Extension
It Starts With Us
Practicing stewardship in natural resources.
Youth stewardship in natural resources
Dora Webb
Health
Volunteer Development
According to the 2012 EPA Kentucky Water Quality assessment report of the 24% (11, 806.3 of 49,000 miles) of Kentucky's assessed Creeks, streams and rivers assessed in KY 68.8% of them were found impaired. Although 47% of Kentucky is forested, nearly 780,000 acres of forest, primarily on private lands, were converted to other land uses in the last 15 years, according to Kentucky's Statewide Assessment for Forest Resources.
People, animals and plants are dependent on our Earth’s natural resources. Everything from the air we breathe, to the water we drink, to the soil we use for food production – these resources are vital to our existence. Therefore, it’s important that we care for and respect these resources. Understanding how our daily choices affect our environment, we can conserve natural resources and protect our environment for present and future generations.
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).
Youth will use scientific techniques, responsible practices and innovative technologies that will positively sustain the natural resources in the home, community and world.
Youth will engage in community projects related to natural resource conservation.
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.
Youth will make decisions in their daily lives that positively impact natural resources.
Youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect the environment in their home and community.
Youth will use problem solving and logical reasoning skill and apply them to environmental issues.
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.
Youth will develop an interest in environmental sciences and sustainable practices and technologies
Youth will gain knowledge of the interrelationship and interdependencies with an ecosystem.
Youth will identify the natural resources that are used within their home and community.
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.
Initial Outcome: Youth will develop an interest in environmental sciences and sustainable practices and technologies
Indicator: Number of youth who can identify the natural resources in their community.
Method: Survey and observations
Timeline: Academic year
Initial Outcome: Youth will gain knowledge of the interrelationship and interdependencies with an ecosystem.
Indicator: Number of youth who have gained an understanding of the ecosystems in nature.
Method: Survey and observations
Timeline: Academic year
Initial Outcome: Youth will identify the natural resources that are used within their home and community.
Indicator: Number of youth who can identify the natural resources in their community.
Method: Survey and observations
Timeline: Academic year
Intermediate Outcome: Youth will make decisions in their daily lives that positively impact natural resources.
Indicator: Number of youth who use their skills to conserve natural resources.
Method: Survey and observations
Timeline: Academic year
Intermediate Outcome: Youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect the environment in their home and community.
Indicator: Number of youth who use their skills to conserve natural resources.
Method: Survey and observations
Timeline: Academic year
Intermediate Outcome: Youth will use problem solving and logical reasoning skill and apply them to environmental issues.
Indicator: Number of your who have engaged in a community project related to natural resource conservation.
Method: Survey and observations
Timeline: 2018-19 Academic year
Long-term Outcome: Youth will use scientific techniques, responsible practices and innovative technologies that will positively sustain the natural resources in the home, community and world.
Indicator: Number of your who have engaged in a community project related to natural resource conservation.
Method: Survey and observations
Timeline: Ongoing
Long-term Outcome: Youth will use problem solving and logical reasoning skill and apply them to environmental issues.
Indicator: Number of youth who use their skills to conserve natural resources.
Method: Survey and observations
Timeline: Ongoing
Audience: Grades 9-12 Forestry Club
Project or Activity: Forestry Club, Win With Wood and Ky Wood Expo alternating years
Content or Curriculum: 4H Win with Wood curriculum, 4H Soils/Land Judging Curriculum
Inputs: Curriculum, Win with Wood and leaf collection kits, soil kits, State Fair Leaf Collection projects
Date: Academic year
Audience: KCC FFA/4H Club
Project or Activity: Land Judging Team
Content or Curriculum: 4H soils and Land judging curriculum
Inputs: Agent and volunteer training, soil kits
Date: 2019-2020
Audience: Grades 4-8
Project or Activity: Water and Environmental Quality
Content or Curriculum: 4H Healthy Water Healthy people, etc.
Inputs: Enviroscape, Environmental Fair Day, Army Core of Engineers
Date: Academic year
Audience: Grades K-12
Project or Activity: Chick Incubation
Content or Curriculum: Poultry and nutrition
Inputs: UK Poultry Curriculum
Date: Spring 2019
Author: Dora Centers
Major Program: Agriculture
In the Fall of 2020, Knott County 4-H partnered with KCCHS FFA to reach 176 youth in seven high school classrooms. It is unusual for us to do the chick incubation in the fall semester versus the spring, but this program served more than just its typical educational purpose. Using chick embryology, poultry basics, parts of the egg and taking a look at the careers within Kentucky’s poultry industry, this year, our 4-H chick incubation project assisted the classroom teacher in maintaining vir
