The Charles E. Barnhart Fund for Academic Excellence was created to honor Dr. Barnhart, dean of the College of Agriculture from 1969-1988. The Barnhart Fund supports activities that enhance excellence in College of Agriculture, Food and Environment programs.   Usually on an annual basis, the Barnhart Fund for Excellence Committee, comprised of faculty and staff and appointed to three-year terms by the dean, seeks proposals for projects/programs to be supported by the fund.  The Barnhart Committee receives approximately 40 applications each year and is typically able to fund 10-12.  The Meade County 4-H Home School Experience was a 2018-2019 recipient of this prestigious grant in the amount of $1,000.00.

The home school population in Meade County had recently discovered the multitude of opportunities available to them through the 4-H Youth Development Education program.  The primary objective of this program was to provide a broad view of 4-H Youth Development subjects and to engage this newly discovered audience in experiential, educational programs that could support their home school educational efforts and goals.  The 4-H Youth Development agent worked closely with home school parents to design a program that was age and skill appropriate for each member of the program; differentiated learning at its best.

The Meade County 4-H Home School Experience program took five members, ages 5-14, and three adult volunteers through experiential learning adventures by immersing members in each of the seven KY 4-H Core Curriculum areas: Agriculture (AG); Natural Resources (NR); Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS); Science, Engineering & Technology (SET); Health (H); Communication & Expressive Arts (CEA); and Leadership (L).   The program was offered monthly for a 4-hour period of time.  Members were engaged in hands-on learning and attended an out-of-county field trip to Frankfort, Kentucky’s state capital.  Monthly topics included:  SET: Rocketry/Aerospace, NR: Environmental Education, Forcing Spring Bulbs/Terrariums/Gardening, FCS: No Sew Fleece Laptop Blankets/Quilt Squares, Science, Engineering & Technology: Physics Zoo, H: Healthy Snacks/Physical Activity & Games, CEA:  Fine Arts projects and L: Legislative Trip to Frankfort/KY History Museum.

During their time in the program, members: built straw and black powder rockets and learned what parts of the rocket correlates to a bird’s body; celebrated national bread day by making and baking their own loaf of bread and made butter to go along with it; learned to use a sewing machine and created a fleece lap blanket as a family; participated in their first visit to the Kentucky state capital which included a tour of the Capitol building, Kentucky History Museum and Capital City Museum; created works of art using new acrylic string painting techniques and completing two 4-H Fine Art projects: color collage and drawing in the round; created an educational poster about tick borne disease, learned about kitchen & food safety while making a citrus kale salad and one pot cheesy spaghetti and all five completed the 4^th H for HEALTH challenge during the month of February; and finally, they dissected owl pellets and used natural items to reconstruct nests for the local bird population.

Dates for the 2019-2020 have been set and all members, and their parents, are excited about the fun and educational opportunities that will occur in the next program year.  As one parent stated, “We have discovered a new love for 4-H and cannot wait to see what next year holds in store for us and our children.  We will definitely be returning next year!”