Author: Elijah Wilson
Major Program: Health 4-H Core Curriculum
Draft 4-H Fit Club – Second year of program – 13 youth participated 6 hour or more as of 12/15/2017. Youth who participated learned about nutrition, leadership, weight training, and other exercise classes that are normally offered at gyms. The program lasted for six week and met after school for two hours each Monday and Wednesday. The program will start again in February.
Author: Mike Meyer
Healthy lifestyle choices is imperative for teens to develop responsibility and self-awareness of the effects of they food and fitness decisions. The Cynthiana Chamber of Commerce works to host three 5K Run/Walk events throughout the year and encourages community members of all ages to participate. One goal of the Harrison County Teen Council Civic Engagement Committee was for the officers to participate in the events. Youth worked to plan a club that would encourage healthy li
Author: Valerie Stewart
Local community needs assessments reveal that drug education and drug prevention are some of the highest rated needs in Powell County. Community leaders constantly ask for more and more youth activities to help keep kids off drugs and constructively involved. In 2017, the Powell County Extension Service collaborated with the Powell County High School Counselors and Youth Service Center as well as the area ASAP Board to coordinate our first ever "Truth and Consequences" even
Author: Ola Donahue
According to the most recent state-by-state data from the 2016 National Survey of Children’s Health (NSCH) Kentucky ranks 14th with 33.5% of Children 10-18 being overweight and obese. Nationally, 31.2 percent of youth in this age range are overweight or obese. Using this data and being concerned about the youth in our county 4-H has teamed up with Tichenor Middle Schools Family Resource Center to help change the lives of the youth in this school. Healthy eating classes along wi
Statistics show that 2 out of 3 students are unprepared for life after high school. Therefore proving that far too many students lack the social and transitional skills needed to adequately enter the “real world” and cope with the demands of everyday adult life. With more than 65% of students being unprepared to take on life and/or social success, we raised the question: “Are schools teaching and preparing students with the essential social and life skills needed for a successf
Author: Kimberly Lane
In a typical week, The National Wildlife Foundation notes that only 6% of children ages 9-13 play outside, while kids in this same age group devote over 7 hours per day to electronic entertainment, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation. In order to combat this epidemic, the Morgan County 4-H Council , has identified a goal of creating increased awareness, knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to make informed choices regarding healthy lifestyles, including physical activity. To help advanc
Author: Lacy May
Today’s youth are often fascinated by the images they see on a cell phone, television, or computer screen. Yet, they rarely experience those scenes first hand. According to the Child Trends databank the average amount of television 8 to 18 year olds watch is four and half hours per day. Total daily media exposure is equivalent to ten hours. Infrequent exercise and obesity are concerns often linked with excessive media use. The 4-H Youth Development Agent in Magoffin County recognizes the n
Author: Deana Reed
According to the Community Health Status Indicators report, Meade County has several areas which need improvement in relation to health and wellness. While our obesity and overweight rates have decreased 4% over the past years to 22% we still have 78% of residents who eat few fruits and vegetables and 28% who do not engage in daily exercise. Research supports that youth who are active will have strong muscle and bones and leaner bodies, because physical activity helps control body fat and decrea
Author: Lora Stewart
Adolescents who live in households that struggle to afford food are more likely than others to be overweight. Teens who are "food insecure" - that is, who are regularly unable to get enough to eat due to economic difficulties - reported eating behaviors associated with obesity. (Project EAT from University of Minnesota Medical School 2009). The Gallatin County Extension Service offered several different cooking opportunities throughout the school year. Two cooking clubs were offered af
Author: Bernita Cheirs
The Fulton County Extension Council and 4-H Council identified tobacco, drug and alcohol abuse as a major concern for youth in our county. According to the Monitoring the Future 2017 Survey, studies showed an increase in marijuana use in grades 8th, 10th, and 12th grades. Also in 8th grades, inhalant use increased as well. With the help of the Youth Empowerment Systems grant and the Hickman-Fulton ASAP coalition, the Fulton County 4-H began programming efforts to increase youth’s awareness
Author: Chanda Hall
In Jefferson County, there are limited occasions for inner-city youth to participate in hands-on cooking programs. Improving cooking skills and knowledge of foods helps to promote healthy eating habits.According to Thomas & Irwin, food and cooking skills/food preparation are important for several reasons related to health, knowledge, empowerment, engagement, culture, food security, and fun. An engaging cooking skills program targeting youth builds self-efficacy, food knowledge an
Jefferson County 4-H Camp is a traditional summer program, which is held at the Lake Cumberland 4-H campgrounds. Campers go away for a week to develop life skills, project skills and also have many opportunities for fun. Agents Chanda Hall, Kelly Smith, and Lawrence Caudle worked with a camp committee to plan, promote and ensure that the week was a success. Camp is only successful with the commitment from volunteers. There were 62 volunteers that dedicated over 120 hours each, totaling clos
Author: Raven Ford
Rowan County 4-H has added a new club for middle and high school students. The 4-H Youth Development agents from Rowan, Magoffin, Morgan and Elliott Counties wanted to provide more opportunities for the youth in their communities to explore the different areas in Kentucky. The 4-H Multi-County Outdoor Adventure club also teaches youth responsibility and promotes being active. The youth met once a month to demonstrate some sort of physical activity, observed/toured an educational facility and was
Author: Isaac Hilpp
This year a 4-H volunteer started an International Cooking Class that was targeted to 14 to 18-year old’s. The youth learned about new cultures, how to prepare a dish by following a recipe, proper kitchen safety, and how to work together as a team. Each class focused on a different country (Mexico, Korea, and Italy were a few). After they finished cooking, they could eat the dish and give feedback on their experience. They were also responsible for cleaning up the kitchen before the left.T
Author: Amanda Wilson
McCracken County 4-H partnered with Morgan Elementary to facilitate the Born Learning Academy. This educational event was held at Morgan Elementary School in Paducah, KY. Born Learning Academy is a grant funded program through Toyota of Kentucky and United Way. It is designed to provide information to parents of children ages 0-5, to prepare them for Kindergarten. Our local program attendees included six adults, and eleven youth between the ages of 3 and 5. Community partnerships are utilized to
Author: Kevin Lindsay
The 4H program continues to do 4H Health Rocks at a local middle school in the county. One of the teachers that conducts the program in her classroom now regularly incorporates Health Rocks activities in her school curriculum. She has been provided lesson plans that helps reinforce her teaching concepts. Each of her classrooms participates in 4 lessons taught by the 4H agent as well. On the next health test her students take in her classroom, one of questions on the exam asks students to list 5
Author: Esther "Susan" Turner
In Monroe County 23.6 percent of adult residents report poor or fair health and 11.9 percent of adults have diabetes. Monroe county residents reports that 33.6% are physically inactive. Susan Turner, Monroe County 4-H agent and Jamille Hawkins, Family and Consumer Science agent found the need for a program that taught Monroe County residents the connection between nutrition, physical activity and meal planning. The program was called Fit for Life. The programming covered topics such as, meal pla
Author: Paula McCuiston
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, the percentage of children aged 6–11 years in the United States who were obese increased from 7% in 1980 to nearly 18% in 2012. Similarly, the percentage of adolescents aged 12–19 years who were obese increased from 5% to nearly 21% over the same period. Because of this we feel that it is important for youth to learn the importance of healthy foods, proper eating habits and exercise. We also feel that youth enjoy learning ho
