Building the capacity of volunteer leaders within counties is critical for the sustainability of a community infrastructure (Family and Consumer Science Extension, 2008). Extension Homemakers provide numerous opportunities for individuals to enhance leadership skills at club, county, and area levels.   Leadership development is a strong emphasis and by-product of every Extension Homemaker activity and event.   The development of leadership skills provides tools to enable individuals to live and work to make communities better places to live (The Family and Consumer Sciences Council, 2007).    The Campbell County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent has been working with the Campbell County Extension Homemakers to help develop and foster these skills through various projects, activities, trainings, and events.

Due to the lack of sewing being taught at Newport High School, the Family & Consumer Sciences, 4-H and Youth Development Program areas along with three Campbell County Extension Homemakers/Volunteers teamed up to conduct an eight part series focusing on sewing basics to the high school students. Three students plus three volunteers completed the eight part series with up to eight students attending some classes and completing projects.   The main objectives of this collaboration were:  1)  to teach necessary life skills to students who might not ever have the exposure,   2)  to make the connection between the Campbell County Homemakers and youth so that the mentoring process can occur thus passing along the necessary skills for life, 3)  to conduct a community service project financially assisting the Active Day Adult Day Care with much needed bibs for their participants, 4) to teach the students how to enter their items into the county fair for empowerment and healthy competition, and 5)  to help the limited income students with projects that they could create either for themselves or for others in their families, their friends or their community.  Adult bibs range from $8.00 to $25.00 each (Amazon, Wal-Mart and Etsy pricing) which could have cost the Active Day Daycare Center anywhere from $96.00 to $300.00 for the 12 that were donated.  Other items such as the cross body messenger bag project could save each student from $10.00 to $20.00 depending on the fabric used (3 completed).  The laundry bag project could save the student from $6.00 to $20.00 depending on the fabric used (3 completed).   According to the Kentucky Extension Homemaker’s Manual, a volunteer hour is equal to $21.38 (KEHA Handbook/Manual2016).  The Campbell County Homemaker Volunteers’ Service hours (96 for 3 Homemakers/Volunteers) for this program has totaled to the amount of $2,052.48.  One hundred percent of the students and volunteers completing the series stated that the mentoring piece of the program was very important to provide the support needed both in class and outside of class to stay with and empower them to continue their sewing skills.  The students stated that they now sew at home as a result of the program, and that it has save them money by sewing either for themselves or sewing a gift for someone else.  The students stated that the Adult Day Care bib service project made them feel important.  One hundred percent of the volunteers reported that the program helped them  become a better teacher/mentor and also better understand and communicate with youth. One Homemaker stated that she felt that “the mentoring homemakers and Extension Staff were passing on important life skills to the students.  Giving them sewing lessons, sewing tools, one on one mentoring, and University of Kentucky Publications/Handouts in a resource binder has provided them the ability to continue to build their skills.”            

The Family and Consumer Sciences agents in Campbell County also held two county leadership trainings for the Extension Homemakers.  One of the leadership trainings involved partnering with Kim Henken to educate  Campbell County Homemakers.  Kim Henken wrote the following after the training, “Thank you for the invitation to be with your leaders today. Those in attendance seem very committed to Extension Homemakers, and I sensed great enthusiasm among this group.”  The second training included Kate Thompson teaching about True Colors and Ronda Rex teaching generational differences to the Campbell County Extension Homemakers.

Campbell County has developed leadership at the area homemaker level; one of the Family and Individual Development Chairmen is a Campbell County Homemaker.  As the Family and Individual Development Area Agent Advisor (Kate Thompson), other projects that the agent has worked on at a county and area level with Extension homemakers are the handmade stuffed bears for the USO Lounge at the NKY/Cincinnati Airport for military members, fidget boards made for dementia patients, a genealogy class, and a 10 Warning Signs-Alzheimer’s class.  The Campbell County Homemakers donated a total of 500 (valued at $10,000) homemade bears to give to military soldiers and 6 fidget boards (valued at $300) for dementia patients. A community intergenerational event for 4-Hers and homemakers to make fidget boards together for dementia patients has also been planned for July 31, 2019 in Campbell County.  

 In addition, Campbell County Homemakers hosted the 2018 Annual Area Homemaker Meeting.  All the Campbell County clubs worked together to plan, execute, and host the meeting, which included a meal, speaker, music, and decorations.  It was one of the largest annual meetings ever hosted with 146 attendees.  Campbell County Homemakers also donated two $500 scholarships to local high school seniors, two $25 county fair awards, and one $145 4-H Camp scholarship.