Boyle County CES

Title:

Increasing quality and quantity of small agriculture practices

MAP:

Small Agriculture

Agents Involved:

A. Price, K. Ragland, J. Little, A. Amorese

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Home & Consumer Horticulture

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Local Food Systems

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Sustainable Agriculture

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum

Situation:

With the increasing concern for food security and desire to eat local, more and more consumers are either producing their own food, or looking for small farms nearby to meet their needs. Detachment from farm life has left many people lacking the skills to grow and maintain a farm and skills to use the food products grown. With sales from Kentucky food products expected to increase from $14 million (2014) to $24 million in 2020, Extension has resources to educate agricultural producers in production, value added opportunities, business planning, and marketing strategies to expand the local food system for the demand.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Youth will be able to choose viable careers that are compatible with farming and
can supplement farming enterprises.
Families will improve their diets.
Number and quality of small agriculture and home horticulture will increase Farmer's Market will grow.
Increase in the number of vendors, variety of local food products, sales and/or profits at farmer’s markets, road side stands, or community supported agriculture
Increase access to local foods in restaurants, retail outlets, school and other institutions.
Youth will engage in entrepreneurial enterprise.
Youth will be advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth will demonstrate mastery of skills.
Youth will experience a variety of interactions with small agriculture.
Youth will use best practices in their gardens and homes.
Producers will implement best management practices.
Adults will make healthy and local food choices.
Consumers will participate in more home horticulture.
Diversify the types and varieties of produce grow and sold
Youth will practice and apply skills and knowledge in the production of food and fiber.
Youth will adopt and practice skills that contribute to employability.
Youth can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.
Youth will set a goal and accomplish it.
Youth can practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems.

Initial Outcomes:

Consumers will learn the benefits of local food.
Producers will learn different options for increasing local sales.
Youth will learn best management practices for home horticulture.
Youth will learn about local food production.
Youth will learn where their food comes from and what impact processing has on the safety and healthiness of food products.
Identify production methods and agricultural food products that extend the growing season (i.e. high tunnels, hydroponics).
Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber.
Youth will develop valuable life skills including decision making, communications, record keeping, leadership and service.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increased farmers market participation, small agriculture operations and home horticulture.
Indicator: Visual assessment, comparison of past year's members, participation in educational programs.
Method: One on one contacts, educational programs, testimonials from clientele, agricultural camps and field trips.
Timeline: During programs, 6 months, 1 or more years later.

Intermediate Outcome: Consumers and youth will make informed food choices, more horticulture programs will be offered.
Indicator: One on one contacts, educational programs, and follow-up evaluations.
Method: One on one contacts, educational programs, testimonials from clientele, agricultural camps and field trips.
Timeline: During and after programs, follow-up over next several months.

Initial outcomes: Will be measured by number of youth who participate in 4-H gardening, horticulture, and small animal projects, programs, events or activities. Change will be assessed by number of youth demonstrating skills learned and improved upon by participating in such. Evaluation methods will be observation and competition occurring during the program year.

Intermediate outcomes: Will be measured by number of youth practicing and applying skills in 4-H gardening, horticulture, and small animal projects, programs, events, or activities. Change will be assessed by the number of youth demonstrating improvement in skills and knowledge relating to agriculture, entrepreneurism, communications, goal-setting, leadership, record keeping, and decision making. Evaluation methods will be observation and standard evaluation at end of program year.

Long term outcomes: Will be measured by the number of youth with 4-H gardening, horticulture, and small animal entrepreneurial enterprise. Change will be assessed by the number of youth completing record book. Evaluation method will be record book completion and review at end of program year.


Long-term Outcome:
Indicator:
Method:
Timeline:

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Farmers
Limited resource families
Urban youth and families
Rural youth and families

Project or Activity:
Horticulture Camp
Garden to Table Programs
Free Soil Testing
Farmers Market Program
Home Vegetable Gardening
Growing season extension programs
Integrated Pest Management programs
Small scale poultry production

Content or Curriculum:
Inputs:
Date:

Audience: 4-H members
Project or Activity: Gardening and horticultural projects; Plant Camp, Project Week, Rally Days; Cloverville
Content or Curriculum: Project Food, Land, and People; National 4-H gardening curriculum
Inputs: Curricula; Extension professionals, Extension staff, volunteers, producers, program support, 4-H Council funding; partnership with Boyle County Fair, UK specialists; computer support, facilities, project supplies; Extension
Offices and gardens.
Date: Spring and summer

Audience: 4-H members
Project or Activity: Poultry projects and Poultry Club
Content or Curriculum: National Avian Bowl Manual; Raising Fancy Poultry; ChickQuest
Inputs: Curricula; Extension professionals, Extension staff, certified volunteers, producers; program support, 4-H Council funding, private and business donations; partnership with Boyle County Fair and local businesses, UK specialists, KDA, KY State Fair; computer support, facilities, project supplies,
Extension office and facilities.
Date: Year round

Success Stories