Johnson County Extension Homemakers remains one of the top leadership development groups for the Family and Consumer Sciences program. The following is a brief summary of 2019-20 activities:

2019 recruiting efforts resulted in a membership of 118, an increase of 34 members from last year. A Juniors Homemakers Club and the Appalachian Makers club resulted as well. 

The annual Holiday Happenings event had a record attendance, as did the annual Winterfest event held at OSCAR. 

Many club members have played a role in the “County Listening sessions” held by CEDIK and initiated by the judge and mayor jointly, teaming together to plan a new direction for the whole County. 

When the county was swept up in the corona virus pandemic, 11 current and former Homemaker seamstresses stepped up to provide over 500 facemasks for front line workers here in Johnson County as well as the children’s hospital at UK. 

Leaders worked all summer long on the environmental project called PLANET, (Paintsville Lake Activities, Nature Edible Trail), while others lead state- wide in International category.  Johnson County claimed a state award for their environmental and International efforts. 

Volunteers led the way for monthly quilt guild, and embroidery classes to continue. 

The Red Bud Tea event in the Spring and Summer Jammin’ and Pumpkins for Punkins events in Fall, were held at the Stafford House with record attendances. There was also a celebration of the beautiful quilted works of Sandy Salyers held there; Sandy is a long time Extension volunteer who has shared countless hours in teaching others. She plays an active role in the monthly embroidery club, and the Johnson County Piecemakers quilt guild. 

The Census quilt was showcased this year as well. Johnson County is the only county in the state that had the quilt featured at 4 different locations during the tour with over 200 viewing. 

Other events held were Farm and Home Field Day and Leadership Training event in Boyd County. 

Members featured another year of the unique Story Patch Theater, made up of local stories!

The FCS program also featured cooking wild game, wild and edible plants, food preservation, and planting trees and berry bushes. 

The OSCAR FCS outreach room was launched in December, with a few classes being held in carving, painting, sewing, and clay before the corona virus came to the US. 

Monthly lessons were featured at the Extension Office during the lunch and learns on “Cooking Through the Calendar”, A Matter of Balance, and more in the High School Classroom.  Positive Employability, Stories, Songs and Stretches, and more were being offered before the country shut down.  After the shutdown, FCS programming continued with support of state specialists while the FCS re-postured to focus energy on technology- “the New Normal”. Personal letters were sent to members in an effort to reach members on a personal level. 

The state FCS office supported the local program by providing a mini grant to create a mural project downtown Paintsville. “Paintings in Paintsville” was approved and paint supplies are now available to launch the effort for 2020-21! Volunteers are helping businesses to landscape, cleanup, and literally Paint the town!

Homemaker club work includes volunteering for all of these activities, as well as additional projects in their own communities. Flat Gap club gathers each month to quilt lap quilts for the elderly; 4-h Apple dipping, Holiday Happenings and the monthly lessons from the University; Oil Springs supported   and co-hosted the annual Story Patch Theater, a child from the angel tree, valentines to 100 of the nursing home residents, volunteered for the major events, conducted historic tours of the Stafford House and held their monthly meetings, lessons and area trainings; the Community Club had members who chaired the annual Holiday Happenings event, raised money for the back pack program, chaired Summer Jammin, the Red Bud Tea and activities at the historic Stafford House, and two assisted with the covid 19 mask making project. The Appalachian Makers are a brand new club, but the members still had much to report: they have the State International chair, the County Environmental Chair, and share half the credit of one of the county officers and are very excited and engaged in community issues. They have members very involved in environmental efforts such as PLANET, (Paintsville Lake Activities Nature Edible Trail),   the upcoming Mural Painting Project at Paint Creek Park, the eco-build project, and participated in the Community Listening sessions. Some members are taking on the fight against drug use, using a variety of approaches. Two members have already led art workshops for the rest of the county. The Jr. Homemakers are also very new and are interested in crafting and addressing issues such a school bullying. The High Risers participated in monthly nutrition lessons, hosted a booth at Holiday Happenings, and participated in most all Extension hosted events, one leader stated “It has made our lives so  much richer. We are grateful for each and everyone of our 17 members”. The Red Bush Busy Bees, sated they are working hard to make their homes and community a better place to raise children. They do a craft along with their lesson during each meeting. They are working on plans to renovate the community center where they meet.