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: 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: 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: Valerie Stewart
Research suggests distinctive characteristics of young adolescents (middle school aged youth) regarding their physical, cognitive, moral, psychological, and social-emotional development, as well as spiritual development (Scales, 2010). Young adolescents (middle school aged youth) warrant educational experiences and schools that are organized to address their physical, intellectual, emotional/psychological, moral/ethical, spiritual, and social developmental characteristics (Caskey & Anfara, 2
Author: Melissa Schenck
The 95th Annual Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference was held at the University of Kentucky June 10-13, 2019. The objectives of Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference are: develop leadership and teamwork skills, improve communication skills, foster civic engagement, expand knowledge and skills related to 4-H core content areas, gain club, county and state 4-H program skills, have fun, create a sense of belonging, expand social skills through networking, develop youth-adult partnerships, and become acquainted with
Author: Joe Maynard
Every year Martin County 4-H teams up with Resource Centers from our three Elementary Schools in the county to host a day camp that that brings all the geographic areas of Martin County into one place. In the past we have based our topics on low test scores. However this year our goal was to introduce students to as many topics as possible. Our goal is to find a topic based on low test scores and work to improve those scores for the next year. This year in an effort to show of
Author: Lacy May
This year the Magoffin County 4-H Agent decided to test the waters with a much younger audience. The Magoffin County 4-H Cloverbud program met for the first time in the spring. There seemed to be a great amount of enthusiasm from the 10-13 who attended those first meetings. Each Cloverbud meeting has a theme usually related to the month. At each meeting the children get a chance to do a project or activity that involves creativi
Author: Timothy Stombaugh
It always challenging to find ways to engage youth in STEM related activities. Curriculum is being developed for a youth project involving Remote Control Tractor Pulling. Students engage in the excitement of a pulling competition while learning math and basic engineering concepts including power, torque and speed; energy storage and power to weight ratio; vehicle balance; friction and traction; tractor stability and safety. The basic vehicle chassis and components have been r
Author: Joanne Bankston
The Kentucky State University Family Economics Specialist conducted two MoneyPower workshop sessions at each school with high School juniors and seniors at Central High School (48) and Seneca High School (8) in Louisville KY. She also conducted a single session with high school seniors enrolled in the Lincoln Foundation Fellows program (27) for students who will receive scholarships and attend college in the upcoming year. The workshop materials and presentation consists of informati
Author: Lloyd Saylor
HALHistory Agriculture and Leadership. This grew out of the old 4-H American Heritage program. We wanted to regain that experience for our 4-Hers. The first few times we did this event every 4 or 5 years. But due to outstanding participation, we have expanded it every year. Last year 17 participants, this year 15.Youth must learn about our government, visit with or interview local government officials, learn about American history, the American revolut
Author: Susan Campbell
Environmental Camp has been a growing program in our county for a few years. The program began with one school then grew to two schools now all three elementary schools participate. In 2018 we had over 218 youth attend the overnight experience. 4-H Agent and teachers work closely together to align the camp program/classes with their Core Content. The overnight experience provided additional hands on opportunities and leadership skills.Collaboration with Anderson County Extension Agen
Author: Brandon Darst
Our local Family Court program contacted the CES 4-H Agents to help deliver education hours for the youth in their system. The Court Designated Workers proclaimed that no local youth organizations were volunteering to help them create a program for the youth to get their hours needed to complete probation. The CES 4-H Agents met several times with the Court Designated Workers to work on designing a training that would meet the needs of the youth. The CES 4-H Agents and our East
The cloverbud program began in 2013 in Anderson County. The program has grown into 2 clubs now and we have arranged for after school transportation for the kids to come straight from school.Club meetings happen once at month after school at the extension office. Programing for the club is diverse in which we try to do a lesson from each of the 7 4-H Core areas. Our goal is for Cloverbuds to be the stepping stone and door opener to our other clubs for the youth and parents. Cloverbud members also
Author: Amanda Wilson
The current trend in Kentucky is that we, as a state, trail other states in the area of household income indicators. These include personal income, population living below the poverty line, unemployment, and revolving debt loads. As 4-H Agents, it is our responsibility to provide today’s youth with tools and information that can be helpful to them in the future. To support the idea of financial stability in the future, we conducted a one-day program entitled Reality Store. This event allow
Author: Chanda Hall
Several years ago, community members within the Louisville Area began the discussion of the need for education within areas of Agriculture. With the access to a historical farm site and number of educators willing to get involved, the Family, Farm and Forage Day event was created. Several members from the community, Metro Council of Louisville and the Extension office were represented to plan the event. This event included; Demonstrations and Speakers on-forage crops, h
Author: Charles Stamper
During the 2019 Program Year, the Kentucky 4-H Program wanted to enhance the service being done by 4-Hers in the Commonwealth. Our goal was to bring the KY 4-H Program in line with the new National 4-H Civic Engagement model. The new model of civic engagement was used during two major events, 4-H True Leaders in Service month & 4-H Teen Conference. During these two events, over 700 youth completed 1400 hours of service to communities in the Commonwealth. According to the Independent Sector (
Author: Stacey Potts
Unintentional injury, while declining, remains the leading cause of death among children ages 19 and under. (Source: Safekids.org) To raise awareness and show children ways to prevent these types of injuries, the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service applied for and received a grant from the Progressive Agriculture Foundation to host a Progressive Agriculture Youth Safety Day. The grant provided access to training, along with educational and planning materials.It also pr
Author: Mary Jane Little
Extension faculty, in their role as administrators of volunteers, often lack the competencies to fully manage and utilize this tremendous resource. Research reports the findings of a nation-wide Delphi study that identified 33 competencies required by persons leading volunteers. These competencies included skills in the broad constructs of organizational and systems leadership, developing a positive organizational culture, personal skills that will help them in developing effective teams and man
