Gov. Andy Beshear has proclaimed Feb. 22-26, 2021 as Kentucky Saves Week, sponsored by the Kentucky Jump$tart Coalition for Personal Financial Literacy^® as part of the annual America Saves Week campaign.  The nonprofit Coalition consists of multiple partners and receives support from the Kentucky Department of Financial Institutions, the Kentucky Department of Education, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, the Louisville Branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Kentucky State Treasury.  

As part of Kentucky Saves, the Piggy Bank Project is conducted each year by Ronda Rex, Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences Education at the Campbell County Cooperative Extension Service.  Campbell County received several entries and this year and a Campbell County first grader was among the winners of the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service's piggy bank design contest.  Colby Harney was one of nine winners statewide.  The contest is part of the Extension Service's efforts to teach young people how to save money and become financially savvy. The organization conducts Kentucky Saves Week February 22—25.

Kentucky Saves Week encourages Kentuckians, regardless of age, to start or increase their personal savings and reduce their debt.  “We begin to develop financial literacy skills at an early age, so it is important for young people to learn about the power that comes from having a personal savings,” said Nichole Huff, Extension Specialist for Family Finance and Resource Management with the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “The piggy bank design contest is just one example of the many creative ways Extension educates young people about the importance of money management.”

The contest was open to all Kentucky school-aged youth and encouraged them to design and decorate a piggy bank. Creating a bank encourages them to set personal savings goals. Participants submitted their banks to county extension offices for judging. Extension staff chose county winners to advance on to the district competition. Each district chose winning piggy banks.

Usually, statewide winners are announced during a recognition ceremony in the Capitol rotunda in Frankfort, but the event was not possible this year due to COVID-19. However, the winning piggy bank designs have been on display at the Capitol since the beginning of February and remained there for the rest of the month.  

Sources:  

An article about Campbell County’s winner, Colby Harney appeared in the River City News and can be found in the link below:   

https://www.rcnky.com/articles/2021/02/23/campbell-first-grader-among-winners-state-piggy-bank-design-contest

Nicole Huff, Extension Specialist for Family Finance and Resource Management for the University of KY College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

https://www.wtvq.com/2021/02/22/financial-saving-is-the-focus-of-kentucky-saves-week/