View Poster Application

In Prairie County, Arkansas, a concerning trend of stakeholder isolation has emerged within the 4-H Youth Development, Family & Consumer Sciences (FCS), and Agriculture extension programs. Youth, adults, seniors, and program leaders were observed to operate independently, indifferent to intergenerational and interdisciplinary collaboration. This disconnect had seemingly obscured the inherent benefits of mutual interaction and engagement with extension programming.

To address this issue, a novel program was proposed to foster unity and teamwork across age groups and program areas. The objectives were multifaceted: to deliver concurrent programming in 4-H, FCS, and Agriculture; to amplify the visibility of Prairie County Extension Programs; to educate youth in gardening through hands-on experience; to provide intangible benefits to seniors and retirees; and to enhance community participation in extension initiatives.

The primary focus of this initial program was to establish its presence and gauge its popularity among county residents. While precise research to evaluate its effectiveness is still needed, preliminary results demonstrate promising outcomes. The program reached 24 youth, engaged 4 Master Gardener volunteers, and significantly boosted extension team morale. Furthermore, a noticeable surge in programming requests within Prairie County suggests a renewed interest in extension activities.

However, to fully assess the program's impact, future evaluations should delve deeper into learning outcomes and measure how much it achieves its objectives. This initial effort lays a foundation for fostering a more cohesive and collaborative extension community in Prairie County.