The County Extension Council is the main body of leaders responsible for governing the local Cooperative Extension Service.
1. Assess the County’s needs: The CEC takes inventory of what the county’s major issues and needs are. Identifying local needs of Spencer County and it’s residents is critical to serving the whole county.
2. Planning: Once a need has been identified, the CEC is responsibl
e for responding to that need by developing and planning extension programs along with county agents. Extension programs serve children and youth, families and land owners.
3. Development: As part of the CEC’s plan to meet the needs of Spencer County, they identify resources, people and logistics that are needed to make the program successful.
4. Implementation: Once the program is developed, the CEC follows through making sure that those in the community who had the need, get their need met through programs, events, activities and information.
5. Evaluation: After the program, CEC assesses it’s impact, and evaluates how successfully the community’s needs were met. This is an effort to continually make ourselves better at serving our community. Agriculture and Natural Resources
The Spencer County Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent can provide information and advice on a wide range of topics, including but not limited too:
*Crop and Animal Production
*Home and Commercial Horticulture
*FREE Soil Testing
*On-farm and Home Consultations
We also provide educational classes and field days on various issues, some of which include Lawn Maintenance, Vegetable Gardening, Beef Cattle, Small Fruit Productions, and Pond Management. For more information, feel free to contact Bryce Roberts by email at [email protected] or by phone. Family and Consumer Sciences
The Family and Consumer Science program in Spencer County is a multi-faceted program that helps strengthen the family through research-based educational programs in such areas but not limited to:
*Clothing & Textiles
*Human Development & Family Relations
*Family Resource Management
*Food & Nutrition
*Health, Wellness & Safety
*Home Based Business
Associated with the FCS Program is the Spencer County Homemakers Association which is a volunteer organization that works to improve the quality of life for families and communities through leadership development and education. The Extension program also sponsors a yearly SOS (Share OurSelves) program which consists of several free educational programs taught by volunteers on a wide variety of topics of interest to men, women and children. For more information, contact Allison Lewis at [email protected] or by phone.
4-H and Youth Development
4-H is a non-profit organization free for all Spencer County Youth. The 4-H motto is “To Make the Best Better”, by learning through doing. Anyone from 9 to 19 can join 4-H. Counties have younger children involved in Cloverbud activities. When 4-H began 100 years ago, almost everyone lived on a farm. That’s not true anymore. 4-H happens wherever kids live—in large cities, small towns, in rural areas, on farms, and even on military bases. What do kids on in 4-H? It’s up to them. They can go to camp, learn to shop wisely, give a demonstration or speech, grow vegetables, hatch an egg, chat on a computer, make bread, shadow an adult at work, choose to eat healthy foods, cure a ham, or conquer an obstacle course. They can perform in a skit, make a birdhouse, start a business, shear sheep, take pictures, learn about electricity, judge soils, barbeque chicken, shoot a gun or drive a tractor. They can decorate a room, ride in a bike rodeo, be part of an international exchange, learn to sew, raise an animal or protect the environment. And there’s more!!! In 4-H, you will be working with other young people toward common goals and if you wish, teaching younger kids. In short, you can build your 4-H activities around your own talents and interest. In addition, Spencer County does help youth address development issues like high risk behaviors, substance abuse and teaches leadership, communications, hands on skills and teamwork. For more information please contact Mollie Tichenor at [email protected] or by phone.
