Author: Mary Lawson
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
It had been 10 years since Menifee County 4-H offered an in-person 4-H Reality Store! Recognizing the importance of financial literacy, the Menifee County High School partnered with Menifee County 4-H Youth Development Program to bring the innovative 4-H Reality Store experience to their sophomore students. The 4-H Reality Store is an interactive financial simulation designed to teach young people about budgeting, financial decision-making, and the realities of adult life. The participants/targe
Author: Julie Brown
In our increasingly interconnected world, young people must acquire the knowledge and skills to engage effectively. Local economies now rely more than ever on international resources, and those who thrive in this interconnected economy are adaptable individuals who embrace multiculturalism. Passport Kitchen is a program designed to help young people take their first steps in developing these skills. It not only promotes family mealtime but also fosters life readiness skills. By collaboratively w
Author: Kelly Smith
Studies indicate that sewing is not only a productive hobby and life skill, but it can also reduce stress and increase an individual’s feeling of self-worth. The Jefferson County 4-H Agents, 4-H assistants, and a County Master Clothing Volunteer planned a sewing Day Camp for 18 youth. This program was a free 2-day camp. Students learned beginning sewing skills, sewing machine functions and use, textile construction, recycling of material, and nutrition.Guiding the youth through
Jefferson County 4-H Youth had taken an off day at school and learned how to make some southern delicacies from scratch. Cooking is a life skill and supports math, science, language, social-emotional development, physical development (fine motor skills), and cognitive development. At 4-H Jam, Butter and Biscuits Day Camp, 18 youth had the opportunity to explore the art of homemade jams, creamy butter, and fluffy biscuits. Our team of 4-H staff guided youth through the process
Author: Chanda Hall
Author: Stacey Potts
“Sewing is a discipline that helps develop self-esteem, confidence, focus, patience, fine motor skills, problem solving, process thinking and visualization. Additionally, sewing encourages creative ability” (The Creative Art of Sewing; www. NorthJersey.com; September 13, 2012). Nine youth at Cravens Elementary School participated in a six-session after school sewing program where they made a pillowcase and the Go Green tote bag from Unit 1: Let’s Learn to Sew. All n
Author: Amanda Clark
Author: Joyce Doyle
How many children today are challenged to eat different foods? When asked to provide a program for the library, a theme is always given and then it can be revised to offer some good food. The theme for the lesson was insects so ants and spiders was chosen. We compared the ant to the spider and explained that insects are not all bad. A spider snack was made with 2 crackers, humus, and pretzels. We discussed the 5 food groups. Several chi
Author: Jacqueline Jacob
We have had low participation in the state 4-H chicken and turkey barbecue contests, so I started doing day camps in the counties teaching the local 4-Hers the joys of barbecuing poultry products. The result was that for the July 2023 contest, we had a record number of participants in the combined contests – 23. There were 12 juniors (7 doing chicken and 5 doing turkey) and 11 seniors (7 doing chicken and 4 doing turkey). The top seniors represented Kentucky in the national contests.
Author: Jeremiah Johnson
In 2019 the Christian County Community Needs Assessment determined that there was a significant need for consumer and financial literacy programs for youth. Christian County 4-H partnered with Christian County Public Schools and offered 4-H It's Your Reality to 549 9th grade students at HHS, CCHS, and the virtual learning academy. Youth participated in classroom workshops to help them understand income, taxes, and the expenses of housing and transportation. Later in the yea
Author: Alexandria Brasher
Family Magazine reports that 76% of middle school age youth are babysitting either family members or other’s children. According to a new American Red Cross poll, parents say that good babysitters are hard to find, and they want to entrust their children to babysitters trained in first aid, CPR and childcare skills. Childcare training provides life skills in parenting. Babysitting is often a youth’s first gainful employment experience. Henderson County 4-H hosted a babysitting clinic
Author: Kelly Woods
The problem:Culinary Arts continue to spark the interest of Oldham County youth, 4-H strives to offer at least three culinary sessions (6 hours each) yearly. Sessions fill up within hours of being posted. The educational program response:Oldham County 4-H has hosted three culinary camps to date: Baking Camp, Italian Foods Camp, Super Bowl Cooking Camp and Breads for Teens involving over 60 young people. Two additional culinary programs are planned for the summer.In addition to the cul
Oldham County Public School Summer Care programs are hosted at each elementary school in the county. The summer care directors requested art and life skills programming for their summer curriculum. Oldham County 4-H partnered with three schools offering lessons to over 150 youth focusing on horticulture, weaving, jewelry making, sand art murals, quilling art, acrylic art, and pencil drawings. 4-H Agent and Assistants taught each session.At the end of the summer, participants were invited t
Author: Misty Wilmoth
The LaRue County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with the LaRue County High School Family Resource Youth Service Center to offer the Truth and Consequences program to all 206 LaRue County High School ninth graders in November 2023. District Court Judge Teresa Renee McMahan Miller spoke to the entire freshman class about issues related to drug use. Each student then drew for a scenario which took them to various stops in the high school gym. A "parent" voluntee
Author: Wade Raymer
Nutrition, physical activity and AG literacy were identified by the Webster County Extension Council as top priority educational needs in Webster County. According to the US Department of Health and Human Services, adolescent’s ages 6-17 need to get sixty minutes of moderate physical activity every day to prevent poor lifestyle habits that can lead to health problems later in life. Youth are eating less than the recommended daily amounts of fruits and vegetables. Unfortu
Author: Jocelyn Kemp
Youth, especially Cloverbuds, needed opportunities to learn important life skills through experiential learning in 4-H. I researched ways to help youth learn more practical life skills through topics that they were interested in or cared about. This is where I came up with, "Cloverbud Animal Buddies Day Camp". This day camp was from 9-3 pm. We made connections with local small businesses and volunteers to conduct fun activities. Cloverbuds were able to visit a local pet store and learn
Author: Carissa Miske
September 26-27, 2023 Pumpkin Days was held at the Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability. Youth in Preschool, Headstart, Kindergarten and 1st Grades attended from multiple different counties where they rotated through educational stations, played games, learned about being kind, experienced a petting zoo, took a hayride to the pumpkin patch and were able to select their own pumpkin to take home. Different SNAP approved pumpkin recipes were made by numerous different SNAP-Ed Ass
Author: Sue Ann McCandless
Sewing is an important life skill that is often overlooked in modern times. The pandemic brought sewing back into the lives of many as families either couldn't get out to shop for clothing or because of limited supplies. Many parents recognized the need for thier youth to learn this skill. Sewing is also important as it helps develop hand and eye coordination, improves critical thinking and is often used as a creative outlet or form of relaxation. The Hardin County 4-H
