Leadership is the key to solving problems and addressing issues. Leaders come and go, need replenishing, as well as opportunities to utilize skills and a chance to make a positive impact. Leaders are always in demand!

Developing leaders can be achieved through multiple approaches; hands on learning, formal training, and opportunities made available through positions. 

Johnson County Extension FCS provides this multitude of platforms to help leaders thrive.

The Johnson County Extension Homemakers is the top leadership training effort in the Family and Consumer Sciences program.  One Extension Homemaker leader was trained in the state leadership development team and has returned with the training materials to deliver a ten part series. 

One state wide position was filled with a Johnson County leader, three Area positions were filled in the Area chairmen and President positions, seventeen leaders are serving at the county level, along with 16 serving as club leaders. These members help guide the activities of 102 members and additional community volunteers making significant impact on several fronts.

The educational program response: 

Trainings in leadership are offered annually both regionally and county wide. Supportive funding was provided when leaders took on extra roles such as attending  the state leadership institute and the Master Clothing Volunteer program, as well as attending the trainings at the state meeting. 

Note: Training opportunities were provided in the county in the arts as well. Funded by the Ky Arts Council, 8 artists trained under master artists with the goal of reteaching others. Over 300 benefitted using this method of skill transfer. These leaders are also Extension Homemakers.

Trained leaders are routinely given the platform and opportunity to share their skills with others. Quilters, embroiderers, seamstresses, environmental topics, foods and artists are all frequent skills shared by leaders throughout the year. 

The participants/target audience: Extension Homemakers and the general public are participants who benefit from the skills shared. 

Other partners: FCS State Staff, Route 23 Cultural Heritage Network, foster care, and Paintsville Tourism have been the primary partners on many projects and programs

Program impact or participant response.

Extension Homemakers annual report recorded the following: 

Members attending monthly lunch and learns and cooking through the calendar, lessons on financial management , leadership, sewing, making cheese, making vanilla, quilling, quilting , embroidery, and special arts opportunities in stained glass, felting, wreath making, painting, floral design on pumpkins, and even more classes were held in the clubs. 

International Day featured Turkey, a special program was featured on Mental Wellness, a delegate took the training on the state leadership training institute ( and is now bringing each lesson back). 

Extension Homemakers sponsor the annual Holiday Happenings event where an average of 500 attend; this event creates funds to sponsor leaders to attend the state meeting, community beautification grants, and other goals of the organization. Extension Homemakers have been working to create quilts for foster children and to provide grab and go back packs for quick exits for an average of one child per week throughout the year. One Homemaker took the quilt program to her church where they created over 300 more quilts and teddy bears for foster children. 

County, Area and State meetings were attended by delegates, each bringing information back to the county.

Following the flooding, Johnson County Homemakers raised enough fund to provide 29 victims with $115 each before Christmas. 

Each club taught seasonal crafts, served on councils, assisted with sister organizations such as the Route 23 Cultural Heritage Network, the Johnson County Piecemakers and the Master Clothing Volunteer Program. They had representation at the Area Leadership Toolbox event, officer /chairman training, leader Trainings, and a yard sale to create funds for flood victims. The support the Holiday Happenings event, and all county wide events and activities including the exercise programs, Farm and Home Field Day, and Arts events. They beautified their communities, through planting flowers and painting park benches, made corsages for the ladies at Mountain Manor Nursing Home, and Cards and Handkerchiefs for the men for Fathers Day.

The clubs work together to identify things that will benefit their communities routinely each year.