Success Stories - Kentucky Extension Reporting System

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Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Cooperative Extension Service

Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Impacts

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Fiscal Year: 2025

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2019
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2021
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2024
2025

Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025

Success StoriesKentucky Extension Reporting System

Teen Leadership Program

Author: Michael Rose

Major Program: Leadership

Many of the community organizations lack effective leadership as a part of their program. Our advisory councils, schools, and county/city leadership indicated there is a need for more youth leadership development programs. It is vital to instill the values of volunteerism and strong leadership in our young people. Strong leaders are vital to the future of our communities, government, and organizations. The Adair County Cooperative Extension Service sponsored a Teen Leadership program for mi

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Jr. Capitol Experience

Author: Bridgett Poteet

Major Program: Leadership

Jr. Capitol Experience

Many of our young people today don't understand what our elected officials are responsible for, how to advocate to those officials, and what these stewards provide to our communities. Towards the end of October,  11 of our 4-Hers took on the Courthouse for our first ever Edmonson County Capital Experience. During their experience, they got to meet our county’s elected officials, learn about what they do, explore their offices, the courtrooms, visit our Veteran’s memorials, a

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“Building Tomorrow’s Leaders: 4-H Teen Retreat Inspires Connection and Growth”

Author: Leslea Barnes

Major Program: Leadership

Studies show that middle and high school students who actively engage in leadership and networking activities are 60% more likely to develop strong interpersonal and decision-making skills, key attributes for future success.The 4-H Teen Retreat, held at West Kentucky 4-H Camp, provided an unparalleled opportunity for 8th-12th grade students to cultivate leadership and life skills in a dynamic and supportive environment. Organized entirely by a committee of 4-H teens and 4-H agents, the retreat r

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Adulting, Money and how to keep it.

Author: Lloyd Saylor

Major Program: Leadership

Adulting Class: Life Skills in Butler CountyPublicity about students being unprepared for the real world of, "Adulting," the Butler county 4-H Council decided to address the issue. Greg Drake our Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent assisted.What is credit, good credit vs. bad credit, how to plan a budget, What to know when taking a car loan, to cooking basic meals, changing a tire and check fluids, . What is insurance? Interview skills were also addressed.The 6 evenings of the prog

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8th Grade Leadership Program

Author: Rebecca Brown

Major Program: Leadership

I started a leadership program with the 8th-grade students at St. Romuald Catholic School. This program began as a series of three classes focused on evaluating the students' personal values and exploring how technology can either hinder or enhance those values. Throughout the sessions, the students examined their values and considered how modern technologies impact their ability to live out those values. They learned that making choices aligned with their values can contribute to a greater

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4-H Jr. and Teen Leadership Academy: Creating Self-Confident and Involved Leaders

Author: Deana Reed

Major Program: Leadership

4-H Jr. and Teen Leadership Academy: Creating Self-Confident and Involved Leaders

Describe the Issue or Situation.Leadership education builds several important assets in Kentucky youth and provides critical elements of youth development (Search Institute, 2004; Pittman, Irby & Ferber, 2001). The fewer assets young people have, the more likely they are to engage in negative behaviors (Benson, 1997; Eccles & Gootman, 2002). The more assets that are provided to youth, the more likely they are to exhibit positive behaviors. Strong leadership and decision making skills are

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Teen Retreat

Author: Samantha Gamblin

Major Program: Leadership

The purpose of Kentucky 4-H Retreat is to retain youth involvement in 4-H activities through the middle and high school years, along with empowering youth to become active 4-H leaders on the local and state levels. Objectives of Kentucky 4-H Retreat are to provide youth from Area C5/C6 with the opportunity to develop leadership skills through acquiring new knowledge to take back and implement within their local communities. Youth have the opportunity to belong to a group of peers and expand team

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CloverBud Day Camp

Author: Mackenzie Pogue

Major Program: Leadership

CloverBud Day Camp

Day camps are more than just a place to have fun—they offer a unique opportunity to teach young children valuable life skills. At this year's 4-H CloverBud Day Camp, 40 participants engaged in a range of activities designed to help them grow both personally and socially. From learning how to safely use tools to appreciating the beauty of nature, campers spent their day developing skills that will benefit them for years to come.One of the key focuses of the camp was teaching the importa

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Youth Shine at the Kentucky 4-H Issues Conference

Author: Leslea Barnes

Major Program: Leadership

Issue Crittenden County youth face a need for leadership development and public engagement skills to address local challenges effectively. Many young people in the area lack opportunities to develop critical skills such as public speaking, problem-solving, and collaboration. This gap limits their ability to take active roles in identifying and solving community issues. The Kentucky 4-H Issues Conference is a wonderful opportunity to address these needs by providing youth with the knowledge

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Teen Club Growth

Author: Erin Leach

Major Program: Leadership

Estill County Teen Club had lost steam over recent years due to some various factors and including turnovers in the 4-H & Youth Development Agent position. Participation had dwindled. In the spring of 2024, club was lucky to have 4 or 5 members show up for a monthly meeting, if at all. After 6 months on the job, the new 4-H agent planned to re-invent and market the program differently to entice teen involvement. Starting in the fall of 2024, there were several teen events planned to hel

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C3-C4 Middle School Retreat

Author: Kimberly Ragland

Major Program: Leadership

According to Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow Research Review: Opportunities for Teens to Engage as Learners, Leaders, Team Members, and Workers, “Adolescents…benefit from opportunities to shape programs and activities, which can improve the programs, provide valuable leadership skills and build confidence.” Area 4-H Youth Development Agents, to fulfill the need for providing leadership development experiences and working in partnership with the Central 3 / Central 4 Area 4

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Building Great Leaders

Author: Amy Branstetter

Major Program: Leadership

Metcalfe County 4-H youth and adults have been very successful at the area, state, and national levels. Metcalfe County 4-H set a County record at the Kentucky Volunteer Forum with thirty-five attendees, of those thirty-five 6 adults and fourteen youth won 24 different awards.Awards won by Metcalfe 4-H Youth14 youth-received 10 year member awardsTeen Camp VolunteerCommunity Service Award2 youth-received The Conrad Feltner Leadership AwardAwards won by Metcalfe 4-H AdultsIDEA (Inclusion, Diversit

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Hickman County teens gain valuable leadership skills at the Southern Region Teen Leadership Conference

Author: Melissa Goodman

Major Program: Leadership

The Southern Region Teen Leadership Conference (SRTLC) is an event that brings together youth from across the southern U.S. to foster leadership, community involvement, and connections with peers from different states. This year, Hickman County was proud to send two delegates to the 2024 conference, which had 400 total participants. For many attendees, this was their first regional leadership event, which proved to be an inspiring experience. Key takeaways from the conference include:Increa

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4-H Middle School Retreat

Author: MacKenzie Preece

Major Program: Leadership

According to Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow Research Review: Opportunities for Teens to Engage as Learners, Leaders, Team Members, and Workers, “Adolescents…benefit from opportunities to shape programs and activities, which can improve the programs, provide valuable leadership skills and build confidence.” Area 4-H Youth Development Agents, to fulfill the need for providing leadership development experiences and working in partnership with the Central 3 / Central 4 A

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Central 3 and Central 4 Middle School Retreat

Author: Catherine Weaver

Major Program: Leadership

According to Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow Research Review: Opportunities for Teens to Engage as Learners, Leaders, Team Members, and Workers, “Adolescents…benefit from opportunities to shape programs and activities, which can improve the programs, provide valuable leadership skills and build confidence.” Area 4-H Youth Development Agents, to fulfill the need for providing leadership development experiences and working in partnership with the Central 3 / Central 4 A

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Teen Issues Conference

Author: Emily Chaney

Major Program: Leadership

On the state level, it was seen that public libraries and extension offices were often targeting the same groups of people with little collaboration. An initiative was taken for pubic libraries with teen librarians and extension offices with teen leadership to work together and identify teens participating in both programs. The identified teen would then be sent to the 4-H Teen Issues Conference. At this conference, the teens would learn to identify issues in their community and then learn how t

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C4 Area Middle School Retreat

Author: Shannon Farrell

Major Program: Leadership

C4 Area Middle School Retreat

According to Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow Research Review: Opportunities for Teens to Engage as Learners, Leaders, Team Members, and Workers, “Adolescents…benefit from opportunities to shape programs and activities, which can improve the programs, provide valuable leadership skills and build confidence.” Area 4-H Youth Development Agents, to fulfill the need for providing leadership development experiences and working in partnership with the Central 3 / Central 4 A

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Area Middle School Leadership Retreat

Author: Susan Campbell

Major Program: Leadership

According to Adolescent Health: Think, Act, Grow Research Review: Opportunities for Teens to Engage as Learners, Leaders, Team Members, and Workers, “Adolescents…benefit from opportunities to shape programs and activities, which can improve the programs, provide valuable leadership skills and build confidence.” Area 4-H Youth Development Agents, to fulfill the need for providing leadership development experiences and working in partnership with the Central 3 / Central 4 A

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Acting Associate Dean & Director — Craig Wood, Ph.D.
S107 Ag. Science Center North
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
+1 (859) 257-4302

© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment