Describe the Issue or Situation.

For many years, the Lee County 4-H program has hosted a pet show which kicks off the Wooly Worm Festival in Beattyville, Ky. The 4-H Pet Show is a beloved event in Beattyville that many community members look forward too each year. However, over time, the 4-H Pet Show has devolved into a show & tell session for the youth of Lee County and their pets. While the participation has remained consistent with 10-15 youth showing pets each year, the educational component has become overshadowed.

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).

In order to bring the event back in-line with the goals of the 4-H program and the Plan of Work for the Lee County Extension Service; a public speaking component has been added. Participants are now required to give the name, species/breed and three facts about their pet. This method was chosen over a timed statement since the ages of participants varies widely. Additionally, we do not have the opportunity to work with participants on public speaking prior to the pet show.

Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience.

All 12 participants reported their racial identity as white. Ages of participants ranged from 6years of age to 15 years of age.

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach.

Of the 12 participants, 10 reported that they enjoyed the educational component. Of those 10, 8 participants reported that they learned something about their pets species/breed that they did not know prior to preparing for the event. The 2 youngest participants were not able to give the required three facts, but did identify the name and species/breed of their pet.