Support Community and Economic DevelopmentPlan of Work

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Madison County CES

Title:
Support Community and Economic Development
MAP:
Support Community and Economic Development
Agents Involved:
Amanda Sears, Brandon Sears, Aubrey Clark, Scott Darst, Jessica Hunley
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Communications and Expressive Arts
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Build Engaged and Empowered Communities – General
Situation:

Thriving local economies, engaged leaders, active communities are critical to the development of strong families. Citizens with a healthy sense of community are vital to the positive economic development. (CEDIC, 2015). And, increased volunteer capacity is critical for the sustainability of community infrastructure.


Programming focused on marketing, support of local agricultural markets, assistance to small business owners, and participation in community fairs and festivals can support community and economic development. Through extension programming local citizens are engaged, educated, and empowered to address issues in their communities.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Youth will use their communication and leadership skills to serve as leaders in the community, mentors for younger youth and to enter the workplace and/or institution of higher learning/trade schools.

Farmers realize increased profits due to expanded market opportunities.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth apply skills learned in 4-H in other activities at home, school and in the community by demonstrating leadership, teamwork and communication as well as setting and achieving goals.

Farmers add value to their products and will develop new marketing outlets.

Initial Outcomes:

Youth will increase their knowledge about leadership and how to be an effective leader, team player and communicator.

Youth and adults will enter items in the county fair.

Farmers attend programs through the Madison County Cooperative Extension Service focused on adding value to their products.

Commercial Vegetable and Farmer’s Market members are trained on how to handle produce safely.

Evaluation:

Outcome: Youth apply skills learned in 4-H in other activities at home, school and in the community by demonstrating leadership, teamwork and communication as well as setting and achieving goals. 

Indicator: Number of youth volunteering in the community, participating in community events, and entering items in the county fair.

Method: Observation of 4-H project work, 4-H Common Measures evaluations, and county fair entry records.

Timeline:Ongoing for project observations, July for County Fair entries


Outcome: Residents exhibit in the county fair Floral Hall

Indicator: Number and quality of exhibits at the fair

Method: Number of exhibits at the county fair

Timeline: August


Outcome: Farmers add value to their products and will develop new marketing outlets.

Indicator: Increased number of participants in farmer’s markets, auctions, and contracts

Method: Survey farmer’s market managers and talk to growers

Timeline: yearly


Outcome: Farmers realize increased profits due to expanded market opportunities

Indicator: Increased number of consignors in hay auction, CPH 45 sales, and bred heifer sales

Method: Sale data and producer surveys

Timeline: annually

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth Ages 5-18, adult exhibitors

Project or Activity: Madison County Fair Livestock Shows (Beef, Horse, Rabbit, Poultry and Dog)

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum, KDA Resources, County Fair Rules

Inputs: Volunteer time, space, awards, premiums, show tools and equipment, decorations, PA systems, others as needed

Date: July each Year


Audience: 4-H Youth ages 9-18

Project or Activity: 4-H Means Business

Content or Curriculum: Be the “E”

Inputs: 4-H Agent time, volunteer time, funding, curriculum, equipment, meeting space

Date: Annually

Audience: Madison County Fair goers and Exhibitors

Activity: Madison County Fair Livestock Shows (Goat, Cattle, Horse, Poultry)

Content: State and County Fair guidelines/rules

Input: All agents and Madison County Fair board members

Date: Annually, July


Audience: Madison County Residents, Homemakers, Youth

Activity: Floral Hall at the County Fair

Content: County Fair Catalog, Cultural Arts List

Input: Volunteers, Agents, Judges, Master Gardeners, fair guidelines, Homemakers

Date: Summer, annually


Audience: Madison County Producers

Activity: Scale Certification

Content: KDA guidelines

Input: KDA Regulatory Specialist, Horticulture Agent

Date: Spring


Audience: Madison County Farmer’s Market Participants and Producers

Activity: Micro processing

Content: UK

Input: Computer, UK Handouts, quizzes, FCS Agent

Date: every 3 to 4 years


Audience: Beef Cattle Producers

Activity: CPH-45 Feeder Calf Sales

Content or Curriculum: KDA and local sale committee guidelines

Inputs: ANR agent, KDA, KBN, Bluegrass Stockyards, and Madison County Beef Cattle Association

Date: Annually, December


Audience: Hay Producers

Activity: Regional Hay Auction

Content or Curriculum: Fair Board Auction Process/Rules

Input: ANR agent, Madison County Fair Board members, KDA mobile hay testing unit

Date: Annually, January


Audience: Farmer’s Market vendors

Activity: PBPT training

Content: KDA and UK resources

Input: KDA and UK

Date: Annually in spring



Success Stories

Madison Co Hay Auction 2021

Author: Brandon Sears

Major Program: Forages

      The most recent Ag Census lists Madison County as the 3rd largest hay producing county in the state of Kentucky with approximately 43,600 acres of hay. In an effort to help market local hay, the Madison County Extension ANR agent and the Madison County Fair Board partnered to coordinate a regional hay auction at the county fairgrounds.On Saturday January 9th, 2021 our 13th annual hay auction took place with 104 different lots of hay and straw offered for sale. This year

Full Story

Resource Donation Drive

Author: Jessica Hunley

Major Program: Economic Development

Over the course of several months, we have been accepting donations from community members of materials such as fabrics, scrapbooking materials, and/ or crafting supplies line yarns.  After a little time, we had substantial amounts of donations and after some restrictions were lifted and we were able to reopen to our Madison County Homemaker Groups, they were able to come in rotationally and periodically to  browse and identify any of the materials that they deemed essential to their p

Full Story
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