his year, the Quicksand Area Holiday Road Show brought festive inspiration and practical solutions to 238 participants across eight counties: Wolfe, Perry, Owsley, Letcher, Leslie, Lee, Knott, and Breathitt. Led by the collaborative efforts of the Quicksand Area Extension Agents, this annual event focused on providing cost-effective holiday ideas to reduce financial stress while enhancing seasonal celebrations. 

The holiday season often brings joy but also financial pressure as families try to balance budgets with gift-giving, decorations, and meals. Many residents expressed the need for affordable, creative ways to celebrate the holidays without overspending.

The Holiday Road Show traveled to all eight counties, offering innovative ideas for holiday decorating, gift-wrapping, crafting, and cooking. Participants received a booklet featuring recipes such as Fruit Cake Cookies, Mini Cheeseball Bites, and Pumpkin Gingerbread, as well as step-by-step instructions for crafts like Snowy Jars, Yarn-Wrapped Christmas Trees, and Reversible Wooden Snowman/Pumpkin Decorations.

The program emphasized reusing materials, budgeting, and making thoughtful, handmade gifts. Agents provided demonstrations and answered questions, ensuring participants felt confident in applying what they learned.

The program attracted 238 participants, including families, individuals, and seniors. Many attendees were new to Extension programs, drawn by the promise of learning budget-friendly holiday tips. Attendance in Lee County reached a record high, increasing by more than 10 participants compared to years prior.

Evaluation data collected from participants highlighted the program’s impact:

• Positive Financial Decisions: 67% of participants planned to make financial changes such as budgeting and reusing decorations.
• Recipes: 139 participants intended to try recipes from the booklet. Popular choices included:
  • Gingerbread Truffles: 106
  • Mini Cheeseball Bites: 123
  • Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Dip: 139
  • Pumpkin Gingerbread: 106
  • Fruit Cake Cookies: 87
  • Christmas Bugle Gnomes: 76
  • Christmas Cookies: 69
• Crafts: Snowy Jars were the most popular craft, with 101 participants planning to recreate them. Other favorites included:
  • Yarn-Wrapped Christmas Trees: 61
  • Reversible Wooden Snowman/Pumpkin Decorations: 51
  • Snowman Spoons Decor: 57
  • Holiday Gift Basket Ideas & Tips: 57
  • Gingerbread Terra Cotta Pot: 42
  • Topiary Ornament Tree: 43
  • Light-Up Gnome: 41
  • Gingerbread Christmas Tree: 37
  • Spindle Snowman Craft: 33
  • Air Dry Clay Ornaments: 53
  • Gingerbread Glass Jar: 34

Participants estimated saving a total of $5,315 through strategies learned in the program. Savings reflected diverse applications of budgeting and resourceful holiday planning.

Participants shared numerous strategies on how they plan to save money during the holidays. Some of their quotes included:

• “Place wants last and needs first, less spending.”
• “Set a budget and reuse and recycle jars.”
• “Find deals and spend less on unnecessary things.”
• “Start a holiday savings account to buy presents, meals, etc.”
• “Shop sales, make things, remake projects.”
• “Use prepared lists before I shop.”
• “Limit cost of each present.”
• “Resist the urge to buy new decorations.”
• “Make gifts homemade.”
• “Use items already in my home.”
• “For Christmas, we are making our gifts. We are budgeting money more and spending less.”
• “Make fewer treats, make gifts more about the thought than the cost.”
• “Pack lunch, plan multiple stops to save gas, and eat out less at supper.”
• “Make some homemade gift boxes/food.”

Through this program, the Quicksand Area Extension Agents empowered participants to approach the holidays with creativity and resourcefulness, turning potential stress into an opportunity for meaningful celebrations. Plans for next year’s Holiday Road Show are already underway, promising even more innovative ways to bring joy to the community.