Success StoryGoodwill Meets 4-H



Goodwill Meets 4-H

Author: Shannon Farrell

Planning Unit: Harrison County CES

Major Program: 4-H Family and Consumer Science Core Curriculum

Plan of Work: Targeting Life Skills and Family Lives

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome




Following the 2019 Clark County 4-H Summer Camp, a discussion that had been had by 2 of the adult female counselors was presented to 4-H Agent Shannon Farrell.  One counselor, an employee of Goodwill Industries of KY, and the other, the Clark County 4-H Sewing Leader had brainstormed a partnership between Goodwill and 4-H.  The partnership would allow Goodwill to have a larger outreach in the community sharing their mission of helping those with disabilities find and maintain employment and show the Winchester community that they are more than just a second – hand store.  In turn the partnership would provide a unique 4-H opportunity for 4-H sewers to develop an upcycling project at no expense to the 4-Her.  Participants were given $20 store vouchers to purchase items for their upcycle project.  With these items, the youth did a “before” photo shoot.  Given two months, nine Clark County 4-Hers completed the project. Following their “after” photo shoot, the before and after photos were put on the Goodwill Facebook page; where – quoted from their marketing manager – the posts were “viral”.  The posts were up for week of voting.  For a typical contest on Facebook, Goodwill normally averages 144 likes; the 4-H post rallied 2,184 likes.  24 average comments are made on other Goodwill challenges; the 4-H contest landed 287 comments.  Average shares for Goodwill is 18; 4-H totaled 136 shares.  Average total reach for Goodwill posts are 2,400.  The 4-H post brought in 11,983 in total reached. The 3 posts with the highest likes, comments, and shares were awarded 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place gifts (series of gift cards) at a mini awards presentation that took place at the student’s high school.  Due to the excitement of this project, it became the feature presentation at the following Extension County Extension Council; led to an hour radio program on live radio in downtown Winchester, and was presented as a lightning talk at the 2019 4-H Inservice training.  Representatives from Goodwill, State 4-H Specialist, and Agent Shannon Farrell are working to open this contest up state wide for 2020 and have begun planning a presentation for the Regional Extension Specialists meeting to share how this can be implemented in other states.  This idea was expanded and conducted statewide in March - May.  Covid-19 restrictions changed the end result of presenting winners with discounts to 4-H Teen Conference (which was canceled); the judging did still take place online and winners sent gift cards.






Stories by Shannon Farrell


School Photography Success from Partnership with Boyd’s Station Gallery

School Photography Success from Partnership with Boyd’s Station Gallery

about 8 months ago by Shannon Farrell

Harrison County Elementary Digital Learning Coach partnered with Harrison County 4-H to provide a le... Read More


Middle School Academy learns from Local Chef Partnership

Middle School Academy learns from Local Chef Partnership

about 9 months ago by Shannon Farrell

The 4-H Middle School Academy in Harrison County was a program that developed as an outreach for inc... Read More


Stories by Harrison County CES


Homesteading Series 2024

Homesteading Series 2024

about 6 months ago by Jessica Hopkins

The problemOver the last few years, the Harrison County Extension ANR, Horticulture, and FCS Agents ... Read More


Homesteading Series

Homesteading Series

about 6 months ago by Shelley Meyer

The problemOver the last few years, the Harrison County Extension ANR, Horticulture, and FCS Agents ... Read More