The most recent U. S. Census figures show Hispanics make up approximately 15 percent of the population of Shelby County, Kentucky. Those numbers are almost double what was reported in the 2000 Census and represent the largest minority in Shelby County, nearly twice as large as the county’s African American community. The Hispanic population has been historically difficult for Extension to reach because of language and cultural differences.  

The Shelby County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) and the Shelby County SNAP-Ed Assistant, worked with the Student Affairs Specialist for the Migrant Education Program to plan a three-day summer enrichment program at the Shelby County Extension Office for 44 Hispanic Shelby County youth whose parents are migrant farm workers. The FCS Agent coordinated the Super Star Chef program for the nine to twelve year olds.  A variety of classes were planned for the two to eight year old group and the thirteen to sixteen year old group including classes with community partners -- the Emergency Management System, Police Department, Fire Department, Dance Instructor, Karate Instructor, Job Corps Center, Family Resource Centers, Job Center, Librarian, Dentist and the Parks Systems.  This allowed the youth to hear from and meet the community partners, learn how they are helpers, participate in hands-on meaningful activities and feel comfortable interacting with the community partners now and hopefully in the future.  The Shelby County Extension Staff, including our summer interns, horticulture technician, program assistants, 4-H Youth Development Agent and Family and Consumer Sciences Agent provided a variety of classes and workshops, including nutrition, cooking, food safety, starting plants from seeds, entomology and Unlocking Your Leadership Potential.  

Our efforts to reach out to the Hispanic community engaged several new Hispanic adults in Extension outreach. The older youth who completed the leadership program identified leadership characteristics they had, practiced communication skills, set personal goals and saw themselves as leaders. All of the youth said that they enjoyed and learned a lot from the three day summer enrichment program and hoped to participate in an Extension Enrichment Program again next summer.  Following are Post-Evaluation Testimonies from two of the youth…Dayana Garcia 5th grade "I loved the cooking classes. I showed my mom all the new skills I learned at the extension office and explained her the importance of eating a lot of vegetables and fruits. I’m thinking about becoming a chef when I grow up, so I can cook a lot of healthy and delicious stuff in my restaurant. I usually cook for my parents during the weekend and I’m always going with my mom to buy the groceries and make sure she is getting healthy food."Jazmin Hernandez 10th grade "I really enjoy the etiquette class, it was very important for me to learn how to behave in a social event. The activity that I enjoy the most was creating the collage with my dreams, I have it hanging in my room and I feel that all my dreams can become real if I really want. I also like all the information I got about the interviewing process, I’m applying for volunteering opportunities and that information have been very helpful."

We are already planning to offer a similar summer enrichment program for migrant farm workers’ children again next year along with the Super Star Chef Program. All the instructors and volunteers who worked with the youth have a better understanding of challenges faced by migrant farm workers’ families and a new appreciation of the resiliency of these families.