Extension
It Starts With Us
Youth in Agriculture
Agriculture
Janet Turley & Julie Brown
Volunteer Development
Health
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). 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. 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. In agriculture and conservation techniques youth are using to learning scientific research techniques, responsible practices and innovative technologies that positively address science, engineering and technology issues in Kentucky and globally. Through the Land Grant University and Extension system, 4-H can expand its impact and extend its reach in science, engineering and technology (4-H SET) by providing opportunities for hands-on scientific learning and discovery in 4-H clubs and school programs. 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 and conservation to the commonwealth.
•Youth will engage in entrepreneurial enterprise.
•Youth will gain and maintain employment through life skill development.
•You will be advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems.
•Youth will choose a career path in science, engineering or technology subject matter.
•Youth will use scientific techniques, responsible practices and innovative technologies that will positively sustain the agriculture and natural resources in the home, community and world.
•Youth will engage in community projects related to natural resource conservation.
•Youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect the environment in their home and community that will positively impact natural resources.
•Youth will use problem solving and logical reasoning skills and apply them to environmental issues.
•Youth will demonstrate and share new abilities in agriculture and science, engineering and technology with others.
•Teens will mentor younger 4-H’ers.
•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.
•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 practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems.
•Youth will develop an interest in environmental science and sustainable practices and technologies.
•Youth will identify the natural resources that are used within their home and community.
•Youth will be introduced to careers in SET and agriculture.
•Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant science, horticulture and animal science.
•Youth will gain and understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems.
•Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision- making, communications, record-keeping, leadership and service.
Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge in animal science, and conservation
Indicator: Number of youth participating in 4-H livestock and horse activities and SET projects
Method: Enrollment in projects and clubs
Timeline: July 2019 - June 2020
Intermediate Outcomes: Youth apply their knowledge and skills by competing in livestock and horse contest, forestry field day, and completing SET projects
Indicator: Number of youth earning top ten awards at local, district and state competitions
Method: Number of youth competing in competitions
Timeline: July 2016-June 2020
Long-term Outcomes: Youth becoming owners of their own livestock/horse operation and/or adopting a career in the agriculture, science, engineering, & technology, or conservation industry.
Indicator: Number of youth livestock owners and number of 4-H alumni who enter the workforce in the career field
Method: Word of mouth, observation, and survey
Timeline: On going
Audience: 4-H Poultry Project Members
Project or Activity: Poultry Club Members
Content or Curriculum: Avian Bowl & Poultry Judging
Inputs: Volunteer time, poultry learning lab, project books, facilities
Date: July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020
Audience: 4-H Horse Project Members
Project or Activity: Horse Club Meetings/Ride Nights/Competitions/Banquet
Content or Curriculum: Horsemanship, Hippology, Judging, Exhibition, Certified
Leaders Curriculum, Showmanship, Horse Judging
Manual, Award Recognition
Inputs: Agent’s Time, Judging Classes, Judging Cards, Computer Announcer,
Written Tests, Ribbons, Staff Assistant’s Time, volunteer time, horse
learning lab, project books, facilities
Date: July 1, 2019– June 30, 2020
Audience: 4-H Livestock Project Members
Project or Activity: Livestock Project Club
Content or Curriculum: Livestock Volunteer Certification, judging, skillathon,
exhibition, meats judging
Inputs: Volunteer time, livestock learning lab, project books, facilities, livestock CD,
live animals
Date: July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020
Audience: 4-H/FFA Livestock Project Youth
Project or Activity: SoKY Fair Beef, Sheep, Goat, Swine, Alpaca, Poultry &
Rabbit Shows
Content or Curriculum: Showmanship, market animal classes
Inputs: Coordination for each show, volunteers, registration, data entry, results,
facilities
Date: July 2019
Audience: School Aged Youth
Project or Activity: Forestry Education Program
Content or Curriculum: project books, compasses, Biltmore stick
Inputs: Agent’s Time, facilities
Date: Fall 2019
Audience: 4-H Campers
Project or Activity: 4-H Camp
Content or Curriculum: West KY 4-H Camp Resources
Inputs: Agent’s Time, Staff Assistant’s Time, facilities, volunteer time, copies
Date: July 2019
Audience: Elementary School Children
Project or Activity: Embryology
Content or Curriculum: Project book, Chick development chart
Inputs: Agent’s Time, teacher’s time, incubation supplies, producers
Date: August 2019 – May 2020
Audience: Warren County 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Shooting Sports Club
Content or Curriculum: Shooting Sports Curriculum
Inputs: Volunteer’s time, facilities, 4-H handbook, promotion items, project book
Date: July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020
Author: Janet Turley
Major Program: Agriculture
Kentucky 4-H launched the 4-H Trail Riding Program in 2020 as a way to measure the number of hours a 4-H member and their horse spend riding on a trail. The importance and benefits of this program include the ability to enjoy a horse without the stress of competition, improved equitation and confidence, quality time with family members and/or socializing with other horse lovers. Trail riding can also benefit the horse by increased responsiveness, better balance, and practicing maneuvers such as
Author: Janet Turley
Major Program: Agriculture
For the past 34 years, this reporting agent has been actively involved in the 4-H Horse Program conducting horse camps, managing horse club leaders, leading horse management teams, conducting educational events such as horse judging and hippology contests and organizing and conducting district horse shows. All of these events take enormous amounts of time to plan and organize. Two years ago, the 4-H Horse Program changed its requirements to qualify for the state 4-H horse show. Instead of qualif
Author: Julie Brown
Major Program: Agriculture
Julie Brown, Warren Co. Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, and Catherine Webster, Simpson Co. Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development, served as the co-contact agents for the 2022 South Central KY 4-H Horse Camp. There were four planning meetings with the committee which included twelve adult and teen volunteers from Mammoth Cave Extension counties, three of which served as tri-chairs for the camp. Sixty-two youth and 120 adults attended the three-day, two-night camp that i
