Extension
It Starts With Us
Farm Mentoring Through Social, Economic, and Environmental Awareness
Promoting Sustainable Agriculture
Coffey, Dengel
Beef
Sustainable Agriculture
Home & Consumer Horticulture
Forages
Between 2007 and 2012 the average age of a Kentucky farmer went from 53.4 to 57.6 and Kentucky saw the greatest decline in farmland compared to any other state between these years. These statistics echo common issues identified by ANR clientele which included a need for more focus on new/beginning farmers and youth. Also identified was a need for more information about new and emerging markets and innovative, money-saving techniques and practices. Members of the Whitley County ANR Council discussed ways in which these goals could be met through farm mentoring. Also, without bees there could no be sustainable agriculture. Honey bees have a large impact on 15 billion dollars of agricultural industry in the US and from 2015 to 2016 Kentucky lost 30% of it's honeybee hives. Whitley County has an active beekeeper association that is working with the Whitley County Extension Service to educate area residents and increase the amount of healthy, working hives.
Agricultural enterprises managed by new and beginning farmers become more profitable.
An environment is established for the effective inter-generational transfer of innovations and ideas in a variety of areas like beef quality, bee keeping, and horticulture.
Established producers serve as mentors at educational events on a regular basis, through presentations or more informal panel discussions.
A willingness exists by a number of established producers to share their expertise.
New farmers gain knowledge of success farm practices and innovative solutions.
Long-Term Outcome:
Indicator: New and beginning farmers report profitability
Method: Focus group(s), surveys
Timeline: 2017-2020
Intermediate Outcome:
Indicator: Established farmers speak/present at organized events
Method: Focus group(s)
Timeline: 2016-2018
Initial Outcome:
Indicator: New farmers report knowledge gained
Method: Survey
Timeline: 2016-2017
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:
Audience: Beef Producers
Project or Activity: BQA Training
Content or Curriculum: KCA, UK Resources
Input: ANR, Hort Agent
Date: 2015-2020
Audience: Farmers Market and Other Vendors
Project or Activity: GAP Training
Content or Curriculum: UK Resources
Input: ANR, Hort Agent
Date: Spring
Audience: New and Beginning Farmers
Project or Activity: Farm Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Farm-Specific Practices
Inputs: Agents, Local Farms, UK, FFA, Master Gardeners
Date: 2017
Audience: County Farmers and Farmers Market Customers
Project or Activity: Farmers Market Producer Demonstrations
Content or Curriculum: Farmer-Experience
Inputs: Producers, Extension Facilities
Date: 2016-2020
Audience: Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: Master Cattleman
Content or Curriculum: UK
Inputs: UK CES, local producers
Date: 2016-2020
Audience: Aspiring Beekeepers
Project or Activity: Get Started in Beekeeping
Content or Curriculum: UK, KSU, KDA
Inputs: UK, KSU, KDA, Local Beekeepers
Date: 2018-19
Audience: Aspiring Beekeepers
Project or Activity: Southeastern Kentucky Beekeeping School
Content or Curriculum: UK, KSU
Inputs: KDA, CES, FFA, Local Beekeepers
Date: 2019
Audience: Whitley County Residence
Project or Activity: Earth Day/Week
Content or Curriculum: Community Organizations, Publication, Art
Inputs: Agents, community leaders, Whitley County Health department, NRCS, other local organizations and businesses
Date: April
Audience: Youth and Master Gardeners
Project or Activity: Project WET
Content or Curriculum: Project WET Curriculum
Inputs: Horticulture, Fine Arts, Whitley County Fiscal Court
Date: 2018-2020
Audience: Homeowners and landowners
Project or Activity: Earth Day Tree Giveaway
Content or Curriculum: Importance of trees, how to plant, and promoting extension
Inputs: Tree seedlings, Farmer's Market, All agents
Date: Ongoing
Audience: Farmers and people interested in improving their gardens, farms, and landscapes
Project or Activity: Garden and Farm Tours (Horticulture, Landscape, and Floriculture)
Content or Curriculum: Visit Whitley County and surrounding county farms
Inputs: Farmers and their farms, Gardeners and their gardens, Horticulture agent, transportation
Date: 2017
Author: Natasha Robinson
Major Program: 4-H Youth Development Programming
Whitley County 3rd grade teachers indicated that their students lacked a general knowledge of Kentucky heritage and general understanding of what their state had to offer. Each students is required to take the Kentucky Performance Rating for Educational Progress (K-PREP) tests, starting in the 3rd grade. These assessments measure many subjects including Reading, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and Writing. The 4-H Agent wanted to create a hands-on learning experience outsi
Author: Garrard Coffey
Major Program: Farm Management
A farmers breakfast series was started in January of 2018. A total of 5 breakfast meetings were held at the Whitley County Extension Office. A total 21 participants came to at least one meeting. Topics of discussion during the session were pasture weed control, CAIP program, marketing beef cattle, pasture renovations, hay production, and other farm management topics. Many of the participants were funded for the first time on the CAIP program. They are using knowled
Author: Garrard Coffey
Major Program: Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
In the spring of 2015 I collaborated with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture again to do the noxious weed spraying in hay and pasture fields in Whitley County. The demos were completed on 6 farms and approximately 110 acres were sprayed to demonstrate the correct use of chemical control on buttercup and thistle. The demos were used to show how to calibrate sprayers, applying the correct amount of chemical per acre, and safety when spraying. There was a 20 acre increase in 2016 and there was
