Success Story4-H Culinary Program



4-H Culinary Program

Author: Regina Browning

Planning Unit: Shelby County CES

Major Program: Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum

Plan of Work: Accessing Nutritious Foods 1

Outcome: Initial Outcome

The Shelby County 4-H Council identified culinary programs as an excellent way to engage local youth and teach them important skills that they can use throughout their lives.  Good habits, new skills and practices taught at an early age tend to become routine and adopted practices as adults.  

Shelby County 4-H offered a four part cooking series to educate youth on important culinary skills, food safety principles, and the use of local foods.  The course included recipes, cooking methods and food safety guidelines for chicken, pork and beef.  The final session was held at the University of Kentucky’s Food Connection Kitchen where a professional chef helped the 4-Hers create a succotash using locally grown and purchased vegetables.

All of the 4-H members practiced important skills such as reading recipes, proper measuring techniques, food safety practices to prevent cross-contamination,  safe cooking temperatures, knife skills,  and kitchen safety.  Evaluations conducted at the end of the program revealed that one hundred percent of the 4-Hers had increased their knowledge and had practiced new skills that they had learned.

Prior to the program, over forty percent of the participants did not know what it meant to use local foods or currently used them in food preparation at their homes.  At the conclusion of the series, all of the youth indicated that their family had used local foods to make meals in their homes. 






Stories by Regina Browning


4-H Country Ham Contest Teaches Communication Skillls

about 6 years ago by Regina Browning

A 2014 study conducted by the Pew Research Center revealed that adults felt communication skills wer... Read More


4-Hers Learn the Importance of Eating Right Everyday

about 6 years ago by Regina Browning

The prevalence of obesity in America has been an ongoing and increasing issue. In Kentucky, 30% of a... Read More


Stories by Shelby County CES


Master Clothing Volunteers - Sharing Sewing Success

about 6 years ago by Sheila Fawbush

Studies indicate that sewing is not only a productive hobby and life skill, it can reduce stress and... Read More


4-H Country Ham Contest Teaches Communication Skillls

about 6 years ago by Regina Browning

A 2014 study conducted by the Pew Research Center revealed that adults felt communication skills wer... Read More


Stories by Family and Consumer Sciences 4-H Core Curriculum


Land-Grant Institutions Partner to Bring Collaborative 4-H Program to Christian County

Land-Grant Institutions Partner to Bring Collaborative 4-H Program to Christian County

about 6 years ago by Kendriana Price

According to Childcare Aware of America, in 2017 before and after school childcare for school-aged c... Read More


Developing skills to prepare for the future

Developing skills to prepare for the future

about 6 years ago by Kaitlyne Metsker

According to Kentucky 4-H in the 4-H Family and Consumer Sciences projects, youth enhance the person... Read More