Cultivating the Next Generation of Leaders in Hickman County

In a rural community like Hickman County, where workforce development and youth retention are ongoing challenges, local organizations are taking action to ensure future prosperity through leadership cultivation. The Hickman County Extension, in partnership with the Hickman County Chamber of Commerce and Hickman County Schools, has laid the foundation for developing inspired leaders and an empowered future workforce.

Now in its fifteenth year, the Chamber Youth Leadership Program provides high school freshmen and sophomores with hands-on opportunities to build leadership capacity in three core areas:

1. Personal soft skills and communication
2. Leadership development
3. Civic engagement

The program kicks off annually with an immersive Leadership Orientation and Retreat. During the 6-hour retreat, sixteen students engaged in team-building activities, group dynamics exercises, and community awareness projects designed to foster effective collaboration and civic engagement. The results were striking:

• 100% gained experience working as part of a team.
• 100% felt more prepared to contribute to the group project.
• 80% felt more confident in their leadership abilities.

Throughout the year, students tour local businesses, engage with entrepreneurs and civic leaders, and explore the local economy. Each student commits to a nine-month program that includes a capstone project, featuring a community service project, a team presentation, and 10 hours of community service. Students address real-world community issues, such as increasing access to public art, supporting local families, creating project plans, and shaping the long-term community vision.

The program’s strength and sustainability are rooted in the support of local businesses, civic organizations, and the school system, all of whom recognize the return on investing in future leaders. Because of this generous support, the program remains free of charge for all Hickman County youth participants.

Additional impact is captured through the 4-H Program Impact Evaluation, which surveys youth participants after they have completed six or more hours of educational programming in communication, civic engagement, and leadership. Among recent youth engaged in the program:

• 100% expressed their thoughts and opinions and used new information to communicate effectively.
• 87.5% served in a leadership role and worked in a team to achieve shared goals.
• 100% recognized how their actions impact others and identified community needs.
• 100% participated in a service activity and recognized community leaders.

Student reflections underscored the impact:

“I learned how to be a better leader and how even as a young teen to make an impact on our community.”
“I how to be a leader and more about my community.”

This innovative collaboration is not just about preparing leaders for tomorrow—it’s about engaging them today in meaningful ways that benefit both the students and the broader Hickman County community.

References

University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service. (2022). Hickman County Community Assessment Data. Retrieved from https://extension.ca.uky.edu/community-assessment

University of Kentucky 4-H Youth Development. (2022). Program Impact Evaluation: Youth Participants Engaged in Six Hours or More of Education. Internal Evaluation Report.