Extension Trends: Lemhi County

EXTENSION TRENDS: LEMHI COUNTY University of Idaho Extension, Lemhi County • www.uidaho.edu/lemhi

2019 Impact Lemhi County stakeholders and the UI Extension advisory committee expressed a need for more job preparedness activities for teens. In response, UI Extension, Lemhi County educators Katie Hoffman and Shannon Williams developed a “career walk” to introduce youth to career opportunities in Lemhi County. Both partnered with school district and stakeholders to achieve an innovative and engaging career experience that met the needs of youth and local businesses.

2019 By the Numbers • 3,633 direct contacts • 2,795 youth participants • 158 volunteers • 2,326 volunteer hours • $41,130 extramural funding

UI Extension Educators Shannon Williams 208-742-1696 shannonw@uidaho.edu

Katie Hoffman 208-742-1698 khoffman@uidaho.edu

Hoffman’s event was held in Salmon and had 282 students in 9th12th grade and 30 adults representing local businesses. Youth visited businesses and were placed in aptitude categories before the event.

A post event survey found that nearly 80% of the students found visiting the business very useful or somewhat useful. Businesses were encouraged to offer internships, work study positions or job shadowing opportunities. Following the event, 50% of businesses were very likely to have students participate in one of those programs. Over 50% of the students stated they were very likely or somewhat likely to follow up with the businesses they visited. Over 50% were more informed on local job opportunities.

Williams partnered with the Leadore School District. Youth were divided into two groups and had the opportunity to visit eight different businesses in Salmon. Youth had the opportunity to tour the business, learn about training and educational requirements, and how to apply for positions. All of the youth indicated they learned something new and two applied for summer jobs with a business they visited.

Youth participating in 4-H Horse Camp attended workshops on careers related to the horse industry. Many indicated in their horse camp journal that they would now consider a career they had not thought about before. Six youth participated in and completed the county action learning entrepreneurial program and achieved at least six of the required 12 skills.

4-H in Lemhi County Lemhi County 4-H’s most popular projects are livestock related. In 2019, there were 125 youth with livestock projects. There has been an increase in non-livestock projects including a 30% increase in sewing and an increase in shooting sports. The 4-H program was awarded a $9,500 grant to purchase shooting sports equipment which helped to kick-start that program with 27 youth and two new adult leaders participating. Four youth and two adults attended the district shoot and all youth brought home blue ribbons in their respective competitions.

The 12th annual Family Fun Night at the Lemhi County Fair again brought 750 adults and children to create community awareness about underage drinking. This event is sponsored by the 4-H Teen Action in the Community (TAC) Team, UI Extension, Latah County’s teen leadership club. In addition, a partnership with stakeholders brought many more teen engagement activities this year. Through a partnership with the

local Idaho’s Drug Free Youth (DFY) chapter, a middle school and high school swim night, four Teen Outdoor Movies, a dance, and a river float trip and BBQ were held. These events are designed to give teens safe alternatives to underage drinking and drug use. The events saw a huge increase in participation with the largest movie night attracting 75 teens. These events are continuations of Lemhi County’s youth-adult partnership formed 12 years ago and now supported financially by a youth-ran 4-H entrepreneurial program that brings in three times more funds than the original grant.

On the Horizon Hoffman developed a preschool curriculum that teaches preschoolers the importance of healthy eating. The fourlesson curriculum teaches youth healthy recipes using locally grown food. In some cases, the food comes directly from the preschools own garden. This year the program will be taught and evaluated statewide.

Williams developed a Ladies Raising Livestock program after attending a workshop on a similar program at a national conference. She partnered with Dr. Sara Chaplin of Mountain River Vet and Hoffman for programming and received a sponsorship from Northwest Farm Credit Services for the program. There were 27 ladies and their children that attended. Dr. Chaplin held a calving school workshop, Hoffman presented on freezer meals and Williams taught beef quality assurance. All the ladies were able to become BQA certified. An exit survey indicated that participants would like to do this program two times a year.

Our Advisory Council Special thanks to our volunteers who help shape programming and inform the work we do for UI Extension in Lemhi County: Brett Barsalou, Merrill Beyeler, Curtis Beyeler, Mark Brown, Kime Browne, Jeff Burch, Haley Burch, Sara Chaplin, Piper Christiansen, Jo Christiansen, Katie Cooper, Tristan Cooper, Keelan Cooper, Jeremy Drake, Haley Drake, Jocilynn Drake, Sherry Elrod, Amy Fealko, Paul Fisher, Barb Fisher, Trissy Herbst, Drew Herbst, Shayne Holmes, Melody Kauer, Mike Kossler, Ann Kossler, Merry Logan, Juniper MacFarlane, Shane Matson, Julia Matson, Seth McFarland, Kenny Miner, Myriam Mualem, Frances Mueller, Bruce Mulkey, Ann Mulkey, Renee Myer, Beth Rackham, Kevin Ramsey, Kay Ramsey, Austin Reutzel, Hailey Reutzel, Toni Ruth, Maggie Seaberg, Jen Smith, Rick Snyder, Caleb Wallis, Brittany Wallis, Tom Whitson, Carrie Whitson, Chase Whittaker, Megan Whittaker, Ariana Williams and Jake Zollinger.