Core Program Area: AgriculturePlan of Work

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Marion County CES

Title:
Core Program Area: Agriculture
MAP:
Empowering youth to reach their full potential
Agents Involved:
Amanda Sublett, Christan Miracle
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Agriculture
Situation:

Kentucky Agricultural Facts: 

Kentucky has much to offer in the way of agriculture. Of Kentucky’s total acreage (25.4 million acres), over 50% (12.9 million acres) is farmland (NASS, 2019). Kentucky farms produce a variety of agricultural products. The top five agricultural commodities (based on sales) in the Commonwealth include broilers, all other animals and products, soybeans, corn, and cattle and calves (USDA ERS, 2020). Kentucky agricultural sales in 2018 were reported at $5.9 billion (USDA ERS, 2020). Of the 75,966 farms in Kentucky, over 90% are individually or family owned. The average age of a Kentucky producer is 56.2 years old, with over 55% of producers 55 years old or older (NASS, 2019). 

Situation: 

Wendell Berry (1990), Kentucky novelist, poet, environmentalist, and farmer, stated that “…eating is an agricultural act” (p.1). Unfortunately, for many, there is a disconnect between the food we eat and where that food comes from. Today’s society lacks understanding regarding agricultural production and processing (Spielmaker and Leising, 2013). The Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program strives to increase agricultural literacy among youth in Kentucky. The Agricultural Education in Secondary Schools Committee established by the National Research Council (1988) described an agriculturally literate person as one who’s “…understanding of the food and fiber system would include its history and its current economic, social, and environmental significance to all” (p. 8). The National Agriculture Literacy Logic Model defines an agriculturally literate person as one “…who understands and can communicate the source and value of agriculture as it affects our quality of life” (Spielmaker et al., 2014, p. 2). One of the key initiatives in Kentucky 4-H is to increase a young person’s awareness of the impact agriculture has on his/her daily life.  

 

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Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth ages 9-18  

Project or Activity:  Livestock, Dairy, and Equine Educational Meetings and Activities  

Content or Curriculum:  KLVCR Materials  

Inputs:  Certified Volunteer Leaders, Cattlemen, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Parents  

Date:  July-June 2020, 2021  


Audience:  Youth ages 9-18   

Project or Activity:  4-H Horticulture Judging Contest?  

Content or Curriculum:  NJHA Material, 4-H Horticulture   

Inputs:  ?Local nurseries, grocery stores, producers, forestry specialists, & 4-H Agent  

Date:  June - August 2020, 2021  


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Project or Activity:   4-H Country Ham Program  

Content or Curriculum:  How to Make a Country Ham Publication; How to Cure a Country Ham Video  

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Success Stories

Farmers Market

Author: Christan Miracle

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Covid-19 brought many changes for 2020. A food scare and shortage on the shelves of grocery stores was one the biggest problems many people faced during this time of a global pandemic. Local Farmers Markets thrived during this time, and the Lebanon, KY Farmers Market was one of those markets.In the past years, the Lebanon, KY Farmers Market had a small number of consistent vendors.  On average you could find 5-6 vendors on any given market day. The products they sold were of good quality bu

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