Author: Brittany Osborne
Major Program: 4-H Communications and Expressive Arts Core Curriculum
As the 2020 pandemic closed schools in early March, McCracken County Cooperative Extension Service through McCracken County 4-H was able to adapt and evolve immediately. Schools closed on March 13, 2020 and the due date for registrations for the McCracken County 4-H Communications Day was March 16, 2020. All schools that annually host mandatory school competitions in previous years were reached out to by myself to ensure registrations and the competitor names were all in after the missed deadlin
Author: Leslea Barnes
When the COVID-19 global pandemic forced Kentuckians into quarantine youth and families began spending more time at home, minimizing opportunities for youth to engage in typical extracurricular activities. Due to this situation the Kentucky 4-H Program began the Kentucky 4-H Virtual Experiences on social media platforms. The goal of the Kentucky 4-H Virtual Experiences was to maintain ways for youth and families to engage with 4-H projects, events and activities while learning new life skills th
Author: Ola Donahue
Facebook, Twitter, texting are how today’s youth communicate. Social media has become an important form of communication for all of us. Communication is essential to youth success and social media can certainly enhance youth communication skills. However, it is effecting verbal communication among our youth and can affect their future success. Verbal communication skills, like anything else, must be taught. The proper ways to speak, make eye contact and use body language are all a part of
Author: Krista Perry
With technology continuing to advance rapidly, creating the path for youth to communicate nonverbally is easier; therefore, as youth become older, this will present a challenge when it is time for them to interview for scholarships, careers, and even communicate with others. Based on conversations with community leaders, communication is a strong need in the community for youth, which is why the Franklin County 4-H Program conducted a Communications Lesson to over 500 4th and 5th grade stu
Author: Anna Meador
Although COVID-19 may have caused the cancellation of many youth in-person programs, Allen County 4-H was able to provide two public speaking opportunities to our Allen County youth through in-school speeches with the eighth grade and our Virtual 4-H Communications Contest.Each year students in the eight grade at James E. Bazzell Middle School have participated in a Speech Contest held in partnership with the James E. Bazzell Middle School, the Allen County Cooperative Extension Services and the
Author: Courtney Brock
When the COVID-19 global pandemic forced Kentuckians into quarantine, youth and families began spending more time at home, minimizing opportunities for youth to engage in typical extracurricular activities. Due to this situation the Kentucky 4-H Program began the Kentucky 4-H Virtual Experiences on social media platforms. The goal of the Kentucky 4-H Virtual Experiences was to maintain ways for youth and families to engage with 4-H projects, events and activities while learning new life skills t
Author: Kelly Woods
Public speaking skills are ranked number one among the skill sets of professionals. Other guiding factors for developing public speaking skills include leadership development, increased self- confidence, and ability to accept feedback. (University of California, 4-H Presentation Manual, revised 2016) Oldham County 4-H involved over 225 members in the 4-H Public Speaking program. Extension staff presented workshops focused on effective writing and presentations skills. At LaGra
Author: Bernita Cheirs
According to Manoj Vasudevan, the 2017 Toastmasters World Champion of Public Speaking, says a person who is able to skillfully express himself or herself as an orator, especially early in life, is more likely to foster better friendships and relationships and build a larger network of collaborators. The Fulton County 4-H program works closely with the schools to prepare youth for the 4-H Public Speaking contest and to help them become an effective public speaker.This year due to the Covid-19 pan
Author: Kelly Smith
The COVID-19 global pandemic forced families into quarantine and required them to spend more time at home, minimizing opportunities for youth to engage in typical extracurricular activities. The Kentucky 4-H Foundation offered mini grants to Counties wanting to do some type of virtual programming to help with the at home needs families were facing. The Jefferson County 4-H agents together submitted an application and received funds to support a virtual Art day camp. The day camp was
Author: Catherine Weaver
Public speaking and communication skills have been proven to be the most needed skills in order for citizens to obtain a job in the workforce. In order to provide this experience for youth at an early age, CES planned and implemented lessons in which over 1500 youth throughout the county were educated on the importance of communicating well, and on how to properly give a speech and demonstration. CES also implemented 4-H Speech and Demonstration contests at all 6 of the county elementary schools
Author: Owen Prim
The 4-H Achievement Program gives youth experience in learning to set goals, keeping records, planning and organizing, completing tasks and working with others. In the process youth learn to develop and practice communication skills through interviews, filling out forms and applications and by completing video presentations. Overall 4-H Youth Development Programs provide opportunities for creativity in a learning by doing environment and encourage youth to become involved in projects
Author: Lisa Hagman
Author: Stacey Potts
Providing youth with the ability to enhance and develop communication skills is of great importance in Kentucky. The development of communications skills is one of the preeminent skills necessary to grow as an individual, a community member and a leader. Using age appropriate activities selected from the approved Kentucky 4-H Communications & Expressive Arts Curriculum, educators can maximize the ability of youth to develop their writing, reading and personal communication capac
Author: Sherri Farley
Providing youth with the ability to enhance and develop communication skills is of great importance in Kentucky. The development of communication skills is one of the preeminent skills necessary to grow as an individual, a community member and a leader. Using age appropriate activities selected from the approved Kentucky 4-H Communications & Expressive Arts Curriculum, educators can maximize the ability of youth to develop their writing, reading, and personal communication capacities. This i
Author: Kimberly Lane
A valued program in Morgan County 4-H has repeatedly been the 4-H Communications Event. Youth are provided an opportunity to express themselves, build fundamental public speaking skills, gain confidence, and foster mastery by learning how to effectively communicate. At the end of February over 500 youth completed a 4-H demonstration and ready for the County Contest. Then in March half of the 25 school clubs had presented their 4-H speeches. COVID-19 pandemic struck, canceling t
Author: Jennifer Tackett
Research shows a positive association between arts participation and a number of desirable academic and social outcomes, such as school grades, test scores, enrollment in post-secondary education, attainment of a bachelor’s degree, and higher levels of literacy and civic engagement. (Child Trends, 2013)This year in Kentucky 4-H, 11,538 youth revealed in an end of program evaluation that they have improved their communications skills by completing a speech, demonstration or other public pre
Author: Marla Stillwell
2020 was not the year anyone planned for, hoped for or dreamed of. The world was hit with a global pandemic which ultimately affected every human being on this planet not to mention the lifestyles they led. The effects of the restrictions placed on our communities due to COVID-19 forced state and local Extension professionals to think outside the box in order to somehow continue programming by means of utilizing technology in ways that had never been done. The term ‘virtu
Author: Kimberly Ragland
The Boyle County Extension and 4-H Councils identified improving the ability to communicate as a key life skill local 4-H programs should focus upon. Cooperative Extension Service personnel cooperated with teachers in the Boyle County, Danville, and Danville Christian systems to provide public speaking education in a variety of formats. Eight in-classroom school clubs focusing on communications were conducted at Boyle County Middle School (200 youth). CES provided educators, cu
