Extension
It Starts With Us
Educating the community on issues that lead to a better Fulton County.
Strengthening Leaders In the Community
Ben Rudy, Bernita Cheirs, Anna McCoy
Home & Consumer Horticulture
Local Food Systems
Understanding how our daily choices impact our lives, home, community, and environment is vital to preserving our natural resources and lead to a healthy community for the present and future generations. These choices begin in the home. Gardening, lawn and landscape care effect family and community. By working in garden or yard physical activity improves the participant’s health, relieve stress, and can provide a healthy food source. Over time, the decrease of obesity and health concerns reduce medical bills and beautifies the community, thus encouraging business to move into the area.
According to the EPA, 100 million pounds of active ingredients from pesticides were applied in home and gardens throughout the United States. Each year, over $11 billion is spent on household and garden pest control products. Proper use of pesticides by homeowners and commercial operations is imperative and directly impact our environment including groundwater sources. The need to apply pesticides increases when plant care/selection best practices are not followed. With Fulton County’s location on the Mississippi River, the decision our homeowner’s make have an effect on the rest of the Mississippi River Communities downstream from us.
To improve the environmental quality in the home and landscape throughout Fulton County.
To create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life-cycle.
To improve the built and natural environment.
To increase active and healthy lifestyles.
Home owners will implement UK soil tests and recommendations.
Home owners will implement recommended practices while applying pesticides.
Homeowners will implement environmentally conscious decisions regarding home landscape maintenance.
Homeowners will implement environmentally conscious decision regarding home energy use and conservation practices.
Youth will practice being green by implementing one or more practice related to conservation and recycling.
Home consumers will utilize researched based information to properly apply best practices including proper plant selection, proper cultural practices.
Producers and consumers will aspire to form positive opinions about water quality and waste management.
Producers and consumers will gain knowledge on safe chemical usage pertaining to weed, disease and insect control.
Homeowners will adopt landscaping practices that can improve the health and appearance of lawn and gardens while protecting and preserving natural resources.
Youth will learn the importance of being green.
Homeowners will start their own gardens and taking care of their lawns and landscapes.
Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge of home horticulture topics
Indicator: Increase in contacts with the office regarding horticulture
Method: Office Logs
Timeline: Program Year
Initial Outcome: Increase of garden in Fulton County.
Indicator: Increase in participation in Town and County Days
Method: Agent Observations
Timeline: Program Year
Intermediate Outcome: Homeowners will adopt landscaping practices that protect and preserve our natural resources
Indicator: Participants will indicate an increased knowledge change when evaluated at the end of the program
Method: Retrospective survey; Follow-up survey, Agent Observations
Timeline: Program Year
Intermediate Outcome: Producers/home owners will utilize information gained to make good decisions regarding variety selection, chemical usage, and plant production practices.
Indicator: self-reported changes of behavior/site visit observations
Method: pre-post surveys
Timeline: Program Year
Audience: Homeowners
Activity: Landscape maintenance and gardening videos
Content or Curriculum: Supplied by agents and specialists
Inputs: facilities, staff, volunteers; county funding
Date: Program Year
Audience: Homeowners
Project or Activity: Soil Testing
Content or Curriculum: UK Soil and Manure Test Recommendations
Inputs: Agent Time
Date: Program Year
Audience: Homeowners
Project or Activity: Diagnostic Services
Content or Curriculum: UK Diagnostic Services recommendations
Inputs: Agent Time
Date: Program Year
Audience: Youth
Activity: Youth Gardening
Content or Curriculum: Gardening Series, Learn Grow Eat & Go Curriculum
Input: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (Agents, staff, and specialists), Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Local Volunteers
Date: Spring/Summer 2018-2020
Audience: Extension Homemakers/General Public
Activity: Leader trainings, workshops
Content: Upcycling/Repurposing
Inputs: Extension resources, eXtension, other university's Extension resources, USDA
Date: 2019-2020
Audience: Fulton County Producers and Homeowners
Project or Activity: Newsletter, News Articles, Facebook, emails, etc
Content or Curriculum: UK and other resource material
Inputs: Agent Time
Date: Program Year
Audience: Fulton County Producers
Project or Activity: PAT Training
Content or Curriculum: PAT Program
Inputs: Agent Time
Date: Annually
Audience: Adults and youth
Project or Activity: Food Preservation
Content or Curriculum: Various UK Lessons
Inputs: FCS, Homemakers, 4-H
Date: Summer 2020
Author: Benjamin Rudy
Major Program: Soils
Fulton County Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent, Ben Rudy visited the 2ng grade classes at Fulton County Elementary School after while they were studying a science lesson on soil and its importance. During his demonstration, he utilized an apple to represent the earth and slicing portions of the apple to represent how the earth in utilized by different percentages. Here is a breakdown of earth in percentages that was presented to the class by slicing the apple into smaller
Author: Anna Morgan
Major Program: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
Accessing healthcare services is critical to being healthy but in rural western Kentucky residents face a variety of access barriers. Ideally, rural residents should be able to have many simple medical services such as primary care, dental care, behavioral health, emergency care, and public health services readily but they do not. According to Healthy People 2020, access to healthcare is important for: overall physical, social, and mental health status, prevention of disease, detection and treat
Author: Anna Morgan
Major Program: Embracing Life as We Age (general)
Americans are traveling more than ever. Being prepared and organizing for a trip can makes travel experiences more pleasant for individuals and their families. The Fulton County Family and consumer Sciences Agent taught this lesson in 4 counties to 42 Purchase Area Homemakers. Learning to complete necessary travel arrangements and be prepared if the unexpected happens. Simple actions can keep individuals and property protected while traveling. This program guided participants in identifying comm
Author: Anna Morgan
Major Program: Nurturing Parenting
Four River Counties Community Early Childhood Council is of vital importance to the rural area of Far Western KY by serving Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton and Hickman Counties. Extension FCS Agent serves as the council chairman. Early Childhood grant advocates for the young child and their families by improving quality childcare, increasing parent knowledge, improving school readiness, and collaboration to meet the needs of the families. According to the 2019 Early Childhood Profiles Fulton Cou
Author: Anna Morgan
Major Program: Truth and Consequences: The Choice is Yours
Kentucky has one of the highest rates of drug abuse in our country; we fall in one of the top ten states in several drug use categories (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016). According to new KIP data, marijuana use among 10th graders is showing an upward trend. Therefore, there is a strong need for substance abuse prevention and intervention for our youth. The Fulton County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development and Family and Consumer Science partnered with the Youth Ser
