Author: Brian Good
Planning Unit: Bell County CES
Major Program: Leadership
Plan of Work: Unrelated to a specified County Plan of Work
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
In the fall of 2019, Bell County 4-H programming and clubs began after a seven month absence of a 4-H Youth Development Agent. School enrichment programs were in full swing along with new and existing clubs having regular meetings. Two clubs were being held at the Pineville-Bell County Public Library; a DIY Club and Outdoor Skills Club. The Bell County 4-H Community Club was the only existing club to maintain it's status prior to a new Bell County 4-H agent joining extension. Once these clubs gained traction, the pandemic hit in the spring of 2020. This stifled all existing programming and clubs. After some time, most counties in the state of Kentucky were able to resume clubs under social distancing guidelines. Bell County did not have that luxury, as the Bell County Extension office is still housed in the county courthouse. Bell CES did not have ample space to provide clubs to the community. After social distancing guidelines subsided, programming and clubs were able to resume to normal operating procedures. 4-H Clubs in Bell County were decimated and planning monthly meetings once again had to start at square one. The Bell County 4-H agent had a conversation with an employee at Southeast Kentucky Community and Technical College (SKCTC) about the possibility of doing programming at the college. After multiple planning meetings and conversations, the Middlesboro 4-H Club began in the Fall of 2022 at SKCTC. SKCTC reached out to Middlesboro Schools and they were granted approval for a bus route to include a stop at SKCTC so that students could attend club meetings. This allowed most of the club members to attend meetings and not rely on transportation. The Middlesboro 4-H Club has risen to be the largest club in Bell County with 16 active members. At club meetings, the members have had sessions on STEM, expressive arts, communications, leadership and they have a basic understanding or parliamentary procedure. Several of the members attended summer 4-H Camp and they also submitted entries into the Bell County Fair. The only complaint from club members when asked about the club was that they wanted to meet weekly instead of monthly. It was an extremely challenging and difficult path, but the Middlesboro 4-H Club thriving and growing with each monthly meeting.
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