Youth and Adults Agriculture and Natural Resources Education, Adaptation, & SustainabilityPlan of Work

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Scott County CES

Title:
Youth and Adults Agriculture and Natural Resources Education, Adaptation, & Sustainability
MAP:
Agriculture Education and Sustainability
Agents Involved:
Allen, Flynt, Johnson, Simon
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
4-H Volunteer Programming
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Farmer's Markets
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Sustainable Agriculture
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, counties will either plan and conduct an Ag Day Program, designed to educate participants on the value of agriculture to Kentucky’s economy and the impact that agriculture has on their daily lives or teach Ag in the Classroom to elementary school students.

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.


Increased farm income

Increase the agricultural productivity

Maintain green space in our community

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 influence the purchase of Kentucky Proud products.

• Youth can practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems.


Clientele utilize futures and options trading

Clientele incorporate sound management practices

Clientele exhibit proper animal husbandry

Clientele utilize alternative feed sources

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.


Clientele learn how to utilize futures and options

Clientele learn how to incorporate sound management practices

Clientele learn proper animal husbandry

Evaluation:

Outcome: Youth engage in agricultural programs and increase profitability

Indicator: Community agriculture events, Record books

Method: Sign in sheets, Evaluations, Record Books, Interviews

Timeline: All year


Intermediate Outcome: Youth will participate in agriculture events and practice sound agricultural practices

Indicator: Livestock meetings, Community Agriculture events, County Fair, Community Gardens

Method: Sign in sheets, Evaluations, observation

Timeline: Throughout the year


Initial Outcome: Youth will learn basic principles of agriculture and where their food comes from

Indicator: Livestock meetings

Method: End of program evaluation

Timeline: Throughout the year


Outcome – Increase farm income, productivity and maintain green space

Indicator – Farm income, Acres of farms

Method – Ag statistics, Pre and post surveys

Timeline – Yearly


Outcome: Utilize futures and options trading, sound management and animal husbandry

Indicator: Farm income, acres of farms

Method: Pre and post, interviews

Timeline: yearly


Outcome: Increase knowledge in futures and options, sound management practices, and animal husbandry

Indicator: Changes in knowledge regarding the above

Method: Evaluation

Timeline: Yearly




Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth

Activity: 4-H Small Animal Projects

Content or Curriculum: OSU Publications, UK Publications, specialists

Inputs: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: All Year


Audience: Youth

Activity: Chick Incubation

Content or Curriculum: OSU Publications, UK Publications, National CCS curriculum

Inputs: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers, Scott County Schools

Date: School year


Audience: Youth

Activity: Youth Gardening Workshops

Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Gardening, 4H Publications, UK Publications

Inputs: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Summer


Audience: Youth

Activity: Ag Adventure Day

Content or Curriculum: Ag Education to Elementary Students

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Fall


Audience: 4-H/Youth

Activity: Livestock/Animal Project Groups/Country Ham

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Year Round


Audience: Youth

Activity: School programs Clubs and projects

Content or Curriculum: Agriculture

Inputs: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers, Scott County Schools

Date: Throughout the year


Audience: 4-H Leaders

Activity: Volunteer Livestock and Horse Certification

Content or Curriculum: KY 4-H Livestock/Horse Certification Curriculum

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Spring and Fall


Audience: Youth

Activity: Horse Club

Content or Curriculum: Horse Certification Materials

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Dates: Throughout the year


Audience: General Farm Public

Education: Audience: General Farm Public

Activity: Grazing programs, Intensive Forage Demonstrations

Content or Curriculum: Back-grounding programs utilizing forages

Date: Fall


Activity: Master Cattlemen/Marketer/Stocker Programs

Content or Curriculum: Cattle Management

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Fall and Spring


Activity: Beginning Farmer Program, Mentor Sessions

Content or Curriculum: General Information on Farming

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Throughout Year


Activity: Farmer’s Market

Content or Curriculum: Direct Consumer Sales

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Summer


Activity: BQA & Livestock Handling & Care Training

Content or Curriculum: BQA management practices to improve production and handling

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Throughout the Year


Activity: Master Gardeners

Content or Curriculum: Continued Volunteer Training; Education on Gardening

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Throughout the Year


Activity: Ag Tour

Content or Curriculum: Learning more about existing enterprise in the county & touring new to add to farm income

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Summer


Audience: 4-H/Youth

Activity: Livestock/Animal Project Groups

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Year Round


Audience: General Public

Activity: Farm City Field Day

Content or Curriculum: Agriculture and Natural Resources

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Fall


Audience: General Public

Activity: Farm City Banquet

Content or Curriculum: Agriculture and Natural Resources

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Fall


Audience: General Public

Activity: Master Cattlemen/ Marketer/ Stocker Program; Feeder Calf Grading Schools

Content or Curriculum: Master Cattleman

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Fall


Audience: General Public

Activity: Horse College

Content or Curriculum: Horse College

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Fall


Audience: General Public

Activity: Agriculture Economics Training

Content or Curriculum: Agricultural Economics

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Fall


Audience: 4-H Leaders

Activity: Volunteer Livestock Certification

Content or Curriculum: KY 4-H Livestock Certification Curriculum

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Spring and Fall


Audience: General Public

Activity: Home Horticulture Series

Content or Curriculum: Gardening, Fruit Production

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Dates: Spring and Summer


Audience: General Public

Activity: Community Garden

Content or Curriculum: Gardening

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Dates: Spring and Summer


Audience: Detention Center Inmates

Activity: Vegetable Production Classes

Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener, UK Publications

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Dates: Winter Spring


Audience: General Public

Activity: Master Gardener Classes

Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener Curriculum

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Dates: Fall


Audience: 4-H Youth

Activity: Earth Day

Content or Curriculum: Natural Resources

Input: Staff, materials

Date: Spring


Audience:Youth

Activity: School Garden

Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Fall, Spring


Audience:Youth

Activity: Community Garden

Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Spring, Summer


Audience:Youth

Activity: County Fair Skillathon

Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: June 2016


Audience: General Public

Activity: Pastures Please! & Farm and Facilities Expo for Horse Owners

Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Winter program, Summer field day


Audience: General Public

Activity: Farm Commodity Production Updates

Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Winter programming, Summer- on farm demonstrations/ field walks


Audience: General Public

Activity: Beef and Stocker Cattle Conference

Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Fall programs


Audience: Women of General Public

Activity: Farm School for Women

Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Summer


Audience: General Public

Activity: Opening the Barn Doors to Adults

Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Fall


Audience: General Public

Activity: Round Table Discussions Regarding Ag Hot Topics

Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Fall and Winter


Audience: General Public

Activity: Ag Lenders Conference

Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Winter


Audience: General Public

Activity: Farm Start

Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Spring


Audience: General Public

Activity: Alternative Agriculture Options

Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Spring


Audience: General Public

Activity: Leasing Options for Landowners

Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Winter


Audience: General Public

Activity: Tobacco & Grain Crop Production Updates

Content or Curriculum: Agriculture & Natural Resources

Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers

Date: Fall, Winter












Success Stories

Edible Soil Profile at Royal Spring Middle School

Author: Benjamin Conner

Major Program: Soils

Edible Soil Profile at Royal Spring Middle School

While more of the population is growing up in an urban/suburban landscape, less are being exposed to agriculture and natural resources. According to the 2010 Census data, 32.5% of the total population in Scott County live in rural areas, thus 67.5% live in urban/suburban areas. Soil is a fundamental necessity to agriculture and natural resources. The extension agent took part of the Royal Spring Middle School Conservation Education Tour which was organized by the Scott County Conservation Distri

Full Story

Eden Shale Farm Tour

Author: Benjamin Conner

Major Program: Beef

Eden Shale Farm Tour

Farmers in Scott County continually need to evolve their practices to become more efficient in their operations. Beef cattle production is an icon in Scott County. According to the 2017 Agriculture Census, all cattle and calves on farm total 28,509 head. Eden Shale farm is a demonstration beef farm in Owenton, KY that is operated by the Kentucky Beef Network. It serves as a valuable tool to farmers in the state because new ideas and practices are implemented at the farm and then farmers can visi

Full Story

BQCA Trainings

Author: Benjamin Conner

Major Program: Beef

BQCA Trainings

Beef cattle production is composed of several different part, one of which is animal husbandry. According to Meriam-Webster the definition of animal husbandry is, “a branch of agriculture concerned with the production and care of domestic animals.” To ensure that producers continue to improve their animal husbandry practices, the extension agent offered Beef Quality and Care Assurance (BQCA) training over four dates from January to March. Over those four dates a total of 26 Scott Cou

Full Story

Baleage Program Success

Author: Benjamin Conner

Major Program: Forages

Baleage Program Success

Producing feedstuff for livestock is important in Scott County because of the large importance of beef cattle to Scott County agriculture. Utilizing forages for feed has always been part of the process. Most commonly cattle will graze forages or forages will be cut, then dried to low moisture, and finally stored for use during months that the forages are not growing. The process of producing high moisture hay, or baleage, has been more popular in the recent years. This high moisture hay does all

Full Story

Active and Engaged: Community Outreach Strategies for Extension Horticulture and COVID-19

Author: Sharon Flynt

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

In March 2020, Kentucky Cooperative Extension began working remotely no in person meetings.  Thus began the exploration of ways to engage clients in horticulture activities at home.  The Scott Co. cooperative Extension Horticulture agent created video information, webinars and hands-on packets and plants to pick up   at home.How to Grow an Easter Basket:  A step-by-step PowerPoint video in time for the Easter Holidays, 2020.Garden in a Sack with SNAP Education Assistant - pac

Full Story
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