According to the Community Assessment conducted in 2019, Edmonson County community members identified these are areas of need in their community related to community vitality:

More pride in the community and its assets 24.43% 

More youth community leadership opportunities 19.77%

One response to these community concerns, the Edmonson County Cooperative Extension Office, led by KSU agent Bridgett Poteet partnered with multiple community organizations to organize the first annual 4-H Soil Conservation Tree Processing program.  The 4-H teen club comprised of 28 members collaborated with the Edmonson County Soil Conservation District, Edmonson County Youth Service Center, and the Edmonson County School system to process and deliver trees for the Soil Conservation districts annual tree giveaway for the community. All stakeholders met at the Edmonson County Cooperative Extension office to process almost 1,000 seedlings of the white pine and willow oak variety seedlings in anticipation of the Soil Conservation districts annual community tree giveaway event.  During the event, the conservation district also gave away magnolia and paw paw trees to community members.  The Youth Service Center and 4-H members delivered 800 white pine trees to both of the elementary schools in the county for each child and staff member to take home and plant.  At the conclusion of the processing, district manager Barbara Johnson and UK Extension Ag Agent David Embrey educated the 4-H Teen Club by providing a demonstration using the spectroscope.  Youth learned about wastewater run-off, natural landmarks such as trees, vegetation, and terrain that deter or increase the effects of erosion, and the role environmental hazards play in their community.   The program is the first of many years to come collaborating with Barbara Johnson and the Soil Conservation board.  The Soil Conservation Board, students, and staff were extremely pleased with the processing and delivering of the trees in the county.  Mrs. Johnson said she would partner with the Teen Club for many more projects ahead.  Many of the students were excited to plant their trees at home.  Many of the elementary school staff members shared through social media, phone calls, and face-to-face interactions the nostalgia of the tree program for them in their youth and how excited they were for this tradition to continue.