Securing Financial Stability for our community to build a better communityPlan of Work

Back to Plans for the County

Crittenden County CES

Title:
Securing Financial Stability for our community to build a better community
MAP:
Securing Financial Security and Management
Agents Involved:
Heimgartner ANR, Tramble FCS, Barnes 4-H
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Communications and Expressive Arts
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Financial Education - General
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
Situation:

Crittenden County is a very rural community with not a lot of professional job opportunities available and a low median income. The median household income is $41,114 which is almost $5,500 less than the state average and  $16,500 lower than the national average. The Poverty level is 3% higher than the national average.  2019 data of people age 25 years and older shoes that 83 % graduated high school or obtained a GED and 17 % had no schooling or dropped our before graduating; 13% of the population had a bachelor degree or higher.

Due to the need for both parents to work in today's economy the number of stay at home parents has decreased and many parents have had to rely on schools teaching life skills to their children. With societal changes and cuts in school budgets, many schools have decreased or even eliminated FCS instruction.

Life choices are often based more on personal desires rather than factual information and people often turn to the internet which may not be researched based or factual resulting in poor decision making in the home.

4-H offers projects in FCS which assist youth in becoming responsible and contributing members of the family and contributing members of Kentucky communities. At the same time, these life skills prepare youth for the families they will establish as adults.

In 2017, Crittenden County had 575 farm operations on 157946 acres, which represented 72.6% of total county land.  Market value of Ag products sold was $39,266,000 for the county with $11,846,000 in animal sales and $27,420,000 in crop sales. The average farm size is 275 acres with an overwhelming 89% of farms 499 acres and below.

Long-Term Outcomes:

-Increase farm economic sustainability

-Increased new crop marketing opportunities

-Maximize or extend resources to maintain or increase financial stability

-Be responsible and contributing individuals and family members

-Gain and maintain employment through life skill development

-Contribute to a safe, pleasant and productive home and family

-Gain skills to make wise financial decisions

Intermediate Outcomes:

-Agriculture producers will research new crop opportunities by utilizing marketing tools and decision making resources

-Examine personal and financial stability on a regular basis (at least annually)

-Utilize and practice life skills in projects and life situations

-Project a positive image and self-confidence

-Practice responsible consumer and financial decision-making

-Make choices that lead to responsible and beneficial results

-Adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employ-ability in the future

Initial Outcomes:

-Producers will have access to up to date information for production agriculture decision making

-Participants will identify short, medium and long term personal goals and objectives related to maintaining and improving their financial stability

-Gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Sciences projects

and programs

-Understand the decision-making process

-Gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action

-Learn to read and follow instructions

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Utilization of marketing and financial planning tools

Indicator: increase in clients utilizing resources

Method: personal visits and consultation

Timeline: 2022


Intermediate Outcome: increase in new crop opportunities

Indicator: increase in different farm products being marketed

Method: observation

Timeline: continuously 2022 and beyond 


Long-term Outcome: Increase farm economic sustainability

Indicator: increase in amount of farms that are economically stable

Method: observation

Timeline: 2022 and beyond


Initial Outcome: Youth will learn skills that they can use for career choices to help supplement their income and will have a better understanding how much it costs to live after high school/college graduation

Indicator: pre/post evaluation, number of youth participating in school enrichment programs

Method: School Enrichment, curriculum

Timeline: 2022-2025


Intermediate Outcome: Improve employ-ability through practical living skills and continued education practices

Indicator: pre/post evaluation, number of youth participating in school enrichment programs

Method: School Enrichment, curriculum

Timeline: 2022-2025


Long-term Outcome: Students are better prepared for college and the workforce when graduating

Indicator: High School drop out rate, student GPA, evaluation,

Method: School Enrichment, curriculum

Timeline: 2022-2025


Initial Outcome: clients would learn basic life skills that will allow them to become helpful community members

Indicator: number of people attending the program

Method: educational programs

Timeline: 2022-2025


Intermediate Outcome: audience will put things they learned in the program to use. Such as making a spending plan, budget, and money management

Indicator: continued attendance of program

Method: survey, pre/post test

Timeline: 2022-2025


Long-term Outcome: evaluate and make changes in their daily routine when in regards to finance

Indicator: clients can see their behavior change

Method: survey

Timeline: 2022-2025

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Agriculture Producers

Project or Activity: niche marketing workshops

Content or Curriculum: Extension publications

Inputs: agents, specialists, agriculture groups

Date: 2022


Audience: limited resource audiences, young adults, adults

Project or Activity: Basic Life Skills, including money management

Content or Curriculum: educational programs

Inputs: agents, specialists

Date: 2022-2025


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Reality Store, A.P.E.S., YELP, Entrepreneurship Clubs, County and State Fair Projects

Content or Curriculum: School Enrichment, 4-H Curriculum, Moneywise, Be the E, Building Your Future

Inputs: Agents, volunteers, school system, local businesses, Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, Marion Tourism, Festivals

Date: 2022-2025



Success Stories

Navigating Tax Exemption Changes for Farmers and Agribusiness

Author: Dee Heimgartner

Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

Navigating Tax Exemption Changes for Farmers and Agribusiness

During the 2020 legislative session the KY General Assembly passed a bill that would change the process for obtaining agriculture tax exemptions for farm use. The Crittenden County ANR Agent Dee Heimgartner saw that this change could have an impact on a broad range of clients, farmers, land owners and even small businesses in the community. Heimgartner set out to educate the public on these changes. The change would require farmers to fill out a new form to obtain an agriculture exemption number

Full Story

Money Habitudes online

Author: Nola Janeen Tramble

Major Program: Financial Education - General

Financial education programs often highlight financial literacy skills such as budgeting and managing credit card debt; however, these skills do not tap into the emotional and practical issues that cause people to react irrationally with money. Financial decisions are most often motivated by emotional need as opposed to logical knowledge. To address this concern, the Crittenden County Cooperative Extension Service utilized the Money Habitudes program to emphasize the importance of developing a h

Full Story

High Fertilizer Prices Create Decisions to Pinch Pennies

Author: Dee Heimgartner

Major Program: Forages

Fertilizer prices have increased drastically over the past year. This increase has caused several producers to question whether they should cut fertilizer rates on their hay fields. One Crittenden County hay producer called ANR Agent Dee Heimgartner to ask her advice on what type of nitrogen fertilizer should be used. The producer knew that his hay supply would be short for the number of cows he has if he didn't do at least a little fertilizer so he made the decision to add 50 pounds of nitr

Full Story

First Time County Ag Investment Program

Author: Dee Heimgartner

Major Program: Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development

Crittenden County Conservation District administered the first ever County Ag Investment Program (CAIP) for Crittenden County. Agriculture and Natural Resources agent Dee Heimgartner worked closely with program administrator, County Ag Development Board and producers to advertise and provide educational opportunities for this program. The CAIP was a 50% cost share for participating producers. Over $25,000 of agriculture development funds was invested back into Crittenden County with 23 producers

Full Story
Back to Plans for the County