With the beginning of the 2020 school year and the pandemic still in full force, Franklin County and Frankfort Independent Schools began virtual, then transitioned to a hybrid model.  With the stress of returning to school, being virtual, limited access to wifi service and adult guidance, there was a need that opened a door for the Franklin County 4-H program.  In August 2020, Franklin County 4-H began the virtual learning assistance program in collaboration with Kathy’s Place, which is associated to the Capital Mobile Home Park near the Franklin County Cooperative Extension Office.  

This program was offered to any student living in the mobile home park to come to the Extension Office three days each week to conduct their virtual learning and receive assistance with their schoolwork.  After a few weeks of conducting this program, the Franklin County School Board office received information on it and loaned additional hotspots and headphones for each student to have during the program.  The design of the program consisted of the students being transported to the Extension Office by their parents or Mrs. Kathy, they would have breakfast and begin their virtual learning.  The program attendance fluctuated each week depending on the situations in the student’s homes, on average, 12 students from 1^st grade through 9^th grade participated.    As the program successfully continued, the Franklin County Extension Agents for Agriculture and Natural Resources and 4-H Youth Development worked together to conduct three lessons on agriculture and nutrition with the students after their virtual learning wrapped up for the day.  The students enjoyed learning about where their different types of meat come from, how to prepare them, and the various way to prepare fruits and vegetables on the grill.   

The Virtual Learning Assistance program wrapped up in December as the schools reopened.  The students who participated in the program were evaluated individually in the beginning and at the end.  At the beginning, each student was asked what they thought the program would consist of? A few of them stated, “it will be boring, but better than at home.” Most of the students responded, “it will be like going to school, just in another building on a computer.”  At the end of the program, each student was asked how the program helped them? Nearly 90% responded, “I could concentrate better, receive help with the work, and enjoyed learning about the food!” The program was deemed successful!