Revving Engines: Engaging Community Partners to Promote Programmatic Awareness
Extension Education
Adam Smith
4-H Youth Development Agent
University of Florida
Bushnell
Abstract
Within Extension programming, 4-H is often considered a household name. However, many families in the community have never heard of 4-H, and even those who are familiar with the program may not be aware of the wide variety of opportunities offered through the county program. Outreach events provide valuable opportunities to connect with new audiences and increase awareness of 4-H programs. To reach new families, we partnered with local community agencies to host a Touch-a-Truck event. By engaging these partners and showcasing their specialty vehicles, we created an engaging event designed to attract community interest. Participating agencies brought a variety of vehicles, including semi-trucks, cattle haulers, SWAT vehicles, fire trucks, and brush fire rigs. Promotion for the event included social media posts, email announcements, and flyers distributed throughout community spaces. As a result, more than 100 participants attended the event. Informal surveys conducted during the event indicated that over 40% of families attending were not currently involved in 4-H, demonstrating the event’s effectiveness in reaching new audiences. The event was free to both host and attend and was held under a covered rodeo arena to accommodate Florida’s July heat. Each attendee received informational materials about 4-H, including details about upcoming programs and educational handouts. Youth participants had the opportunity to climb into vehicles, interact with operators, and learn about how the vehicles are used in real-world situations. A highlight of the event was the sensory-friendly hour held at the beginning of the program. During this time, flashing lights, sirens, and horns were not used, creating a welcoming environment for youth with sensory sensitivities. Overall, the Touch-a-Truck event served as an effective and low-cost outreach strategy to introduce new families to 4-H programming. This type of event is easy to replicate and can be adapted to fit the needs and resources of different communities.
Poster has NOT been presented at any previous NACAA AM/PIC
This poster is being submitted only for display at AM/PIC. Poster is not to be judged, but the abstract will be published in the proceedings.
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Authors: Adam Smith
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Smith, A. 4-H Youth Development Agent, University of Florida, Florida, 33513