According to the 2019 Community Needs Assessment, the top two priority issues for Adair County were more youth life skills training (money management, life decision making) and better family skills in reducing debt, increasing savings, and financial planning.  To help in these areas all 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th-grade youth participated in the Dollars and Sense Program.

Adair County had over 580 youth who participated in the Dollars and Sense Program.  There were 20 adults and 20 youth volunteers who help to conduct the program.  

The 4-H It’s Your Reality (Dollars and Sense) Curriculum focuses on engaging youth in real life, age-appropriate budgeting scenarios. Each student is given an allowance and learns how to put budget-making purchases with the allowance.  The youth then have the responsibility of purchasing needs and wants in accordance with their budget at the Dollars and Sense school enrichment program. 

Evaluations of the youth showed that  92% of students reported they have a better understanding of why budgeting is needed, 89% did not realize how much their parents sent on things they wanted and 95% would work to make a better decision on how they spend their money.

expensive and would think more when getting a pet. Instructors for all classes expressed satisfaction with the program and have already signed up for 4-H Dollars and Sense repeat programs for the 2019-20 school year