Local Food Systems DevelopmentPlan of Work

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Owen County CES

Title:
Local Food Systems Development
MAP:
Accessing Nutritious Foods
Agents Involved:
FCS Agent, 4 H Agent, Ag Agent, Program Assistant, and NEP Assistants
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Horticulture, Commercial
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Situation:

In 2003, a farm and craft market was developed by Leadership Owen County 2002 as their community service project. This market has provided an outlet for farmers looking to diversify their operation and crafters who need an additional outlet for their products. In 2015 Owen County Farmer and Craft Market gross over $49,000 for producers and crafters. Nutrition education programs help families gain access to food and stretch food dollars; communities to decrease hunger; and local food assistance programs to educate recipients on healthy and safe food preparation methods. Agents and assistants are pivotal in training consumers and producers to maximize local access to food products from farm to table.

Long-Term Outcomes:

-Increase consumers access to recipes that feature healthy choices focused on locally grown products.

-Increase per person average fruits and vegetables consumption by one or more servings per day.

- Food management skill and nutrition habits will be improved.

-Obesity and burden of chronic disease will decrease.

Intermediate Outcomes:

-Increase purchase of locally grown fruits and vegetables.

-Increase consumption of locally grown fruits and vegetables.

-Improve food preparation skills, food management skills, food safety and nutrition habits.

-Consumers prepare and enjoy more healthy, home cooked family meals.

-Youth and adults are inspired to choose nutritious foods.

-Eligible citizens increase redemption of Farmer's Market Nutrition Program benefits.

Initial Outcomes:

-Conduct educational programs, demonstrations, distribute samples and educational materials.

-Increase nutritional knowledge of adults and youth.

-Impact policies, systems and environmental factors that affect access to nutritious food to children and adults.

-Citizens understand the importance of home cooked family meals to physical health and family health.

-Participants gather cooking knowledge and confidence in ability to prepare healthy meals.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increase the nutritional knowledge of adults and youth.

Indicator: Number of individuals who reported increase knowledge on nutrition.

Method: Pre/Post written evaluation. Web-NEERS reports. Market Survey.

Timeline: July thru June (2020-2024)


Intermediate Outcome: Improve food preparation skills, food-management skills, food safety, and nutrition habits.

Indicator: Number of individuals who reported implemented food preparation practices, food safety, and food-management skills.

Method: Pre/Post written evaluations. Web-NEERS reports. Market Survey.

Timeline: July thru June (2020-2024)


Long-term Outcome: Increase consumer's access to recipes that feature healthy choices focused on locally grown products.

Indicator: Food insecurity decreases.

Method: Pre/Post written evaluations. Web-NEERS reports. Market surveys. Change in food security data from the Kentucky County Agriculture and Food Profiles.

Timeline: July thru June (2020-2024)

Learning Opportunities:

Initial Outcome: Provide a local fresh food market to the community 

Audience: Farmer's Market Vendors

Project or Activity: Market Management meetings & training

Content or Curriculum: Produce Best Practices (PBA) Training, Nutrition Education Programs(NEP)

Inputs: Ag & FCS agents and Program Assistant, KDA farmer's market director

Date: January-May (2020-2024)


Initial Outcome: Consumers taste and become inspired to purchase fresh food and try a healthy recipe 

Audience: Consumers & vendors at the market

Project or Activity: Weekly demonstrations at the market

Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud & FCS Resources

Inputs: Ag Agent, 4H Agent, FCS agent, program assistant, NEP Assistants

Date: May-October (2020-2024)


Initial Outcome: Informing the audience of healthy nutritious products and recipes

Audience: Consumers & Farmers Market Vendors

Project or Activity: Newsletter using local produce

Content or Curriculum: FCS Resources and Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud

Inputs: FCS & Ag Agents, Program assistant and NEP assistants

Date: weekly May thru October (2020-2024)


Initial Outcome: Youth will have access to fresh, healthy, nutritious foods.

Audience: 5th thru 8th-grade students

Project or Activity: Farmer's Market at the School

Content or Curriculum: Plate It Up, Kentucky Proud

Inputs: FCS, 4-H, & ANR agents, Program Assistant, Farmer's Market Vendors & NEP Assistants

Date: September  (2020-2024)


Initial Outcome: Youth about the nutritious recipes you can make from fresh food. 

Audience: Youth 9-19

Project or Activity: Meet Me at the Market

Content or Curriculum: Superstar Chef Goes to Farmer's Market

Inputs: FCS & 4-H Agents, Program assistant, and NEP assistants

Date: Summer (2020-2024)


Intermediate Outcome: Beef producers will learn what it takes to finish a beef 

Audience: Owen County Beef Producers

Project or Activity: Pasture to Plate Program

Content or Curriculum: Research-based approved publications and presentations developed by UK Livestock Specialist

Inputs: Publications, UK Animal Science Specialists, guest speakers, live presentations, and demonstrations at Eden Shale Farm and U.K. Meat Lab. FCS, 4-H, & ANR agents, Program Assistant,& NEP Assistants

Date: April-November (2020-2024)


Initial Outcome: New producers will know where to find the resources to have a successful operation

Audience:  Owen County New and Beginning Producers

Project or Activity: Farm Start Program

Content or Curriculum: UK Center for Crop Diversity's Farm Start

Inputs: Local producers, UK Center of Crop Diversity Specialists.  FCS, 4-H, & ANR agents, Program Assistant,& NEP Assistants

Date: February-June (2020-2024)


Initial Outcome: Community will learn by doing how to raise healthy and nutritious food 

Audience: General Public

Project or Activity: Community Garden

Content or Curriculum: UK Publications, SNAP Resources, Plate It Up

Inputs:  FCS, 4-H, & ANR agents, Program Assistant,& NEP Assistants

Date: On-going (2020-2024)



Success Stories

Just the Beginning

Author: David Gabbard

Major Program: Agriculture

County Fairs can be so much fun with all the lights, rides and countless booths filled with sugary based foods, but for some it is an opportunity to show the community their creative sides, by entering exhibits. Last week the Owen County Cooperative Extension Office helped the Owen County Fair Board put on the Annual Owen County 4-H Fair and Horse Show. The Owen County 4-H Youth Development Agent urged parents and students to bring projects that they either did in a 4-H club meeting, at school,

Full Story
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