Author: Anna Meyers
Major Program: Health
According to the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Community Needs Assessment Survey, “Reducing youth obesity through nutrition education and/or exercise” is ranked as Kenton County’s 7th highest prioritized youth development need. Backing this is data from the Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health, which indicates that Kentucky’s obesity rate is 8.2% higher than the nation’s average.To combat this, Kenton County Cooperative Extension&rsquo
Author: Lora Stewart
Gallatin County 4-H offered the SuperStar Chef Camp program for 15 students. Four volunteers worked with students in a hands-on educational setting to teach important life skills. A pre-test/post test evaluation was conducted to determine learning outcomes. Several children, after participating in this program, has made several of the recipes. As a result of the program, students gained the following knowledge and skills:50% recognized foods that are part of the pro
Author: Stacey Potts
Daviess County 4-H and the Daviess County SNAP Assistant partnered to offer 4-H Healthy Living for YOUth, a six-week series focusing on 4-H Yoga, nutrition, and cooking skills. The series was offered during the school day and targeted the home-school audience. Sixteen youth ranging in age from 5 to 13 registered and completed the program which used the Yoga for Kids curriculum from the University of Arkansas.The benefits of yoga are many. In addition to the physical fitness as
Gallatin County has a population of 8763 people per the 7/1/22 U.S. Census. The median household income is much lower than the national average and many of our families live below the poverty line. Also, all four of the schools in our district receive 100% free and reduced breakfasts and lunches. All of which paints a picture of need. Poverty, health, and nutrition go hand in hand with that. A “Spirit of Public Health” grant of $5000 was written and received by the Gallatin Cou
Author: Dana Anderson
Mercer County is a predominantly rural area, and youth are exposed to various conditions. Students are faced with unsafe conditions around the home or outside. Most students are unprepared for what to do in an emergency or avoid an accident—the safety day taught them to be aware of their surroundings and what to do in an emergency. Teaching youth safety on the farm or around the home is essential to their development. A safety day was held for sixth-grade youth in Mercer County. Over
Author: Lois Carter
The problem Farm and Home SafetyThe educational program responseSafety DayThe participants/target audience4th grade studentsOther partners (if applicable)Community Partners - FRYSC, Health Dept, Fire Department, local police, FFA, State Police, Program impact or participant response.“Agriculture ranks among the most hazardous industries. Farmers are at very high risk for fatal and nonfatal injuries; and farming is one of the few industries in which family members who
Author: Alexandria Brasher
Henderson County has a lot of accessible sidewalks and bike riding opportunities.. Youth all over Henderson, especially in Henderson’s East End, utilize bicycles to get places and to hang out with their friends. Multiple young people ride their bike to school, the grocery, and the park. When speaking with the Family Resource Directors at two of the inner-city elementary schools we both agreed that bike safety was a major concern for the youth in Henderson County. The Henderson commun
Author: Tyrone Gentry
Providing rural youth with knowledge and strategies to be safe in their homes and communities is a foundational skill for being a responsible adult. Youth are at increased risk of experiencing certain types of harm. Rural youth are more likely to die in car accidents, farm accidents, and suicides than urban youth. They are also more likely to experience violence like bullying. Rural youth may have fewer resources to cope with harm. Rural communities o
Author: Mary Anne Garnett
According to the stateofchildhoodobesity.org, Kentucky ranks 50 for the highest obesity rate for youth ages 10-17 with a staggering 24%. Christian County in Kentucky has a higher percentage of 33.6% of obesity according to the Kentucky Environmental Public Health Tracking. With the numbers being so high, Christian County Extension Agents want to help lower these numbers and what better way than to have a program that encourages youth to try a new healthy food that they would not try on their own
Author: Molly Jordan
The summer solstice, marking the longest day of the year, has been designated the "Longest Day of Play." On June 20, 2024, Bracken County 4-H partnered with the Bracken County Health Department to host this event at Taylor Elementary. The event featured various groups providing health information to the community. Primary Plus doctors were on site offering school and sports physicals, car seat checks, and HPV vaccines. Additionally, there were activities promoting sunscreen awareness a
During the last few months of school, prom and graduation season is in full swing, sweeping both teens and parents into a whirlwind of dresses, tuxedos, caps, and gowns. Unfortunately, these joyous celebrations often involve alcohol, making this the most dangerous time of year for youth drunk driving. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), one in three alcohol-related teen traffic fatalities occur during prom season, from April to June. An estimated 20% of all a
Author: Kimberly Thomas
The Strong Girls Club is program created by the Taylor County Intermediate School Guidance Counselor, Christy Parks to help girls that do not have a strong female role model in their life to learn different life skills they may not have because of this. For the 2023-2024 school year, twelve girls in 3rd-6th grades were identified, with 100% of them being from low-income families. Mrs. Parks reached out to me to partner with her in this endeavor and share some of the important life skills l
Author: Jeremiah Johnson
Author: Renata Farmer
Peer relationships are a major focus during the school-age years of child development. During this time, children have many opportunities to grow, learn social skills, and develop problem-solving skills. Unfortunately, sometimes relationships at this stage can be negative and hurtful to a child. According to StopBullying.gov, approximately 40 percent of youth in the United States are estimated to be involved in bullying as either a bully, a target of bullying, or both. Whe
According to the CDC, a recent report showed many Kentucky children ages 1 through 5 years old do not eat at least one fruit or vegetable each day. There are many reasons why children or other family members do not eat fruit or vegetables daily. Increasing their access to quality nutrition is of utmost importance.In response to this need, the Knox County 4-H, FCS, and ANR Extension Agents along with several community partners such as, the Knox County Farmers' Market and the Extension P
Author: Mackenzie Pogue
According to the Cabinet for Health and Family Services, 65 percent of Kentucky’s children are not enrolled in regular physical education classes. Kentucky Youth Advocates notes, 16% of Kentucky youth are facing anxiety or depression because of the pandemic. Muhlenberg County Extension partnered with the local health department to tackle these pertinent issues facing our youth through the program, FIT Happens. The goal of FIT Happens was to target high school youth, asses
Author: Ricardo Bessin
The Imported fire ant has become established in parts of Eastern Kentucky in an area of about 500 square miles. What we have determined is that in this area, it is the hybrid of the black and red imported fire ants that have been detected. While we don't have the ability to eradicate them from areas where they have spread, we slow the spread by controlling colonizers in areas where they are not yet established. One success story is the Louisville imported fire ant abatement in a reside
Author: Aubrey Lawson
Healthy living is one of three 4-H mission mandates and encompasses: physical activity, personal safety, mental health, addiction prevention, and diversity and inclusion. Clark County Agents were approached by a local Family Resource Coordinator who had conducted a survey of parents at the Intermediate School in Clark County. This survey determined that personal safety and safety education were a concern to many parents. On September 15th, 2023 the Clark County Extension Agents hosted a Progress
