4-H Agriculture
Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Awareness
Christy Eastwood, Steve Conrad
4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
Agriculture is Kentucky's largest employer and accounts for the greatest amount of revenue in Kentucky's economy. Every person in Kentucky is impacted by Agriculture every day in the foods that they eat and the fibers that are used in their clothes, homes, work places and vehicles.
Youth will:
Engage in entrepreneurial enterprise.
Gain and maintain employment through life skill development.
Be advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems.
Youth will:
Practice and apply skills and knowledge in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant science, horticulture and animal science.
Adopt and practice skills that contribute to employability.
Explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.
Set a goal and accomplish it.
Influence the purchase of Kentucky Proud products.
Practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems.
Youth will:
Gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant science, horticulture and animal science.
Gain an understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems.
Develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, record-keeping, leadership and service.
Initial Outcome: Increase Equine Skill Set
Indicator: acknowledgement of increase
Method: written evaluation
Timeline: end of program year
Intermediate Outcome: Responsibly take care of animals on their own
Indicator: little or no help from family/leaders
Method: observation
Timeline: 2-3 years
Long-term Outcome: 4-H youth with employment in the equine field
Indicator: increase in employment of our youth
Method: observation
Timeline: 5-10 years
Initial Outcome: 4-H livestock project participants will increase their knowledge of animal husbandry while caring for their livestock project.
Indicator: project participants will have healthier livestock.
Method: observation, written evaluation
Timeline: September-December 2019, Jan.-August 2020
Intermediate Outcome: livestock judging participants will evaluate, judge and select livestock in terms of competency.
Indicator: improve their placings at competitions.
Method: competition results
Timeline: 2019/2020
Long-term Outcome: participants will have more success with their own livestock projects in the show ring due to picking better animals at the start of the project.
Indicator: higher placing's in the show ring.
Method: competition results
Timeline: county and state fair participation Aug. 2020
Initial Outcome: country ham project participants will learn how to cure 2 green country hams.
Indicator: both country hams will not be spoiled.
Method: observation
Timeline: end of the project Aug. 20
Intermediate Outcome: country ham project participants will write and present a speech on the assigned topic.
Indicator: participants will receive a blue or red Danish ribbon
Method: speech competition and the county and state level.
Timeline: end of the project Aug. 20
Long-term outcome: individuals will feel confident speaking in front of others.
Indicator: individuals will participate in other areas of their life taking on additional roles of leadership.
Method: evaluation
Timeline: 1 year after completion of project.
Audience: 9-18 year olds
Project or Activity: 4-H Horse Educational Hours
Content or Curriculum: state supported
Inputs: extension staff and resources; certified volunteers; private equine facilities
Date: October 2019-April 2020
Audience: 4-H Livestock Club meetings
Project or Activity: mandatory educational hours
Content or Curriculum: certified 4-H livestock curriculum, livestock kits
Inputs: Extension office, volunteers, 4-H members, club leaders, parents, Extension funding
Date: Sept. 2019, Oct. 2019, Nov. 2019, Dec. 2019, Jan. 2020, Feb. 2020, Mar. 2020, Apr. 2020, May 2020
Audience: 4-H livestock judging team
Project or Activity: meetings and competitions
Content or Curriculum: certified 4-H livestock curriculum, other resources, livestock kits
Inputs: Extension office, 4-H members, volunteers, leaders, parents, Extension funding
Date: Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. 2019; Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, June 2020 (weekly meetings)
Audience: 4-H country ham project
Project or Activity: curing ham, writing speech and presenting speech
Content or Curriculum: certified 4-H livestock curriculum, other resources
Inputs: Extension office, 4-H members, volunteers, leaders, parents, Extension funding, ham house
Date: Jan., May, July, August 2020
Author: Stephen Conrad
Major Program: 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
To assist teachers with their Life-cycle lessons, the Boone County Extension Service offers the 4-H Chick Incubation Project. This year The Boone County 4-H Program provided a total of 7 incubators and 7 dozen fertilized eggs to four of our schools. A total of 125 students, ranging from kindergarten to fifth grade, witnessed the miracle of life when the eggs began hatching. 100% of the teachers reported that the program had positive impact on their ability to teach the life cycle. They als