Author: Lisa Hagman
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
4-H offers many opportunities for youth to explore and discover their sparks. High quality 4-H program settings provide youth a place to belong, matter and explore their personal spark. Hancock County 4-H partners each year with the Hancock County Middle School Youth Service Center to offer an afterschool Culinary Arts Club to the 6th-8th grade students. At the conclusion of the year, the members are rewarded with a culinary-based field trip. The Ky Wildflour Bakery was a field trip d
Author: Isaac Hilpp
The culinary arts sector in Kentucky is experiencing a significant boom, largely due to the steady rise in tourism within the state. The U.S. Department of Labor projects a career growth rate of 25-30% over the next five years, equating to about 18,000 new job openings each year for the rest of the decade. This trend creates a promising landscape for young individuals who are passionate about culinary careers, offering them a stable path with ample opportunities for advancement. The Culinary Cha
Author: Melissa Goodman
Many young people will enter adulthood without the essential financial knowledge and skills they need to make informed choices about their money. According to a July 2022 FINRA Foundation national financial capability study, a persistent financial literacy gap exists in the U.S. Locally, the Kentucky Extension Community Needs Assessment highlighted the community's need for life skills training and career readiness among youth in Hickman County. These essential skills included money managemen
Author: Cathy Fellows
Spring Break is well known for schools being closed and many families go on vacation together. However not all families are able to go away during this time, and often parents struggle to entertain their children during this weeklong break from school.Knowing this can be a dilemma for some families, Boone County’s 4-H Agent conducted a Baking 101 program April 2024 during spring break this year at Boone County’s Enrichment Centers Cooking Lab Classroom. The Baking 101 program offered
Author: Annette Buckman
Obesity has become a significant issue among both adults and youth, presenting a major concern. Kentucky finds itself among the top five states in terms of obesity rates, with 36% of adults affected, and among the top seven for physical inactivity, with 32% of its population inactive. The Union County Health Rankings indicate that 37% of the adult population in Union County suffers from obesity, while an identical percentage is physically inactive.The monthly educational cooking prog
Author: Calyn Colston
In March 2024, Calloway County 4-H hosted a Reality Store financial simulation event for the Murray City and Calloway County 7th and 10th graders. The goal of the event was to increase youth financial awareness and provide them tools to make great life and financial decisions. Each of the four school FRYSC coordinators partnered with Calloway 4-H planning the event and 92 community volunteers from many different businesses and community programs worked the booths. Over the two day event, 648 stu
Author: Dora Centers
According to the 2019 UK Community needs assessment. 2 out of 3 of Knott County’s top priority issues identified for youth & family were “more youth life skills training (money management, life decision making, etc.) and “better family skills in reducing debt, increasing savings and financial planning.” To address this priority an annual collaborative program with the elementary and high school FYRSCs, KCCHS Beta Club, Knott Co Board of Educ
Author: Lois Carter
The problemThe 5 C’s of Positive Youth Development (according to the NE Department of Health & Human Services) include: Connection: A feeling of safety, structure, and belonging; positive bonds with people and social institutions.Confidence: A sense of self-worth and mastery; having a belief in one’s capacity to succeed.Character: Taking responsibility; a sense of independence and individuality; connection to principles and values.Competence: The ability to act effectively a
Author: Candice Hollingsworth
When someone first thinks of sewing, they may think of the stereotypical grandmother type, at her sewing machine or working hand piecing a quilt. This skill that was once thought to be losing interest is now on the rise thanks to social media and the art of upcycling. A tradition that was once passed down from mother to daughter has been revitalized for the masses. 4-H has helped to keep this skill alive and pass it on to the younger generation. We owe a great debt to our volunteers who take the
Author: Samantha Klotz
According to the Kentucky Cabinet for Health and Family Services 38% of Kentucky children ages 10-17 are considered overweight or obese. Many schools in Nelson County are bringing awareness to their students about making healthier lifestyle choices. In partnership with Foster Heights Elementary, Nelson County 4-H was able to participate in Passion Ignite and focus on healthy eating, by preparing a healthy snack in the classroom. Passion Ignite is an event that is hosted three times througho
Author: Regina Browning
As high school seniors approach graduation, they are also approaching a shift in independence as they move into adulthood. Self-reliance and self sufficiency are important as young adults begin to navigate the world around them. Providing them with lessons in basic life skills can give young people confidence in their newfound independence whether they plan to go away to college or enter the workforce. The Shelby County 4-H Agent and the Shelby County High School Youth Service Center (YSC
Author: Victoria Riehemann
In 2023, the poverty rate for Bullitt County was 10.2%, and although this poverty rate is lower than the national average for poverty (12.6%), the community wants our youth to be prepared with the financial skills to fight poverty. According to the 2019 Community Assessment for Bullitt County, stakeholders wanted to see increases in youth career readiness and in youth life skills training, which included money management and life decision making.Bullitt County 4-H partnered with the Family Resou
Author: Chanda Hall
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: Alissa Ackerman
Many students struggle with financial management skills and lack the knowledge when it comes to making wise financial decisions. Practicing this skill and providing more opportunities for financial literacy at an early age, can help prepare youth for a more successful future. The Clay County Extension Council identified basic budgeting skills as a top need for youth throughout the county.Local elementary schools requested the 4-H Dollars and Sense Program. Clay County 4-H, Partners for Rural Imp
Author: Kellsey Agnew
Every young person should be provided the opportunity to develop skills needed for everyday life. After collaborating with Campbell County School’s District Wide Teacher of the Visually Impaired and one of Campbell County Middle School’s Special Education Teachers a new program was designed to teach basic kitchen skills to students in the special education program at Campbell County Middle School. Campbell County 4-H provided equipment, ingredients, and education. All necessary adapt
Author: Carissa Miske
Statistics and general public feedback show that many students don’t have the financial knowledge and skills to make healthy financial decisions. Money management and career path development are both important areas that need to be addressed among our youth population, so they are better equipped to make healthier financial decisions. The local Middle and High School requested the 4-H Reality Store program. The 4-H Reality Store program is a real-life simulation that allows the stude
Author: Hunter Carroll
The Kentucky 4-H Passport Kitchen program provided 426 young people from Kentucky the opportunity to experience the food cultures of different countries in a self-paced experience. As part of the 4-H Passport Kitchen program, young people received six country kits in the mail during a six-week window. These kits provided all the needed instructions to complete a recipe, a video explaining the recipe, one ingredient for the recipe, information about the country, and a w
Author: Brian Good
According to an article published on April 4, 2024 through WalletHub, Kentucky currently ranks 47th in the nation in financial literacy. This is down two spots from 2019. Global News Wire also echoed this sentiment in 2023 when they also ranked Kentucky at 47. The criteria included evaluations of personal consumption, household earnings, financial knowledge, personal retirement savings and state policy that supports financial literacy. Financial education usually begins at an early age and at ho