Success StoryKEHA provides Leadership and Important Relationships



KEHA provides Leadership and Important Relationships

Author: Kathy Byrnes

Planning Unit: Kenton County CES

Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association

Plan of Work: Adult Leadership Development

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

According to its website, the Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA) is a volunteer organization that works to improve the quality of life for families and communities through leadership development, volunteer service, and education. County homemaker organizations provide leadership opportunities to its members through filling an office, teaching a lesson, chairing an activity, and being a part of many local associations. Most importantly, it provides companionship and lifelong friendships for most of its members.  

            Kenton County Extension Homemakers work closely with the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent to plan and carry out various activities for the community.  Fund raising activities, led by these leaders, continue to provide $2500 annually to local students for college scholarships. Kenton County homemakers have again, “stepped up to the plate” to be a part of the new KEHA leadership program, serve as Master Farm Homemaker members, KEHA state 4-H chairman, and serve as active county and area chairpersons.  Two Kenton Homemakers provided leadership to an area “healthy horticulture” workshop that not only provided great educational results to the participants, but was recently awarded 2nd place nationally with the Extension FCS Extension Agents housing award. These ladies are also working with the Kenton County FCS agent to plan the first area fall “zoom” training for members in August.   

            A research study on loneliness that was released before the COVID-19 shutdowns found that 60% of adults report feeling lonely, and that loneliness and social isolation have been estimated to shorten a person’s life by 15 years. In addition, recent research on brain health reported by the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension found that social connections continue to be important when we can’t be physically close.  All of us realize the extreme toll that that COVID-19 placed on each of us in so many ways – especially socially.  Once again, the Extension Homemakers provide opportunities for members to share and stay in touch.  The Kenton County Extension office has organized and provided opportunities to share through email and social media.   This sharing has resulted in great weekly correspondence with the 100+ members that have shared their emails with us. Kenton County also participated with the state KEHA spirit week, with a link of their many activities shared on our homemaker web page.  Members have made multiple masks for limited resource health clinic, local doctors, and of course to many individuals. Several members have remarked about how they appreciated the weekly sharing and keeping in touch through the homemakers and our Kenton County office.  Many have shared that our weekly email correspondence has been a highlight of their day.






Stories by Kathy Byrnes


KEHA provides Leadership and Important Relationships

about 4 years ago by Kathy Byrnes

According to its website, the Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association (KEHA) is a volunteer organi... Read More


Food Safety Mystery Dinner

about 4 years ago by Kathy Byrnes

TheCenters for Disease Control (CDC) estimates 48 million people get sick, 128,000 are hospitalized,... Read More


Stories by Kenton County CES


12 years of Surveys reflect importance of Natural Resource Education for 4-H members

12 years of Surveys reflect importance of Natural Resource Education for 4-H members

about 4 years ago by Diane Kelley

Kenton County Cooperative Extension 4-H Youth Development Agent – Kelley; surveyed teachers in 3 Ken... Read More


Kenton CES responds to youth needs during 2020 pandemic

Kenton CES responds to youth needs during 2020 pandemic

about 4 years ago by Diane Kelley

The international pandemic of 2020 provided new opportunities for Kenton Cooperative Extension to ed... Read More


Stories by Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association


Face Coverings

Face Coverings

about 4 years ago by Jennifer Bridge

COVID-19 brought many changes and opportunites to reach out in many different ways to help people in... Read More


Vietnam - Bourbon County Extension Homemakers 2020 International Meal

Vietnam - Bourbon County Extension Homemakers 2020 International Meal

about 4 years ago by Karen Denniston

Bourbon County Extension Homemakers chose to study the country of Vietnam for their 2020 Internation... Read More