According to data from the Corporation for National and Community Service 763,706 Kentuckians volunteered in 2015 of their time, talent and effort to improve people’s lives. 84.34 million hours of service and $1.7 billion of service were contributed.  Henderson County’s population is around 46,250 and the need for volunteers is more critical as programs expand. 

The Henderson County Extension office ended the year with a leadership appreciation dinner that was called “Henderson County Leadership Hall of Fame”. Leaders were invited to attend a night of appreciation and awards ceremony where a leader from each program area was surprised with an overall award. 

Each Extension agent needs community members to assist in teaching or organizing programs, leading clubs and groups, assisting with events or activities, and providing input and guidance. Volunteer opportunities include: Club Leaders, Project Club, Master Clothing, Extension Homemakers, and many others. 

The FCS Agent gave out 3 awards. One for overall FCS, homemaker, and extension overall. The FCS person is for a person who works with programming including fair, council and homemakers. The homemaker award went to a 50 year member who attends everything homemaker including fcs programming. She supports the ovarian cancer screening and sets up a group of 10 women to attend every year. The overall extension award went to an fcs volunteer. She is involved in all fcs programming, homemakers, many extension, fcs council, homemaker council, programs, extension council, district board, state extension council. Other agents presented awards according to their programs but all agreed on overall extension award. Time is worth money. One hour equal $24.14 per hour. For just the 3 awards that were given out by the fcs agent for the winners the hours would be worth over $7,242 value a year and $36,210 in a five year period.