Fleming County's project involves core youth at Simons Middle School. This fall, students have been busy with a number of community projects. The group designed and created a banner emphasizing the four H's (head, heart, hands and health) associated with the 4-H Program. The banner was placed in downtown Flemingsburg with 36 other banners designed by local artists. Fleming County youth also participated in the "Great Scarecrow Roundup." The group constructed a scarecrow named "Mommy Mendy" to be displayed in the community. Students gave an old trash can new life at their school with a fresh coat of paint, handprints and signatures. In October, youth designed a bulletin board, posters and flyers with facts about drug and alcohol abuse as part of Red Ribbon Week, the oldest and largest drug prevention program in the U.S.
Kerri Ashurst, Extension Specialist, serves as coordinator for Kentucky' CYFAR Program. Janet Kurzynske, Nutrition and Food Science, and Kenneth Jones, Community and Leadership Development, serve as the co-director's for Kentucky's CYFAR Program. Kerri and Kenneth shared this observation, "The middle school age range can be a challenging group to work with, but they are very impressionable, enthusiastic, and willing to learn. Through the CYFAR grant, we are focusing on leadership and life skills during the middle school years. The youth can then use these skills to take on leadership roles, making a positive difference in their communities as high school students and adults."