Extension
It Starts With Us
Agriculture & Environment Education for Youth
Advancing Agriculture & Horticulture
Dana Anderson, Jessica Bessin, Linda McClanahan
Volunteer Development
Health
Agriculture
Local Food Systems
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.
Agriculture is Kentucky’s largest employer and accounts for the greatest amount of revenue in Kentucky’s economy. Every person in Kentucky is impacted by Agriculture every day in the foods that they eat and the fibers that are used in their clothes, homes, work places and vehicles.
Youth will:
• Engage in entrepreneurial enterprise
• Gain and maintain employment through life skill development
• Become advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems
• Use scientific techniques, responsible practices and innovative technologies to positively sustain the natural resources in the home, community and world
• Engage in community projects related to natural resource conservation
Youth will:
• Practice and apply skills and knowledge in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant science, horticulture and animal science
• Adopt and practice skills that contribute to employ-ability
• Be able to explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others
• Set a goal and accomplish it
• Influence the purchase of Kentucky Proud products
• Practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems
• Make decisions in their daily lives positively impacting natural resources
• Adopt practices to conserve and protect the environment in their home and community.
• Use problem solving and logical reasoning skills and apply them to environmental issues
Youth will:
• Develop an interest in environmental science and sustainable practices and technologies
• Gain knowledge of the interrelationship and inter-dependencies with an ecosystem
• Identify the natural resources that are used within their home and community
• Gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant science, horticulture and animal science
• Gain an understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems
• Develop valuable life-skills, including decision making, communications, record-keeping, leadership and service
Initial Outcome: The number of youth who demonstrate a skill that was learned and improved by participating in a Environmental program or 4-H ANR project.
Indicator: Number of individuals indicating change in behavior
Method: immediate evaluation and personal testimonials
Timeline: on-going
Intermediate Outcome: The number of youth that keep production, performance or financial records on their 4-H agriculture projects.
Indicator: Youth completing record books for the livestock/horse clubs
Method: records turned into club leaders
Timeline: on-going
Long-term Outcome: Number of youth who understands the role of agriculture in the production of food and fiber
Indicator: Youth acknowledge their understanding
Method: group evaluation during Ag Day
Timeline: on-going
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: UK College of Ag Round-Up
Content or Curriculum: UK Recruitment
Inputs: Extension staff, Mercer County School System, Burgin School System
Date: August-September
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Adult Country Ham Workshop
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Country Ham
Inputs: CES Staff, CES Facilities
Date: January
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Chick Incubation
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Chick Incubation
Inputs: Volunteers, Mercer County School System, Burgin School System, Extension Staff and resources
Date: Spring
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Ag Day with 3rd graders,
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Animal Science, Commodity organization materials/information
Inputs: volunteers, Mercer County School System, Burgin School System, Extension Staff and resources
Date: Fall
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Animal Science Clubs (Dairy, Country Ham, Livestock, Rabbit, Horse)
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Animal Science curriculum
Inputs: Extension staff, Extension resources, certified livestock leaders, Mercer County School System, Burgin School System
Date: ongoing
Activity: Media (news articles, newsletters, videos, podcasts, social media - Facebook
Content or Curriculum: Exclusives, 4-H Agent News Releases, publications, etc.
Inputs: Extension Staff, Extension Specialist University of Kentucky Ag Communications
Date: Year-long (ongoing)
Audience: Youth
Activity: Plant Camp
Content or Curriculum: Junior Master Gardener Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Staff, Volunteers, Extension Facility
Date: Summer
Audience: Youth/Day Treatment
Activity: Beekeeping
Content or Curriculum: KY State, Ky Beekeeping Association,
Inputs: Extension Staff, Fort Harrod Beekeepers
Date: ongoing
Author: Linda McClanahan
Major Program: Agriculture
Mercer County Extension Office, Mercer County Farm Bureau Federation and Mercer County FFA have successfully teamed up in the past with Mercer County Schools and Mercer County Family Resource Youth Services Center to incorporate agriculture in the classroom and raise students' agricultural awareness. Even with COVID-19 restrictions limited learning to the virtual environment there was a desire from all parties involved to continue these successful programs including FarmSCool Week (Preschool
Author: Dana Anderson
Major Program: Agriculture
Teaching youth entrepreneurial skills is not being taught in the traditional school classroom today. To equip our youth we offered youth the opportunity to sell their 4-H market livestock and country hams at Mercer County Investment in Youth Sale. The objectives of the program are youth learned how to engage in contract and understand that they had requirements in order to participate in the sale. The integral part of the program is youth are creating a networking system. This requires youth to
Author: Dana Anderson
Major Program: Agriculture
In light of COVID-19, Mercer County Cooperative Extension Agents and staff teamed up with Mercer County Fair & Horse Show Board and Mercer County FFA to develop a plan that would allow Mercer County to continue with its long-standing, rich tradition of the county fair. Mercer County 4-H and ANR agents worked diligently with Mercer County FFA advisors to develop a set of guidelines that would allow the livestock shows to happen safely for exhibitors and staff alike. Mercer County
Author: Dana Anderson
Major Program: Agriculture
The Kentucky 4-H Country Ham Project gives young people the opportunity to learn about the value-added project that focuses’ on the food preservation process and the history of country hams. In addition, youth also develop their public speaking skills by presenting a speech about hams. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit there were major ramifications for Extension 4-H programming with many events postponed or canceled due to the restrictions related to social distancing. Across the state
Author: Dana Anderson
Major Program: Agriculture
Mercer County Extension Office, Mercer County Farm Bureau Federation, and Mercer County FFA have successfully teamed up in the past with Mercer County Schools and Mercer County Family Resource Youth Services Center to incorporate agriculture in the classroom and raise students' agricultural awareness. Even with COVID-19 restrictions limited learning to the virtual environment, there was a desire from all parties involved to continue these successful programs including FarmSCool Week (Prescho
Author: Jessica Bessin
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
The Cooperative Extension Service of Mercer County continually seeks to expose new audiences to the resources available to all Kentuckians. The Mercer County Extension Agents for Horticulture and Family Consumer Sciences with the 4-H Youth Development Program Assistant teamed up to elaborate on existing programs to reach new clientele. Family pumpkin fun day, an event offered in the fall, taught families about how pumpkins are grown, the varieties available, and how to use them in preparing
