Author: Alethea Price
Major Program: Community Leadership Development
United Human Services (UHS) is the inter agency group who meets monthly to talk about resources and needs in the Boyle County Community. Some members of this group include Bluegrass Community Action Partnership, Salvation Army, Boyle County Senior Center, representation from all Family Resource Centers, Churches, Food Banks, the Housing Authority, Ephraim McDowell Hospital and more. This group meets monthly to discuss needs in the community and how to better connect residents to these resources.
Author: Amanda Sublett
Volunteers play integral roles in 4-H programs, performing a variety of duties, functions, and tasks and possessing varied and rich knowledge, skills, and backgrounds (Radhakrishna & Ewing, 2011). The success of Extension programming is due, in part, to the dedication of a large cadre of volunteers (Smith, Dasher, & Klingborg, 2005). Although highly valued, volunteer involvement does not guarantee achievement of Extension's goals and fulfillment of learners' needs (Bolton, 1992).
Author: Luciana Hockersmith
The 2019 Kentucky Extension Community Assessment report for Mercer County showed top priorities for ‘increased support for small business’ and ‘more market opportunities for farmers.’ The Mercer County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with the Mercer County Fair Board, Arts Council of Mercer County, and Extension Leaders (including Homemakers, Master Gardeners, Cultural Arts Groups, and Farmers Market Vendors) to develop a successful 2019 County Fair Floral H
Author: Trevor Claiborn
I met Mrs. JoJuana Leavell-Greene and her family last fall as she was inquring about ways to use her family properties in Anderson County and Fayette County for an Agricultural operation just as a retirement project. After an initial meeting with her, Mr Edwin Chavous, and myself, I did a few site visit's with her at her Fayette County property prior to the corona virus, as well as a few weekend visits during April and May to show her how to till, set her rows, and spacing for seeding.  
Author: Lynnette Allen
According to the Corporation for National and Community Civic Engagement, volunteerism is the support system for a strong nation. When considering volunteerism in local communities, Kentucky is ranked 36 of the 50 states and has only an average of 23.5% residents volunteering. But with these statistics it also shows that Kentucky ranks 17th with parents that volunteer and 8th in volunteer retention. This suggest that families value volunteering to support their children and those tha
Author: Nicole Breazeale
Diane Mason, FCS Agent in Boone County, is a leader in Kentucky Cooperative Extension international programming. In October of 2019, she asked Dr. Nicole Breazeale to develop a program on Argentina, including an empanada making demonstration. Trained as a Sociologist of Agri-Food Systems (her dissertation research was funded by Fulbright and involved a year of ethnographic fieldwork in the burley tobacco belt of Misiones, Argentina) and interested in the power of storytelling to educ
Author: Sarah Imbus
Celebrating our fifth annual Community Celebration Program during the COVID-19 pandemic brought a few challenges. Though, Campbell County Extension volunteers and staff realizes the impact and importance of marketing our programs and outreach resources we have to provide throughout the County that even during this nationwide pandemic, we came together stronger as a team to brainstorm ways that we can contin
Author: Bethany Wilson
Part of being a Master Gardener is providing leadership and volunteerism to the local community. Two Advanced Master Gardeners took on the task of training and preparing monthly programs for the new 4H Horticulture and Judging Team. The Master Gardeners prepared all monthly activities for the kids who were to participate in the contest. Games, mock tests, and fun activities were conducted each time. They always ma
Author: Cabrina Buckman
The Washington County Extension Service partners with Washington County Schools each year to plan and facilitate Teen Leadership Washington County. Integral goals of this program include learning more about leadership, community, and career opportunities in a variety of fields. In addition to assignments and a retreat, the program includes group days that focus on local government, health, business and industry, financial management, media, law and civic responsibilities, state gover
Author: Luke Fries
Kentucky States’ 4-H International Program Written By: Rachel E. Noble, EdD, Extension Specialist for Youth Development According to Matteucci (2011), the benefits of international exposure for young people include: increasing cultural awareness, acquisition of personal and linguistics skills, developing tolerance, patience, self-confidence, maturity, and critical thinking skills. Since 1979, Kentucky 4-H has hosted an international exchange program. In 2018, Kentucky 4-H hosted
Author: Amanda Sears
The county fair is a hectic time for agents. There are a lot of different programs going on at the same time and volunteer help is essential. For example, exhibit take in uses over thirty volunteers. Historically, a two problems occur with fair volunteers that assist with exhibit take in and judging. Often volunteers back out at the last minute. This led agents to scramble for more help. The other issue was poor communication between agents and volunteers. The Madison County Horticultu
Author: Jeremy Williams
Being prepared for life’s disasters, can help get us thru many storms. Learning to be prepared as a youth impacts you for a lifetime. The Harlan County Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent and the Harlan County Emergency Management Director had the opportunity to share MyPI Kentucky’s 4-H Youth Preparedness Initiative program with 15 Harlan County High School students. These students applied to be accepted into the after-school program to learn more about disaste
Author: Ronda Rex
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, “the median annual wage for dietitians and nutritionists was $60,370 in May 2018. Employment of dietitians and nutritionists is projected to grow 11 percent from 2018 to 2028, much faster than the average for all occupations. The role of food in preventing and treating diseases, such as diabetes, is now well known. More dietitians and nutritionists will be needed to provide care for patients with various medical conditions and to advise pe
Author: Marlee Kelley
The Bullitt County Cooperative Extension office has been without an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for two years. Since being hired at the start of 2020, the new ANR agent, Marlee Kelley, has conducted or attended Ag Development Council, Cattleman’s Association, Young Farmers, Farm Bureau and Soil Conservation meetings in Bullitt County to promote involvement in extension. Farmers from these organizations, expressed a need for educational programs and the following were condu
Author: Daniel Allen
The property that surrounds the Kenton County Extension Service’s second facility is a good place to offer environmental education programs. Water quality, urban forestry management and native trees and wildlife can be offered to youth and adults. Based on the lot around the building, and the success of our previous classroom forestry and natural resources classes, the Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent and the Horticulture Agent designed and offered the first ever Urban N
Author: Julia Wilson
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. The Edmonson County FCS Agent wished to offer a unique opportunity for Edmonson County Extension Homemakers and 4-H Volunteers to develop and practice communication, listening, and teamwork. The FCS Agent planned and implemented an Escape Room at the Edmonson County Extension Office. Ten Extension Homema
Author: Victor Williams
The annual Farm Industry Tour, organized and hosted by the Laurel County Extension Council, has become one of the most anticipated community events of the year. The purpose of the tour is to introduce community members to local industries that provide agricultural goods and services, educate participants on new and emerging crops, and encourage them to shop locally.The 2019 tour began at a local farm where 42 people boarded old-fashioned trolleys and several others followed in cars to
Author: Nola Janeen Tramble
SituationCounty Fairs and Extension go hand in hand. This has been true in Crittenden County for decades. The Crittenden County Extension agents have partnered with the Crittenden county Lions club to conduct an annual county fair. However over the years, the Lion’s club building that housed the exhibits started to have roof leaks. Eventually, cats were able to gain access to the building and eat the food displays, requiring the exhibits to be moved to a different l
