Author: Travella Free
Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming
According to the U. S. Department of Commerce, STEM occupations are growing at 17%, while other occupations are growing at 9.8%. STEM degree holders have a higher income even in non-STEM careers. Science, technology, engineering and mathematics workers play a key role in the sustained growth and stability of the U.S. economy, and are a critical component to helping the U.S. win the future. STEM education creates critical thinkers, increases science literacy, and enables the next generation of in
Author: Nellie Buchanan
Major Program: Securing Financial Stability (general)
The life of the high school senior is full of “adult” decisions: selecting a college, picking a major, choosing a career path, and moving out! Although today’s adolescents are technologically advanced compared to prior generations, they sometimes lack basic practical living skills. After being approached by school officials with this very same concern, the Family Consumer Science Agent and 4-H Youth Development Agent in Licking River Area decided a crash course was needed
Author: Deborah Shepherd
Major Program: Food Preparation
Small Appliance WorkshopNew, trendy small appliances seem to be coming out on the market at a rapid rate. These are often marketed to consumers to save time, money and energy. These products are often purchased without being fully researched and the consumer is left with a new machine that they do not know how to properly use. This contributes to money invested in a product that is not being used and space that is now being occupied by bulky boxes. In an effort to educate consumers about ne
Author: Melissa Goodman
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 18.5% (or 13.7 million) of children and adolescents are obese. To address this problem, the Hickman County Cooperative Extension Service implemented 4th-grade life skills camp: a cooking, manners, and nutrition program for fourth graders. 54 students took a day-long field trip to a local church gym where they learned about manners, food safety, kitchen safety, knife skills, measurement conversion, reading recipes, and other aspects of
Author: Elijah Wilson
The first ever Kentucky 4-H Game Day was held on September 15th at the new Kroger Field on the University of Kentucky campus. The event was the result of a partnership that was formed by the University of Kentucky Staff Senate. Research shows that young people who visit college campuses are more likely to attend those universities. A total of 248 tickets were sold. According to the evaluation that was conducted, 46% increased the likelihood that they would attend the University of Kentucky
Author: Julia Wilson
According to the Trust for America’s Health Survey , Kentucky’s obesity rate for children ages 10-17 has increased to 33.5%. (Trust for Americas Health, 2016). Consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables is vital to help combat the youth obesity rate.In the fall of 2018 the Edmonson County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with the Edmonson County 4-H Program Assistant and a 4-H Club leader to offer nutrition education and a healthy snack to members of the Kyrock 4-H Club.
According to the American Heart Association, teaching youth how to prepare their own food will give them a skill they can use for a lifetime. (Cooking With Your Children; Web MD; May 30, 2008.) In the Spring of 2019 the Edmonson County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent was approach by four high school seniors who wished to complete a community service project with the Extension as part of their Honors English Class. Four youth worked with the agent to decide on the project, schedule, plan
Major Program: Leadership 4-H Core Curriculum
The National 4-H Organization shows that 4-H’ers are nearly four times more likely to make contributions to their communities In 2015 and 2016 the Edmonson County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension agent taught various community youth baking and cooking classes. In the summer of 2017, and 2018 the agent taught a baking series using the Super Star Chef: Knead a Little Dough Curriculum.One female youth attended classes all four years and enrolled in 4-H. Another female youth attend
Health experts agree that Kentucky faces significant challenges related to health. Consistently, Kentucky ranks towards the top in the number of people who are obese, use tobacco products, and do not get the recommended amount of physical activity. Another common unhealthy behavior that both high school students and adults have is that they drink a lot of drinks that are full of sugar. In addition to the negative consequences of drinking sugary beverages they also cost a lot of money. Often stud
Author: Anna Meador
Allen County had five youth to participate in the 2019 Teen Summit Conference, joined by a Simpson County delegate.Five of Allen County’s youth participated in the 2019 4-H Teen Summit Conference during March. 4-H Teen Summit is a state wide Kentucky 4-H conference that seeks to engage middle school aged youth and retain their involvement in 4-H activities through the middle school years, along with empowering youth to become active 4-H leaders on the local and state levels. Th
Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association
The 2018-2019 Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association program of work for Environment, Housing and Energy is "The Buzz about Bees." The goal is that KEHA members would learn why bees are important to our environment and ways to encourage bees to inhabit local areas. In the Spring of 2019 the Edmonson County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent created and taught a homemaker leader lesson titled "Honey Bees & Pollinator Gardens" in the Mammoth Cave Area utilizi
Author: Tyrone Atkinson
Kentucky Extension has received another year of 4-H Military Liasion grant funding for the 2018-2019 award year cycle. This year has brung about a increase in funding for both bases which include Fort Campbell and Fort Knox. Through the leadership of Jennifer Tackett and Tyrone Atkinson as the Co-PIs and the Agents who serve as overseers of the on-post programs KY Extension and 4-H have another year to help foster youth development for military youth. The work could not be done without the amazi
Author: Melinda McCulley
Major Program: Empowering Community Leaders (general)
Marketing family and consumer sciences programs is required to maintain our respected presence in communities. Utilizing various forms of social media has allowed us to market our programs to a broad and diverse audience. This year, in addition to the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Facebook page and the Talking FACS podcast, we also have added an FCS Instagram account and we marietthrought the social media accounts for the Plate it up! Kentucky Proud project. Additional
Author: Valerie Stewart
Major Program: Summer Residential Camps
With nearly 25% of Powell County's total population in poverty according to the 2018 U.S. Census, the cost of youth events and activities is a huge consideration to participation especially 4-H camp. The Powell County 4-H Council decided to expand efforts to raise additional 4-H Camp Sponsorships for 2019 through personal asks, fundraising efforts, grants, etc. Members made personal contacts to new and previous 4-H camp sponsors; wrote camp sponsorships into grants utilitzed by t
Major Program: Nurturing Families (general)
In March 2019 a contract was received by the National Military Family Association (NMFA) to do perform a curriculum revision of Operation Purple Camp. Operation Purple Camp is a residential week long camping program for military youth across the country who have have family members injured/ill/or wounded in military service. The curriculum had not been updated in over 10 years and Tyrone Atkinson and Kerri Ashurst (FCS Extension Military Program leaders) were sought out as for camping and
Major Program: Bees/Beekeeping
Powell County Extension Staff was asked by the Powell County Beekeepers Group about applying for County Ag Development funds to help provide funds to increase the number of bee hives locally. Extension staff contacted the State Office on Ag Policy and worked closely with the Powell County Beekeepers group to prepare an application for grant funds to help support the increase in new bee hives and the expansion of existing bee hives in Powell County. The grant application was approved
Major Program: Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum
The IcrEDIBLES Cooking Club Member, Abbi, puts the final touches on the May Cooking Club Chicken Stir-Fry recipe. The IncrEDIBLES 4-H Cooking Club was developed in the Fall of 2018 in part by Allen County 4-H and the 4-H'er, Lexi and 4-H Agent, presented the Fire Department with a Thank You For Your Service Tray after April's Service Learning project. Allen County SNAP-Ed Program. The objective of the club is to provide an educational opportunity for youth to learn
Author: Nicole Gwishiri
Major Program: Mastering Food Choices
According to the 2018 Kentucky Health Issues Poll- created and operated by the Foundation for A Healthy Kentucky - many survey participants stated there was access to healthy fruits and vegetables but the cost is a barrier to those foods. Also, a high percentage of people taking the survey was concerned with high obesity rates and cancer in the state. Knowing statistically that Bath County has 37 percent of adults are considered obese, this deserved to be addressed. The Family and Consumer Scien
