Extension
It Starts With Us
Animal Science & Natural Resource Education
Natural Resources Conservation
Adkins, Wilson
Beef
Small Ruminants (includes sheep, goats) and Exotic animals
Chemical Management
Health
Pulaski County is considered a rural county but many of its residents and children are not from a rural environment. Pulaski County has approximately 1700 farmers but our population is 63,000 (2010) and is projected to grow to 71,000 by 2020. Many will move here to retire while others will come for job opportunities. Pulaski County has many natural resources: Lake Cumberland, many acres of forested land, vast wildlife and managed livestock, and good soils.
Today's youth and adults must learn to responsibly enjoy and conserve the natural resources that Pulaski County is fortunate to have. As the county grows, many of our natural resources may be destroyed or threatened. Extension has a responsibility to educate our residents about these potential threats and the importance of conserving what we have.
Data from the last 20 years shows that more than 70% of Pulaski Co Home & Garden soil samples are in the adequate to high range for phosphorous. Overabundance of phosphorous is bad for our water systems and is wasteful.
Beekeeping has grown in Pulaski County. The association has doubled its membership over the last few years. The Beginning Bee Schools have been hugely successful, increasing our base number of beekeepers by 30-40 over the last few years. Therefore, honey bee and pollinator health is of great importance in this county.
Adults and youth will maintain or improve the natural resources on their properties. Lake Cumberland will remain a clean water source. Soils will be conserved on the farm and at home. Managed livestock and unmanaged wildlife will survive and thrive. The number of beekeepers will increase or remain steady.
Adults and youth will mentor others in keeping bees and become involved in the local beekeepers association.
Home gardeners will take soil samples of their properties and follow UK recommendations for fertility for their home landscapes.
Adults and youth will plant pollinator-friendly gardens.
Adults and youth will become beekeepers.
Home gardeners will learn about soil testing.
Adults and youth will learn the importance of conserving wildlife (native pollinators), bees, and which plants support them at their homes or schools.
Adults and youth become more proficient at the production of livestock.
Initial Outcome: Adults and youth become beekeepers
Indicator:
Method: personal communication
Timeline: Spring 2020
Initial Outcome: Adults and youth learn about soil testing
Indicator: number of soil tests increase
Method:
Timeline: throughout year 2020-21
Intermediate Outcome: Adults and youth will be involved in beekeeping association
Indicator: attendance at meetings
Method:
Timeline: throughout year 2020-21
Long-term Outcome: Same or more number of beekeepers
Indicator: presence at local association meetings or inter schools
Method:
Timeline: throughout year 2020-21
Audience: Adults and youth interested in beekeeping
Project or Activity: Beginner Beekeeping School
Content or Curriculum: Notebook containing various UK and other university publications
Inputs: KY bee specialists, local beekeepers
Date: Winter 2019-20
Audience: Home gardeners and youth
Project or Activity: various toolbox classes, youth career days, community events
Content or Curriculum: powerpoints, displays, UK publications
Inputs: Master Gardeners, UK specialists, Hort Agents, UK publications, other professionals
Date: throughout year 2020-21
Audience: Beekeepers or other interested adults
Project or Activity: various activities in the hive at the Extension office
Content or Curriculum: various, will use local knowledge, topics such as requeening, splitting the hive, combining hives, honey extraction, etc(as needed)
Inputs: experienced beekeepers, hives, all equipment pertaining to beekeeping
Date: April 2020-June 2021
Audience: Home gardeners
Project or Activity: Rain Garden workshop
Content or Curriculum: UK publications
Inputs: UK specialists, local greenhouse
Date: spring 2020
Author: Trent Adkins
Major Program: Beef
With the way that 2020 went the Pulaski County Cattlemen's felt that it was important to try and keep things as normal as possible. Each year the Cattlemen's Association along with other community groups put on the annual Pulaski county field day. With that being said there was no way to have that meeting this year like we normally would. So the board of directors came up with a different way to try and reach out. They held the annual meeting at the local drive-in. This gave us the
Author: Trent Adkins
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
With the changes in the past year and all of the challenges that has came form 2020 it seemed like the right time for Pulaski County ANR to get started on Social Media. With everything going on the opportunity to get more information out for the public to see was very important. This is able to be done with the help of Jennifer Keith one of our Pulaski County support staff. This has allowed us the to get information out faster to the public about upcoming meetings on zoom or deadlines that
Author: Trent Adkins
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
One of the task that was ask by the producers of Pulaski county of the new Agriculture and Natural Resources agent was to start running articles in the local paper like the horticulture and FCS agent does.To honor this request we started a weekly newspaper article that runs in the Sunday paper, and online at the commonwealth journals website and the ANR page of the extension website. These articles try to reach a wide variety of topics, while also hitting topic that are revelante at the ti
