums as a result of program participation.

Method: Participant self-reporting and organizational membership tracking.

Timeline: Follow-up at 6 and 12 months.

Outcome: Communities implement disaster preparedness and recovery strategies (int)

Indicator: Number of businesses, farms, or households reporting faster post-disaster recovery due to preparedness actions learned through Extension.

Method: Post-disaster community case studies and resilience tracking.

Timeline: Assessed following disaster events.

Outcome: Increased production Knowledge  

Indicator: 

• Number of participants who report increasing their knowledge of product and enterprise marketing. 
• Number of individuals who implemented financial management programs.

Method: Program evaluation tools/ surveys 

Timeline: Ongoing 

Outcome: Increased salary/income/employment (intermediate)

Indicator: (1) Number of participants who gained an increase in salary/income as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach; (2) Number of participants who gained new employment as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach

Method: Documentation (direct report, repeated survey) or interviews

Timeline: Ongoing/as changes are made and project progress

Outcome: Increased management to address resources concerns 

Indicator: 

• Number of participants who reported that they developed new management plans. 
• Number of participants who reported an increase in the acres managed. 
• Number of participants (or state agencies) who reported that they implemented wildlife damage management practices  

Method: Follow-up Survey (Survey previous participants) and tracking number of management plans implemented by state agencies 

Timeline: Annually 

Outcome: Changes in lifestyle and living based on behavior change learned (long Term)

Indicator: Number of individuals who made a sound financial decision (e.g., regarding credit, budgeting, savings, debt, estate planning, fraud reduction, etc.).

Method: Self-reported surveys, documentation, or interviews

Timeline: Follow-up evaluations to capture action/behavior change over time.

Youth:

Outcome: Short term

Indicator: 

• Number of youth who reported learning new skills to prepare or improve themselves for the workforce as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach.
• Number of youth who reported expressing their thoughts or opinions. 
• Number of youth who reported using information to communicate with others. 
• Number of youth who reported demonstrating a skill they have learned. 
• Number of youth who reported serving in a leadership role. 
• Number of youth who reported working in a team / group to accomplish a common task or goal. 
• Number of youth who reported realizing how my actions impact others. 

Outcome: Medium

Indicator: 

• Number of youth who reported that have applied the skills they learned in natural resources to other areas of their life, including at home, school and other programs.  
• Number of youth who reported that they have taken steps to conserve natural resources.  
• Number of youth who reported that they have used their skills and/or knowledge gained to complete a natural resources project.  

Method: Survey 

Timeline: Administered at end of program year/club year 

Outcome: Long Term 

Indicator: Long-term evaluation will be conducted using the National 4-H Index Study. 

Method: Standard Evaluation Tool for 4-H Family Consumer Sciences: Survey 

Timeline: 1 or more years 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Individuals, Families, Employees

Project or Activity: Estate Planning, Farm Transition 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

 

Audience: Communities

Project or Activity: Local & Small Business Support

Content or Curriculum: Small Business Roadmap, SBDC publications, Growing Our Own, Economic Development Collaborative resources, Economic Subject Matter resources CEDIK Vibrant Economies toolkit, Creative Economy Program, KFMN, Market Ready Producer Training

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, small businesses, volunteers, community partners, non-project organizations, schools, farms, community centers, etc. 

Date: Ongoing

Audience: Individuals

Project or Activity: Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Recovery

Content or Curriculum: EDEN materials, KHERN publications, trainings, continuing education 

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, etc.

Date: Ongoing

Audience: Adults 

Project or Activity: IPM, Quality Assurance trainings

Content or Curriculum: Educational materials and program delivery 

Inputs: UK and subject matter Specialists 

Dates: yearly 

Audience: Farmers and Gardeners 

Project or Activity: Production Education and Outreach

Content or Curriculum: Clinical diagnoses, training, and other UK programs developed by specialists and agents

Inputs: agents, specialists, UK programs in agriculture and horticulture

Dates: ongoing

Audience: Agricultural stakeholders (farmers, certified crop advisors, industry, others)

Project or Activity: Identification and management of diseases that affect grain, forage crops and tobacco. Grain crops include corn, sorghum, soybean, small grains, canola.  

Content or Curriculum: Publications, Live and virtual trainings, online videos, workshops, field days, county meetings, regional and national meetings, field visits, emails and phone calls

Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, research and extension funding

 Date: Annual

Audience: All Grayson County Middle School students

Project or Activity: Reality Store

Content or Curriculum: Financial management, education and career goals, value of education

Inputs: Curriculum for youth involved in program, Reality Store will be held at the Grayson County Middle School and will be coordinated by Grayson County 4-H Agent, assisted by GCMS Life Skills teacher; each 9 weeks will be a new session in the classroom to reach all 7th or 8th graders through the year; time frame for each session will be correlated with the Financial lesson for the Life Skills class.

Date: Each 9 Weeks of the school year (4 sessions)

Audience: Individuals, Families, Employees

Project or Activity: Development of Time Management Skills

Content or Curriculum: Time Well Spent: Productivity Skills for Success curriculum; publications, newsletters; Leader Lessons; podcasts; etc.

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, non-profit organizations, schools, Chamber of Commerce, businesses, etc.

Date: Ongoing

Audience: Individuals, Families, Employees

Project or Activity: Development of Employability Skills

Content or Curriculum: Positive Employability; Preparing for Financial Success curriculum; publications, newsletters (e.g., MONEYWI$E); Job Club; podcasts; PROFIT; Recovering Your Finances curriculum; OneOp; Enhancing Essential Skills Through the Arts curriculum and lessons, Artist Studio Guide lessons, publications

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, non-profit organizations, schools, Court system, community centers, etc.

Date: Ongoing

Audience: Families and Individuals

Project or Activity: Parenting Education

Content or Curriculum: Active Parenting 4th ed., Parenting A Second Time Around, Parent Express Newsletter, Laughter in Marriage is a Must, Information releases and Publications, Am I Lying to My Child When I Say the Tooth Fairy is Real?; Navigating Trauma After a Natural Disaster; Understanding Suricide; Living with Loss: Self-Care and Managing Grief; Entertaining Little Ones; Pathways to Wellness: Navigating the people, places, and spaces that influence health; Inspiring Grandchildren to become Grand Cooks; Emergency Health Information Cards; Time Well Spent: Organizing Tips for Increased Productivity; In the Face of Natural Disaster Toolkit; Athletic Performance (Nutrition); Cook Together, Eat Together; Eating for Health; Faithful Families; Food Safety; Family Mealtime; Increasing Powerhouse Vegetables; Making Health Lifestyle Choices; Making the Most of Meals while Traveling; Maternal and Child Health; Vegetables for Wellness; Home is Where the Health Is; Piecing it Together: Essential Skills for Single Parent Families; How to Help Military Families; Feed Hungry Young Minds through Storybook Adventures; Life Story/Memory Banking; Understanding Risky Adolescent Behavior and Health Brain Development; Building Your Preschooler’s Financial Capacity; Traveling Light; Grandparent and Grandchildren Together; Parent Express; Keys to Great Parenting 

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, Family Resource Youth Support Coordinators; Department of Community Based Services, health departments, non-profits, faith-based organizations, schools, company health & wellness, community centers, etc. 

Date: Ongoing

Audience: Families and Individuals

Project or Activity: Kindergarten Readiness

Content or Curriculum: Laugh and Learn Playdates, Understanding Disability, Information Releases, and Publications

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, community partners, volunteers, faith-based organizations, HeadStart/daycare organizations, healthcare providers and local clinics, health department, non-profits, schools, Homemakers, community centers, etc.

Date: Ongoing

Audience: Individuals, Families, Employees

Project or Activity: Development of Financial Literacy Skills

Content or Curriculum: Use Less. Spend Less. Stress Less. curriculum; publications; MONEYWI$E newsletter and podcasts; PROFIT; Recovering Your Finances curriculum; OneOp; Big Blue Book Club; In the Face of Disaster; Leader Lessons; Money Habitudes; etc. 

Inputs: Programmatic materials, paid staff, volunteers, community partners, non-profit organizations, schools, financial entities and organizations, businesses, etc. 

Date: Ongoing

Evaluation:

Adult:

Outcome: Developed skills related to workforce development (initial)

Indicator: Number of individuals who reported learning new skills to prepare or improved themselves for the workforce as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach

Method: Self-reported surveys

Timeline: Post-program/curricula survey administration

Outcome: More individuals engage in local governance and civic groups (int)

Indicator: Number of participants who reported increased involvement in local governance, community groups, or public forums as a result of program participation.

Method: Participant self-reporting and organizational membership tracking.

Timeline: Follow-up at 6 and 12 months.

Outcome: Communities implement disaster preparedness and recovery strategies (int)

Indicator: Number of businesses, farms, or households reporting faster post-disaster recovery due to preparedness actions learned through Extension.

Method: Post-disaster community case studies and resilience tracking.

Timeline: Assessed following disaster events.

Outcome: Increased production Knowledge  

Indicator: 

• Number of participants who report increasing their knowledge of product and enterprise marketing. 
• Number of individuals who implemented financial management programs.

Method: Program evaluation tools/ surveys 

Timeline: Ongoing 

Outcome: Increased salary/income/employment (intermediate)

Indicator: (1) Number of participants who gained an increase in salary/income as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach; (2) Number of participants who gained new employment as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach

Method: Documentation (direct report, repeated survey) or interviews

Timeline: Ongoing/as changes are made and project progress

Outcome: Increased management to address resources concerns 

Indicator: 

• Number of participants who reported that they developed new management plans. 
• Number of participants who reported an increase in the acres managed. 
• Number of participants (or state agencies) who reported that they implemented wildlife damage management practices  

Method: Follow-up Survey (Survey previous participants) and tracking number of management plans implemented by state agencies 

Timeline: Annually 

Outcome: Changes in lifestyle and living based on behavior change learned (long Term)

Indicator: Number of individuals who made a sound financial decision (e.g., regarding credit, budgeting, savings, debt, estate planning, fraud reduction, etc.).

Method: Self-reported surveys, documentation, or interviews

Timeline: Follow-up evaluations to capture action/behavior change over time.

Youth:

Outcome: Short term

Indicator: 

• Number of youth who reported learning new skills to prepare or improve themselves for the workforce as a result of participating in an Extension workforce development program/outreach.
• Number of youth who reported expressing their thoughts or opinions. 
• Number of youth who reported using information to communicate with others. 
• Number of youth who reported demonstrating a skill they have learned. 
• Number of youth who reported serving in a leadership role. 
• Number of youth who reported working in a team / group to accomplish a common task or goal. 
• Number of youth who reported realizing how my actions impact others. 

Outcome: Medium

Indicator: 

• Number of youth who reported that have applied the skills they learned in natural resources to other areas of their life, including at home, school and other programs.  
• Number of youth who reported that they have taken steps to conserve natural resources.  
• Number of youth who reported that they have used their skills and/or knowledge gained to complete a natural resources project.  

Method: Survey 

Timeline: Administered at end of program year/club year 

Outcome: Long Term 

Indicator: Long-term evaluation will be conducted using the National 4-H Index Study. 

Method: Standard Evaluation Tool for 4-H Family Consumer Sciences: Survey 

Timeline: 1 or more years