4-H Agriculture in Kenton CountyPlan of Work

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Kenton County CES

Title:
4-H Agriculture in Kenton County
MAP:
4-H Agriculture
Agents Involved:
Kelley, Averbeck
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
Situation:

Kentucky is home to 85,500 farms, tied with Oklahoma as the 4th ranking state in the number of farms (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012). The average farm size in Kentucky is 164 acres, compared to the national average of 421 (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012). Between 2007 and 2012, the Bluegrass State had a 6.7% decrease in the number of acres of farmland, which is the greatest percentage decrease any state in the country (Census of Agriculture, 2012). A farm is defined by the United States government as “any place that produced and sold, or normally would produce and sell, $1,000 or more of agricultural products during the census year.” While Kentucky’s population is increasing, the number of people living on farms is decreasing. Therefore, the need exists to educate people, particularly youth, about the impact that it makes on their daily lives, as well as the importance of agriculture to the commonwealth. The top agricultural products produced on Kentucky farms are changing. In 2012, the Top 10 agriculture products in Kentucky were: Broilers, Corn, Horses & Mules, Soybeans, Cattle & Calves, Tobacco, Dairy Products & Milk, Wheat, Hay and Chicken Eggs (United States Department of Agriculture – Kentucky, 2012). In order to provide agricultural education to youth, Kenton County will participate in the Ag Tour Program, designed to educate participants on the value of agriculture to Kentucky’s economy and the impact that agriculture has on their daily lives. Kenton County will also teach Ag in the Classroom/Acres of Adventures school students. Agriculture is Kentucky’s largest employer and contributes the greatest percentage of revenue to Kentucky’s economy. As many Kentucky youth will ultimately be employed in the Agricultural sector. Agriculture is an important core content area for youth to engage in and experience.


The importance of Kentucky agriculture extends well beyond the farm. The total economic impact of agriculture production, inputs, processing, and manufacturing is nearly $46.3 billion and represents 263,000 jobs in Kentucky. Because of the vast breadth of Agriculture and Natural Resources, along with their related industries, it is important for youth to experience the vast array of programs and activities that are encompassed in the agriculture core content area.

Given the Kenton County location and the opportunity to market in a large urban area, increased interest has developed in locally produced market products including beef, pork, lamb, poultry, vegetables and other ornamental products. Kenton County youth also have the opportunity to learn about, market their products and participate in the growing economic areas of transportation, use of agricultural by products, and agricultural safety.

Agriculture in Kenton County:

Average size of farms: 94 acres

Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $10,730

Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $216.64

The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 14.92%

The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 46.80%

Average total farm production expenses per farm: $7,500

Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 28.06%

Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $32,786

The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 92.53%

Average age of principal farm operators: 57 years

Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 15.51

Vegetables: 16 harvested acres

Land in orchards: 17 acres

Similar to other counties in Kentucky, this impact does not include service-based industries such as banking, insurance, or legal sectors. Although the Kenton County production of some products will remain smaller in comparison to some Kentucky counties - the knowledge of production, basics of animal safety and handling, remain constant. The importance of these commodities and opportunity to gain knowledge, make them vitally important components of the Kenton 4-H program. All youth must understand that the end product of all Agriculture programs, projects and activities is the production of food and fiber. Agriculture impacts everyone.

Livestock and livestock products account for about half of Kentucky’s farm income. Therefore, the role of livestock and livestock projects in the Kentucky 4-H curriculum is fundamentally important. Youth must understand the role of agriculture in their daily lives, and the importance of livestock and livestock products in the type, kind and quality of the foods that they eat.

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Youth will engage in entrepreneurial enterprise.

• Youth will gain and maintain employment resulting from life skill development through 4-H.

• Youth will be advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems.

• Document a significant increase in both the quantity and quality of education offered in the Agriculture Core Content area.

• Youth will increase their knowledge, level of competence and skills in Agriculture

• Volunteers will increase their knowledge, level of competence and skills in Agriculture

• Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including communications, record-keeping, leadership and service

• Youth will develop valuable entrepreneurial, work-force and job-preparedness skills

• Youth will practice safety when using equipment. Youth/volunteers will install and use safe handling procedures around animals.


Intermediate Outcomes:

• Youth will practice and apply skills and knowledge in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.

• 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

• An increased number of 4-H members who select a career in Agriculture.

• Youth will utilize funds from sales of products to improve herd, facilities, product growth, and educational expenses.

• Youth will understand life cycles related to animal science and agricultural entities.

• Youth and volunteers will practice appropriate bio-security measures.

• Youth and volunteers will become aware of responsible behaviors such as appropriate feed, feeding times, training, veterinary care, housing, and transport.

Initial Outcomes:

• Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.

• Youth will gain an understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems.

• Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, record-keeping, leadership and service.

• An increased number of 4-H members who enroll and participate in projects, programs and activities in the Agriculture Area

• An increased number of volunteers involved with projects, programs and activities in the Agriculture Area

• Expanded knowledge of 4-H members in the Agriculture Area

• Youth will describe/define basic care for his/her project animal.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: An increased number of 4-H members who enroll and participate in projects, programs and activities in the Agriculture Area

Indicator: Youth will attend 6 hours or more of agricultural livestock and/or horse  education programs

Method: Clubs meetings, educational programs, shows and competitive events,

Timeline: September through county and state fair exhibitions


Intermediate Outcome: Youth and volunteers will become aware of responsible behaviors such as appropriate feed, feeding times, training, veterinary care, housing, and transport.

Indicator: reduced veterinary costs, reduced project cost, improved ratio of finished projects

Method: farm visits, observation at shows, events, and exhibitions, speeches presented to local business organizations, record books, record sheets, written evaluation, completed projects

Timeline: September through end of program year.


Long-term Outcome: Youth will increase their knowledge, level of competence and skills in Agriculture

Indicator: Youth demonstrate appropriate animal husbandry and care practices, youth practice safety, youth demonstrate responsible behaviors, youth demonstrate employability skills, youth participate in shows and events

Method: Observation, completion of record books, scholarship forms, awards forms, awards lists, written evaluation, participating as a volunteer beyond eligibility, participating as a sponsor

Timeline: Completion of eligibility as a senior 4-H member

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Kenton County youth 9-18 years

Project or Activity: 4-H Agriculture programs

Content or Curriculum: 4-H livestock, 4-H horticulture, 4-H Horse

Inputs: 4-H volunteers, horticultural supplies grant

Date: September 2018 thru August 2019


Audience: Kenton 4-H youth 9-18 years

Project or Activity: 4-H Tractor Safety

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Tractor

Inputs: Local equipment vendors, local instructors

Date: May thru August 2019


Audience: Kenton County 4th school programs

Project or Activity: Agricultural topics

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Acres of Adventures

Inputs: 4-H Agent instructor, 4-H program assistants, volunteer leaders

Date: September thru May 2019


Audience: Kenton County 4-H youth 9-18

Project or Activity: 4-H Poultry

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Poultry resources

Inputs: Local instructors, UK animal science resources, Club meetings

Date: Meetings monthly


Audience: Kenton County Schools students - including Covington Independent, Erlanger/Elsmere, Ludlow, Diocese of Covington schools, others by request

Project or Activity: 4-H Chick Incubation, life cycles

Content or Curriculum: UK animal science resources

Inputs: 4-H Agent instructor, organization of materials & scheduling, volunteers

Date: February thru May 2019


Audience: Livestock Parent/guardian orientation

Project or Activity: 4-H Livestock

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock materials

Inputs: 4-H livestock materials and rules, KDA rules, State Fair guidelines, local livestock rules, 4-H rules and guidelines, participation forms

Date: October 2018 thru January 2019 - dates announced with educational hours


Audience: Kenton County youth and adults

Project or Activity: Recycling assorted products

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Acres of Adventures

Inputs: Recycling station at county extension office, expanded by request

Date: September thru November 2019


Audience: Kenton County Youth 9-18 years

Project or Activity: 4-H Country Ham

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock materials

Inputs: Materials received from UK Meats, country ham, speech preparation,

Date: October 2018 thru August 2019


Activity: Multiple educational sessions, both classroom and on farm

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Youth Livestock Curriculum

Method: Club meetings, educational hours, farm visits, website/mailing information, contests, field trips, Focus 2 career education program

Date: September 2018 – May 2019


Activity: County Fair Shows, District Shows, and Sale of Champions

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock Curriculum

Method: Website/mailing information, bulk email reminders, contests, showmanship contests

Date: July 2018, February-August 2019


Activity: 4-H Livestock Judging Team & Skill-a-Thon Team

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock Curriculum

Method: Team practice sessions in person, online; resource materials-printed and electronic

Date: October 2018 – June 2019


Activity: 4-H Lamb Co-op

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock Curriculum

Method: Actively seeking property for anticipated participants

Date: September 2018 – July 2019


Activity: 4-H Livestock Field Day and Farm Visits

Content: 4-H Livestock Curriculum

Method: Dairy U, Livestock camp opportunities

Date: April, May, June 2019


Activity: 4-H Dairy Judging

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Dairy Curriculum

Method: Video Judging, CD study, Dairy Camp

Date: February – June 2019


Activity: 4-H Horse County, District, State Fairs & Shows

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Rules and Guidelines

*Inputs listed below

Date: July 2018 through June 2019


Activity: Horse Bowl Contest

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Horse Bowl Manual

*Inputs listed below

Date: April, May, June 2019


Activity: 4-H Horse Education Classes

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Horse Resources

*Inputs listed below

Date: September 2018 – April 2019


*Inputs:

Computer and video equipment, University of Kentucky 4-H Livestock curriculum and agriculture publications, University of Kentucky specialists, other 4-H and agriculture agents and their materials, Kentucky Department of Agriculture materials, other universities’ materials and publications, outside agricultural entities and materials, local 4-H and agricultural leaders, local agricultural production sites, Volunteers, Program fees, and Program funds.




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Author: Diane Kelley

Major Program: Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum

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The U.K., Cooperative Extension Service and Kenton County 4-H certified livestock volunteers plan and execute the educational meetings required for livestock participants in Kenton County.  The Kenton County Extension and 4-H Councils, and 2019 local Expansion and Review committee surveys identified selecting project animals, performing basic animal management skills, and raising and exhibiting animals as important life skills and the 4-H program should continue to provide educational oppor

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Author: Diane Kelley

Major Program: Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum

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Kenton Cooperative Extension implemented a program survey for county residents in the fall of 2018 and the Kenton 4-H program also implemented an evaluation program relevant to 4-H youth members, parents/guardians and 4-H volunteers assisting with projects annually since 2011.  Both program surveys specifically encouraged the continued development of youth agricultural education opportunities.  In response to the survey analysis, a direct observation based evaluation form was developed

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