Author: Brittany Osborne
Major Program: 4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum
According to Dissertation research submitted by Iowa State University, "The subject of clothing relates to almost every other subject taught, such as history (how political conditions were an influence on fashion), physics (how sewing machines worked), chemistry (how fabric 16 can protect against heat or cold, microscopic examination of fibers, textile testing), physiology (how the body moves in clothes), as well as drawing and design." This year, McCracken County 4-H There&r
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 a
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. According to the After School Alliance (ASA), the after school field is an essential response to the coronavirus pandemic. The ASA states that innovative program services support youth families and communities in several ways. Virtual programs provide safe, enriching activitie
Author: Eric Comley
The importance of financial education is self-evident. Exposing young people, as early as possible, to a healthy understanding of the most basic framework of financial decision-making, budgeting, record-keeping, and establishing personal values when it comes to money. According to an article by Elizabeth Johnson and Margaret Sherraden in Journal of Sociology and Social Welfare, Overall, education, as viewed through the capabilities lens, is important not only because it permits a person to flour
Author: Isaac Hilpp
Situation: During the spring of 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic forced a stay at home order in the state of Kentucky that would extend through the remainder of the 4-H program year. 4-H as with all educational organizations faced the opportunity to create engaging and meaningful online content for youth to participate in. Educational response: Kentucky 4-H launched the daily virtual experiences and brown bag programs in response to stay at home orders and the closing of public
Author: Bernita Cheirs
The 4-H Cloverbud program is designed to be noncompetitive, educational, activity-based, cooperative learning centered, safe, developmentally age appropriate, and success-oriented. By allowing children between the ages of 5-8 to participate in a positive learning experiences, it helps them to build life skills at a younger age.The 4-H Cloverbud program began in 2018 in Fulton County averaging around 8 Kindergarteners – 3rd graders. Club meetings happen once a month after school at the Exte
Author: Paul Adkins
As the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the Bullitt County Public Schools’ Food Service Department found themselves preparing and delivering over 6,000 meals to children qualified for the free and reduced lunches throughout the county. As the food service program began the process, the Food Service Director identified the need for a fun but educational flyer to be include with the meals. Since the food service employees were focused on preparing the food, the Bullitt County Extension Service o
Author: Julie Brown
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Kentucky has the fifth-highest rate of obesity in the nation. About one-third of U.S. adults (33.8 percent) are obese. Approximately 17 percent (or 12.5 million) of children and adolescents ages 2-19 years are obese (Data from the National Health and Examination Survey). To combat high obesity rates for elementary and middle school children the Warren County 4-H Youth Development agent partnered with the Warren Co
Author: Catherine Weaver
Kentucky 4-H Bake-A-LongCathy Weaver Rachel E. Noble As our world grapples with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic it is imperative that non-formal youth development professionals redefine programming to continue to intentionally meet the developmental needs of youth through new platforms that adhere to national and state guidelines. Prior to the start of the global pandemic research showed that ninety-five percent of a person’s learning related to science occurs outside of the
Author: Rachel Guidugli
As our world grapples with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic it is imperative that non-formal youth development professionals redefine programming to continue to intentionally meet the developmental needs of youth through new platforms that adhere to national and state guidelines. Prior to the start of the global pandemic research showed that ninety-five percent of a person’s learning related to science occurs outside of the classroom (Falk and Lynn, 2010). With this staggering statistic
Author: Madalyn Hale
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: Staci Thrasher
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, they will be more likely to eat healthier as adults, and build self-confidence. (Cooking With Your Children; Web MD; May 30, 2008.). In March 2020, Fleming Schools switched to a Non-Traditional Instruction (NTI) format due to the Coronavirus Pandemic to finish their course work. During the period of "NTI" and virtual learning, the Fle
Author: Dianna Reed
In March of 2020, the Johnson Cooperative Extension Service along with government officials, local leaders, school personnel and community members were challenged to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic and offer ways to be of service and offer programming to our communities and clientele. As a result, the 4-H Youth Development program provided participation opportunities through the Johnson County 4-H Photography Contest, and the Kentucky 4-H Wildlife Photo Challenge offered by Ashley Osborne,
Author: Kimberly Ragland
In the 2015-16 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, the national obesity rate for children ages 2-19 was 18.5%. In 2017, the Centers for Disease Control reported Kentucky youth in grades 9-12 had a 20% rate of obesity with an additional 16% of youth categorized as overweight. Kentucky is notoriously inactive, ranking 50th in the CDC’s 2017 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System with 34.4% of adults reporting no physical activity or exercise other than their regul
Author: Ruth Chowning
With the Kentucky “Healthy At Home” initiative during this pandemic, the Extension Agent of Bullitt County partnered with the Extension Agent of Garrard County to offer an online Needlework class. With the resurgence of heritage skills, Needlework can be a way to learn new skills of the mind, heart and hands. Handwork develops focus and concentration. It encourages following a process in order to complete a project. It enhances critical thinking and math skills. It in
Author: Sarah Redmon
When Covid-19 struck and programs were asked to come to a halt to all in person programming. 4-H Youth Development Agents had to come up with different ways to interact and reach the youth in their county. Scott County 4-H Youth Development Agent along with other 4-H agents in the District started a virtual 4-H Baking Challenge on Facebook. The Scott County 4-H Youth Development Agent provided recipes for beginners and advanced bakers each week for seven weeks via the Sc
Author: Vicki Wynn
When families have after-school activities, late workdays, and lots of homework, it’s no wonder few families eat dinner together. Studies have long shown that family meals are an important part of healthy living. According to recent surveys, less than half of today’s families in the U.S. actually sit down to a meal on a regular basis.“Manners for the Real World” stresses the importance of mealtime, and everyone pitching in to help pull it together. The local library and U
Author: Susan Campbell
Anderson County Clover Chefs was planned, implemented and evaluated by the Cooperative Extension Service. It is an after school cooking club. The club meets once per month and at each meeting the participants prepared one or two recipes and received a nutrition lesson. Due to the age of the participants, it was required that an adult assistant accompany the child to the workshop. Within days of the club being advertised, there were thirty four youth registered. Before the end of the program year
