In 2016 the Woodford County Extension Council determined a need for a leadership program within the county in order to empower citizens to be involved in challenges and opportunities the community faces. As a result of this, the Woodford County Extension Office in collaboration with the Woodford County Chamber of Commerce developed Leadership Woodford County. The program gives participants the opportunity to better understand their community and learn the skills they will need to prepare for the challenges it faces, help promote change, improve our quality of life, and lead. Leadership Woodford County is an educational opportunity that broadens perspectives and allows participants to gain a better understanding of community dynamics and public issues. Leadership Woodford County is a nine-month program featuring monthly one-day meetings that highlight different aspects of the community. Sessions include: orientation, education, industry, health care, state government, local government, law and justice, and agriculture and tourism. Each class has the responsibility of conducting a class project benefiting the community. The first class, 2016, chose to host a blanket drive for the local Community Action Council, collecting hundreds of blankets and sheet sets. The second class, 2017, saw a need in the school system for earbuds, as every student in the school system is required to have them. They worked with the Family Resource Centers and collected earbuds for children in need. Class members had to practice and apply leadership skills as a group while working on this community project. They worked with community leaders and gained a better understanding of community organizations and community needs to help make a positive difference in the lives of those in need. A total of 23 people have graduated from the leadership program. Evaluations of participants proved the success. One participant stated that “I would highly recommend this program to anyone interested in learning more about the county in order to be more involved with the community.” The program will be conducted on an annual basis for people who work and/or live in Woodford County with the intent to build leadership skills and to empower them to become more aware and involved in our community.