Extension
It Starts With Us
Empowering current and future leaders; positive youth development
Leadership and personal growth development
Brandy Calvert, Rebecca Miller, Stacy White
Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
4-H Youth Development Programming
Leadership is a needed and important programming emphasis in Kentucky Cooperative
Extension Service. Extension provides opportunities to youth and families to help improve their leadership ability and create more positive futures. Leadership opportunities for youth create a setting that reduces the access of youth to risk factors that can negatively impact their success.
Basic leadership knowledge & skills are essential for success in almost any field. The skills associated with leadership are necessary when working in a group or communicating with others. Employers look for leadership skills in the persons they hire. Developing leadership in the youth and adults who are involved in Extension programming is a priority. By assisting the development of leadership skills in today’s youth, we improve their ability to face the challenges of tomorrow. (Unlock Your Leadership Potential, University of Florida)
The development of life skills (such as leadership) allows youth to cope with their environment by making responsible decisions, having a better understanding of their values, and being better able to communicate and get along with others. (Boyd, Herring & Briers, 1992, Journal of Extension).
Building the capacity of volunteer leaders within counties is critical for the sustainability of a community infrastructure that supports long term commitment to strengthen families. Within Bell County, there are 110 homemaker members, 15 Master Gardeners, 47 4-H Youth enrolled in Leadership programming, 91 volunteers who serve on Extension Program Councils, share their expertise, and volunteer time with youth and families in their community. Through the efforts of the FCS, 4-H and Agriculture Agents, paraprofessionals, and our volunteers- local citizens are engaged, educated and empowered to understand family and community issues and take ownership of implementing local solutions.
Clientele will serve as teen and adult leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger youth. Adults and youth will contribute to
self, family, community and to the institutions of our society.
Youth and adults will demonstrate the understanding of diversity, inclusivity and multiculturalism in their daily life.
Youth and adults will identify and address critical issues that impact the community.
Youth and adults will use leadership and communications skills needed to be successful in the workplace on a daily basis.
Clientele practice personal leadership skills in clubs, schools and community outreach.
Adults and youth will demonstrate improved skills in communication, problem solving, or group process in addressing organizational issues and needs.
Adults and 4-H Youth apply skills to assess needs, develop programs and implement solutions for community problems.
Adults and youth increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership, community leadership and the decision-making process.
Clientele will learn the communication, leadership and procedural skills (Robert's Rules of Order) that will allow them to run a meeting.
Youth will learn about leadership styles and will be able to identify positive and negative leadership characteristics.
Initial Outcome: Adults and youth increase knowledge and skills in personal leadership, community leadership and the decision-making process.
Indicator: Clientele will illustrate effectively how to conduct a meeting following Robert's Rules of Order.
Method: Observation of club/council/board meetings and review of minutes.
Timeline: Immediately
Intermediate Outcome: Adults and youth will demonstrate improved skills in leadership, communication, problem solving, or group process in addressing organizational issues and needs.
Indicator: Clientele demonstrate improved skills in leadership, communication, problem solving, or group process in addressing organizational issues and needs.
Method: Visual observation of meetings, activities
Timeline: 3-12 months
Long-term Outcome: Clientele will serve as teen and adult leaders in their communities, community organizations, and as mentors for younger youth. Adults and youth will contribute to self, family, community and to the institutions of our society.
Indicator: Clientele will develop their leadership skills and serve their communities through teaching activities or programs, serving on boards and councils, volunteering in their communities and succeeding in education.
Method: Long-term individual surveys, Extension involvement, written or oral evaluation/reports.
Timeline: 2-4 years
Audience: Adults & youth
Project or Activity: Educational Workshops- passing skills on to others
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: Agents, volunteers, facilities
Date: 2017-2020
Audience: Adults, farmers
Project or Activity: Agriculture Advancement Council
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: Agents, Volunteers, Facilities, Coal Severance grants, Extension Staff
Date: 2017-2020
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Bell County 4-H Council
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications, Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD), Extension Staff
Inputs: Extension Staff, Agents, Volunteers, Facilities, donations and grants from Civic Organizations
Date: 2017-2020
Audience: Homemakers
Project or Activity: Bell County Extension Homemakers
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications and Extension Staff
Inputs: Agents, volunteers, facilities
Date: 2017-2020
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Teen Leadership Academy
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Backpack to Adventure, 4-H Publications, UK Publications
Inputs: Agents, volunteers, facilities, community and media members, local and state officials
Date: 2017-2020
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Horse Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Horse materials, 4-H Curriculum, UK Publications, Equine specialists, UK Extension Specialists
Inputs: Agent, volunteers, facilities, community members, Tractor Supply Company
Date: 2017-2020
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Community Club
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Publications, 4-H Curriculum, UK Publications
Inputs: Agent, volunteers, facilities, community members
Date: 2017-2020
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Camp
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications, 4-H Curriculum
Inputs: Agents, Camp Staff, Volunteers, facility
Date: 2017-2020
Author: Brandy Calvert
Major Program: Communications and Expressive Arts 4-H Core Curriculum
Bell County 4-H'er Morgan Lawson never expected such recognition when she signed up to do the 4-H Country Ham project, but the experience has proved to be invaluable to her development. After winning a red ribbon for her country ham and speech in 2016, Lawson figured out what it took to be successful at the Kentucky State Fair. She wrote and re-wrote her speech and rehearsed until she was confident that she would do better than the year before. Lawson took first place in her age di
Author: Brandy Calvert
Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
After a 2017 needs assessment with the County Extension Council revealed that youth in the Appalachian area of Bell County need an opportunity to acquire life skills, leadership skills, value citizenship, and experience service-learning, the 4-H Junior Homemaker Club was born. This club, in its instructional design, represents a marriage of the core components of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (UKCES) Family and Consumer Science (FCS) program and the UKCES 4-H You
Author: Rebecca Miller
Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
Youth today are searching and seeking positive ways to make a difference in their community. But many lack the skills, knowledge and confidence needed to be a change maker in their towns. Statistics show that children who do not participate in youth civic engagement are more likely to engage in risky behavior, not be successful in school and less likely to participate in civic engagement later on in life. In an effort to get kids more involved and educate
Author: Brandy Calvert
Major Program: Community Engagement
The 2017-2018 brought a new face to Gateway Christian Academy as Mrs. Brandy was invited to start a 4-H Club and a Cloverbud Club afterschool. Over 50 youth enrolled in the Gateway 4-H Club and over 50 joined as Gateway 4-H Cloverbuds. The 4-H program became the first and only extracurricular offering at the school. This can be attributed to years of building the program and the program's excellent reputation for positive youth development within the county. Through an approach that bro
Author: Brandy Calvert
Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming
The 2017-2018 brought a new face to Gateway Christian Academy as Mrs. Brandy was invited to start a 4-H Club and a Cloverbud Club afterschool. Over 50 youth enrolled in the Gateway 4-H Club and over 50 joined as Gateway 4-H Cloverbuds. The 4-H program became the first and only extracurricular offering at the school. This can be attributed to years of building the program and the program's excellent reputation for positive youth development within the county. Through an approach that bro
