Success Stories By MajorProgram FY2018Jul 1, 2017 - Jun 30, 2018





Live Well

Author: Kathy Byrnes

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

The city of Ft. Mitchell-located in Kenton County, Kentucky has a “Live Well” Coalition group, with a mission that includes providing a variety of programs to its citizens to promote overall wellness.  This summer, the city started their own community garden adjoining their city building.The Kenton County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent was asked to come and provide a program for the citizens on how to prepare various food items from the garden. Program attendees co

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Plate It Up at the Pikeville Farmers Market

Author: Leslie Workman

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

            The Pike County Family & Consumer Sciences program has worked cooperatively with the Pikeville Farmer’s Market and our Agriculture & Natural Resources program to provide Plate It Up: Kentucky Proud recipe samples during the 2017 market season. Kentucky adults rank among the 10 highest for poor consumption of fruits and vegetables. Locally grown produce can provide an important access point for fresh fruits and vegetables for a healthy diet.

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Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Author: Ashley Board

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

The Center for Disease Control reports that 33.2% of Kentucky residents are obese, 46.2% consume fruit less than 1 time per day and 24.9% consume vegetables less than 1 time per day.  Kentucky adults rank among the ten highest for poor consumption of fruits and vegetables.  The most recent Kentucky County Healthcare Profile report concluded that 34.8% of Caldwell County residents are obese.  It is evident that lifestyle changes such as eating healthier diets are needed.  Loca

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Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Author: Sarah Congleton

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Martin County presented Plate it up! Kentucky Proud to 200 total participants.  After the program, all participants increased their knowledge of retail outlets for locally grown food commodities; all 200 increased their knowledge regarding how the Plate it up! Kentucky Proud program is a consumer education partnership.  50% of participants who answered question expressed aspirations to try a Plate it up! Kentucky Proud recipes. 50% of participants indicated plans to prepare and/or pres

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PIUKP at the Market

Author: Hannah Mayrand

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

As a way to increase customers at the Montgomery County Farmers Market, the Montgomery County FCS Agent worked with market vendors and the ANR Agent to attract customers in a new way. The FCS agent distributed a survey at the market vendor informational meeting prior to the selling season. Vendors filled out what produce they would have the most of that summer. With that information, FCS Agent chose Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud recipes using the produce farmers indicated they planned to sell in t

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Hickman County Farm to Fork Event to Reduce Hunger

Author: Melissa Goodman

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Hickman County Farm to Fork Event to Reduce Hunger

Hickman County FFA and FCCLA members serving Farm to Fork attendees.The Hickman County Farmers Market, the Fiscal Court of Hickman County, Rotary Park Committee and the Hickman County Extension Office collaborated, applied, and was awarded the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Farm to Fork Grant. The Farm to Fork program entailed a dinner where all ingredients were locally sourced to highlight local farms, farmers, producers, Kentucky Proud products and recipes. The dinner would be an e

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Locally grown produce youth cooking program

Author: Sherri Farley

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

According to Kentucky Proud research, buying locally grown produce helps the community by keeping food dollars close to home and it provides individuals with garden fresh taste. The Campbell County 4-H program was approached by three local Girl Scout troops to provide a cooking program that focused on locally grown produce and eating healthy meals. Seven middle and high school youth attended the cooking program. They received instruction on food safety, knife safety, importance of eating fresh v

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Plate it Up! Kentucky Proud takes to Local IGA Deli

Author: Amanda Broderick

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Plate it Up! Kentucky Proud takes to Local IGA Deli

               Lewis County ranks fourth among all Kentucky counties for obesity rates with 41.6% of the population currently being overweight or obese and 18.5% of the population experiencing food insecurity. Adding to this problem, 27.0% of individuals in this area are impoverished and when money is short, unhealthy diet and lifestyle choices follow, and the vicious cycle of weight gain continues on.               

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Plate It Up Kentucky Proud

Author: Audrey Myers

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

30% to 35% of Kentucky adults are considered obese (CDC Adult Obesity Prevalence Map of 2015) and according to the Kentucky County Healthcare Profiles adults in Taylor County have an obesity rate of 32.9%. Only 4 in 10 Kentucky adults report excellent or a very good diet and 39% of Kentucky adults do not meet either the fruit or vegetable recommendations.The Taylor County Extension Council revealed that direct education in grocery stores utilizing Plate it Up Kentucky Proud was an avenue for imp

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Plate It Up

Author: Kelly Jackson

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Kentucky has the seventh highest adult obesity rate in the nation, according to The State of Obesity: Better Policies for a Healthier America released August 2017. Kentucky's adult obesity rate is currently 34.2 percent, up from 21.7 percent in 2000 and from 12.7 percent in 1990. The obesity epidemic threatens the quality and years of life of Kentuckians. To address this issue, the staff at the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service in Christian County developed a far

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Plate it up

Author: Philip Konopka

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

               Lewis County ranks fourth among all Kentucky counties for obesity rates with 41.6% of the population currently being overweight or obese and 18.5% of the population experiencing food insecurity. Adding to this problem, 27.0% of individuals in this area are impoverished and when money is short, unhealthy diet and lifestyle choices follow, and the vicious cycle of weight gain continues on.               

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Healthy Cooking Program

Author: Mary Higginbotham

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

According to the Center for Disease Control adults in the state of Kentucky rank among the 10 highest for poor consumption of fruits and vegetables. Kentucky adult obesity rates also rank among the 10 highest in the United States with 33% of adults in Kentucky reporting a BMI in the obese category. In Daviess County specifically, 30% of adults are classified as obese according to their BMI. Obesity is one of the main factors associated with poor health and increased risk of health issues in the

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Plate It Up Kentucky Proud

Author: Rachel Hance

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

According to assessment data collected through the Centers for Disease Control 1416 grant, Logan County has an obesity rate of 43.5% and Kentucky continues to rank in the top ten most obese states across all ages. In addition, Logan County has a poverty rate of 19.7% and a food insecurity rate of 15.2 %.  With these statistics, there are 4,589 individuals receiving SNAP benefits in Logan County and 56% of students in the county are eligible for the school feeding program.  These issues

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Lunch and Learn

Author: Catherine Jansen

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Lunch and LearnTo introduce myself as the new County Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences, the Lunch and Learn program was started in May of 2017 as a bi-monthly program held at the local extension office. To accommodate working people, Lunch and Learn is a hourly program that meets from noon to 1:00 pm. The program consist of recipe tasting, information about nutrition, demonstrations, and locally grown commodities. Recipes are usually taken from the Plate It Up recipe file, with the mai

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Simply Cooking

Author: Melanie Bealmear

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Kentucky adults rank among the 10 highest of poor consumption of fruits and vegetables, according to the Center of Disease Control.  Individuals who consume adequate amounts of fruits and vegetables tend to avoid chronic diseases as they age. The “Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud” program was created to promote Kentucky grown products and markets to encourage an increase in fruits and vegetables consumption.The Union County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent offered “Simpl

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Plate It Up

Author: Edith Lovett

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

More than 200 people have sampled Plate In Up and Kentucky Proud Recipes in Pulaski County. All of the recipes served have received positive comments. Through using such a variety of recipes, and using foods available to them at the Farmers Market and local grocery stores,  clients have learned how to serve  greens, such as Brussel sprouts, chard, kale, Napa cabbage and other greens, in salads, soups, muffins, and other dishes, and not just as a  vegetable dish. The clients state

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Grow Your Own Vitamins-Sweet Potato Project 2017

Author: Peggy Jones

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Grow Your Own Vitamins-Sweet Potato Project 2017Rowan County has a population of 20,898 as of 2010 census, 3057 (15%) are seniors that are 55 or older. 18 % of the seniors live in poverty in Rowan County and have limited access to fresh produce.  FCS Agent initiated a program called Grow Your Vitamins with goal of increasing the consumption of fruits and vegetables.  Extension partnered with the Rowan County High School FFA, Maysville Community College Agriculture Department

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Plate It Up with Culinary Arts

Author: Deborah Messenger

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Kentucky adult obesity ranks among the 10 highest and among the 10 highest for poor consumption of fruits and vegetables in the US. Kentucky youth also rank among the 10 highest for obesity in the US. In an effort to bring awareness to and improve these statistics, the Cumberland County Family and Consumer Sciences Agent partnered with the Cumberland County High School Culinary Arts teacher. The goal was to teach the students how to pro

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Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud Recipes for Those Who Need to Know How

Author: Diana Doggett

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud Recipes for Those Who Need to Know HowPlate It Up! Kentucky Proud provides healthy, great tasting recipes using Kentucky Proud products in order to increase consumer purchase, preparation, and preservation of Kentucky grown and value-added commodities, through marketing and educational collaborations. The project is a Family and Consumer Sciences Extension driven partnership with the School of Human Environmental Sciences and the Kentucky Department of Agricultur

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Forever Fit

Author: Gwenda Johnson

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Elliott County FCS has promoted Plate It Up, Kentucky Proud since its inception. This year we are taking it to a higher level by challenging local citizens to use the recipes. To combat the obesity epidemic in Elliott County the Extension Family and Consumer Sciences Council and the Partnership for a Healthy Elliott County designed a program called Forever Fit Good Habits for a lifetime. 22 participants enrolled in the program that is point based with the competition against themselves. Points c

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Farm to Fork DInner

Author: Paula McCuiston

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

The Hickman County Farmers Market, the Fiscal Court of Hickman County, Rotary Park Committee and the Hickman County Extension Office collaborated, applied, and was awarded the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Farm to Fork Grant. The Farm to Fork program entailed a dinner where all ingredients were locally sourced to highlight local farms, farmers, producers, Kentucky Proud products and recipes. The dinner would be an exclusive ticketed event held at the farmers market with the proceeds

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Growing a Healthier Morgan County

Author: Nellie Buchanan

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Morgan County Extension volunteer leaders and extension agents recognized the need for a partnership to address access to locally grown fruits and vegetables to improve the health and wellness of Morgan Countians and supplement income for local farmers/gardeners.   Local partnerships of the Morgan County Diabetes Coalition, Morgan County Farmers Market and team work of ANR agent and FCS agent have successfully established strong collaborations.  Grant writing to fund the Diabetes Coali

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Plate it Up! Kentucky Proud!

Author: Jay Stone

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Kentucky has the fifth highest adult obesity rate in the nation with an adult obesity rate of 33.2 percent. Increased consumption of unhealthy food is one of the factors. Families need healthy advice about ways to prepare fruits and vegetables.Beginning in the Spring of 2014, the staff at the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service in Christian County developed a farmer’s market buyers guide to market Extension, provide healthy eating tips, and to feature “Plate It Up!&r

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Plate it up for Seniors

Author: Joan Bowling

Major Program: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Kentucky adults rank among the ten highest for poor consumption of fruits and vegetables. The Center for Disease Control reports that 33.2% of Kentucky residents are obese, 46.2% consume fruit less than 1 time per day and 24.9% consume vegetables less than 1 time per day. In an effort to encourage Kenton County senior citizens to consume more locally grown fruits and vegetables and increase knowledge of cooking with produce found in the farmers market, the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension

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