Close Resources

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Impacts

Contact Information

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu




Fiscal Year:
Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025


Success Story4-H Reality Store Partners with Letcher County Area Technology Center



4-H Reality Store Partners with Letcher County Area Technology Center

Author: Crystal Smith

Planning Unit: Letcher County CES

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

Plan of Work: Develop Individuals for Volunteer Roles and Community Leadership

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Local schools requested the 4-H Reality Store program.  The 4-H Reality Store program is a real-life simulation that allows the student to see how their financial choices in relation to their salary based on their career path will affect their overall financial situation.

Freshman and Senior business students from the Letcher County Area Technology Center recently had an amazing opportunity to serve as student leaders for the Letcher County 4-H Reality Store event held at the Letcher County Extension Office. The role the business students had was to help guide middle 7th and 8th grade school students through real-world financial decisions and budgeting scenarios. This was the first time that the Area Technology Center had business student help with 4-H Reality Store.

From recent community assessment survey’s the public feedback showed that many youth did not have the financial knowledge and skills to make healthy sound financial decisions. Having both money management skills and career path options help the development that is important in our area and needs to be addressed among our youth population, so they are better equipped to make healthier financial decisions.

363 participants were reached during this program.

The Letcher County Extension 4-H Agent collaborated with both school systems the County Schools and the Independent School system middle school family resource youth services coordinators, teachers and community members from local businesses/organizations to bring this event to four middle schools during the 2024-2025 school year. To date, the agent worked with the schools to complete lessons in financial management prior to the event in four schools and one additional school will continue with the program this Spring.  

In one of the lessons covered with students was evaluating career choices. Most schools have a career fair in coincidentally after the lesson this was prior to Reality Store.

 

80% shared they felt their knowledge of budgeting money increased after the program.

 

88% shared they increased their knowledge of making wise financial decisions.

 

76% shared they increased their knowledge of how much money it takes to raise a child.

 

75% shared they better understand the need for saving for the future.

 

 Students said that their career choice would change after the experience. Some had to have multiple jobs just to make it.

One student of the students said that “I had no idea how much money it takes to have a house, car, kids, food, clothes, how do my parents afford three kids, raising kids is expensive.”

One of the teachers from Letcher County Area Technology Center said “A big thank you to the Letcher County 4-H  for providing this valuable leadership experience for our students.”

 







Stories by Crystal Smith


4-H Reality Store Partners with Letcher County Area Technology Center

about 21 days ago by Crystal Smith

Local schools requested the 4-H Reality Store program. The 4-H Reality Store program is a real-life ... Read More


4-H Dollars and Sense Program- Teen/adult partnership running booths.

about 2 months ago by Crystal Smith

Information from the last Letcher County Community Needs Assessment showed top priority issues for L... Read More


Stories by Letcher County CES


Quicksand Area Officer Training

about 16 days ago by Nanette Banks

Describe the Issue or SituationHomemaker officers play a vital role in the Kentucky Extension Homema... Read More


Senior Games

about 16 days ago by Nanette Banks

Senior Games 2025Describe the Issue or Situation:Programs that support active aging are critical for... Read More


Stories by Family and Consumer Science


Dollars and Sense at Greysbranch

Dollars and Sense at Greysbranch

about 1 months ago by Presley Grubb

In a recent survey by the Junior Achievement USA in collaboration with Citizens Bank, more than half... Read More


Youth Cooking Camp

Youth Cooking Camp

about 1 months ago by Heather Coleman

According to the American Heart Association teaching youth how to prepare their own food will give t... Read More