Author: Madalyn Hale
Planning Unit: Clark County CES
Major Program: Civic Engagement
Plan of Work: Build Engaged and Empowered Communities
Outcome: Initial Outcome
2020 was the 30th year for the 4-H Issues Conference in Kentucky. While we are in the middle of a global pandemic, we knew that we would not be able to conduct this conference in its usual format at the 4-H Educational Center in Jabez, Kentucky. As a planning committee we all put our heads together to determine a new way to hold the conference that would still engage the youth and have beneficial outcomes. After months of planning, we were able to facilitate the 4-H Issues Conference in a hybrid format with the option for youth to come in person to small groups at County Extension Offices, or option for youth to participate virtually from their own home. Each county group joined the virtual platform with those at home, and the facilitators. The 4-H Issues Conference is typically a 4 day, 3 night conference and it was transformed into a 3 day program. The conference kicked off on a Friday evening and continued for a full day the next day, Saturday. The action groups met virtually throughout the next week and produced a video presentation that was then shared the next Friday and judged and results were shard that night. The 2020 4-H Issues Conference had 63 youth enrolled and 23 adults (including Extension Staff, and Volunteers.) The average attendance for the three-day conference was 55 participants and 17 adults. The breakdown of the demographics includes: Youth: 36 Female, 27 Male, 58 White, 3 Black, 1 Asian, and 1 American Indian; Adults included: 16 Female, 7 Male, 21 White, and 2 Black.
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