Cooperative Extension depends on the development and commitment of leadership of various ages.  We rely on grassroots leadership to provide educational programs, to help direct organizations, to be Extension advocates with policy makers and more.  Leadership lessons range from learning the basics of Parliamentary Procedure in the 4th grade to learning and understanding our own leadership styles and how it relates to others to learning to talk with policy makers about issues important to our communities, counties and/or organizations.

Ballard County reaches many audiences with leadership development opportunities from 4-H Clubs to extension homemaker lessons to chamber leadership programs to special sessions for district leaders.  Lessons have been included on SWOT, generational differences, and prioritizing issues and programming.  Just recently a graduate of the Adult Leadership Ballard program ran for and was elected to the Ballard County Chamber of Commerce.  She has also reached out and changed jobs.  She credits the Chamber Leadership Program in connection with Cooperative Extension for  helping her have the confidence to challenge herself out of her comfort zone and achieve new goals.

The Ballard County Extension Homemakers have been without and FCS agent for the past year.  They have stepped up and continued the leadership efforts that were needed to keep the organization going and thriving.  Their leadership efforts have resulted in increases in club and mailbox membership and increases in money raised through fundraising efforts.

The Ballard County 4-H Council has had a steady attendance for meetings for two years now and their efforts have resulted in fundraising that has replaced our United Appeal funding that ceased with the closure of our largest county employer, Verso.  This has led to a stronger council in general and more active involvement by members.  Ballard County hosted the Purchase Area 4-H Communications Event this spring and by all agent and area council leaders it was well run and successful event.