Success Story4-H STEM Programs Connect with Agriculture and Leadership



4-H STEM Programs Connect with Agriculture and Leadership

Author: Casey Townsend

Planning Unit: KSU Administration

Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology

Plan of Work: Unrelated to a specified County Plan of Work

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Hardin County, KY has a 11.7% poverty rate and 81.9% of households have broadband service.  24.9% of the population are under 18 years of age out of the 111, 862 people that reside there.  There is a 18.1% chance of a digital divide existing among the children in the community.  To combat this issue, the Kentucky State University 4-H Team and Hardin County Family and Consumer Science Agent planned a STEM Day Camp with 15 youth participants from Hilltop Community Center. Ages 9-15 joined the STEM Day Camp and were introduced to STEM Projects with Sphero Robotics and the Kentucky State University Aquaculture Center.  Students also met KY State Representative Derrick Graham and Senator Reginald Thomas during a tour of the Kentucky Capital building to focus on leadership.  The final destination was a tour of the Harold C. Benson Farm to expose youth to AG STEM Careers. 

A post survey was administered to the youth after the camp which indicated that; 86 % of thought that 4-H is a place where you figure things out on your own, 73% of them felt that 4-H is a place where they have a chance to be a leader, 73% were interested in more STEM projects, 60% wanted to learn more about STEM careers.  After exploring various AG-STEM careers, 46% of the youth wanted to learn more about agriculture related careers and 53% indicated maybe.  This shows a need to provide more leadership opportunities in their community and more AG-STEM related career programs to see if it will spark their interest in the future.






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