According to the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Statewide Community Needs Assessment, Harlan County results indicate that survey participants viewed youth life skills training opportunities as a very high need area and ranked reducing youth obesity through nutrition education and/or exercise as a very high need also.  To assist in addressing the need for youth life skills training and youth nutrition education the Harlan County FCS agent implemented a Jr. Homemaker Club program that meets monthly.

Club activities incorporated learning on topics such as nutrition through SNAP recipe demonstrations that taught proper nutrition while also allowing participants to learn cooking skills such as measuring and chopping.  Financial literacy activities such as the bean game were offered to teach participants the difference in needs and wants.  Various other activities were offered as well, such as Charcuterie 101 teaching youth how to make a charcuterie board while being educated on the importance of food safety and storage.

7 sessions were held during the year with a total attendance of 88 for all sessions.  16 different members attended multiple meetings.  100% of participants reported an increase in knowledge related to cooking skills (chopping and measuring), 100% reported an increase in knowledge related to food safety and food storage.  87.5% of participants reported that they have increased the number of fruits and vegetables that they consume. One parent reported, “The girls are so excited to make the healthy recipes at home each month after the club meeting”,