Extension
It Starts With Us
Strengthening Agriculture Production, Management, and Marketing Skills
Strengthening Agriculture Production, Management, and Marketing Skills
Traci Missun, Kelly Woods
Beef
Equine
Forages
Agriculture
Farms make up a little less than half of the land in Oldham County. Farms here include a wide variety of enterprises, including grain crops, livestock, horses, hay and pasture, nurseries, greenhouses, poultry, fish and shellfish. With growth of Farmers Markets and Community Supported Agriculture locations, there has also been growth in vegetable, sheep and poultry production over the last 10 years, according to the 2017 Ag Census. Data gathered in the 2019 Oldham County Assessment shows that county residents are concerned with the need for more farm-related jobs, more market opportunities for farmers and better sustainability of family farms. Residents also believe that there needs to be more awareness and support for agriculture and agribusinesses.
The Oldham County Extension Council and Ag Advisory Councils reviewed county needs and identified Agriculture Production, Business Management and Marketing as top priorities in educational programming. These skills are necessary for producers to be financially viable individually, and to support the county's economy. Production programs also meet the needs of many residents who desire to produce their own food.
Participants will experience long-term viability in farming.
Participants will reduce expenses and/or increase profits of farm operations.
Youth will become agriculturally literate.
Participants will implement recommended production practices to successfully produce food and agriculture products.
Participants will implement recommended forage management practices to increase utilization of forages and reduce dependency on purchased feeds and hay.
Participants will use information about local market opportunities to sell products.
Youth will utilize and practice life skills in agricultural projects, clubs, and life situations.
Participants will indicate understanding of research-based production practices.
Participants will recognize the importance of forage management practices.
Participants will have increased awareness of innovative marketing opportunities.
Youth will develop valuable life skills, including decision making, critical thinking, and wise use of resources relating to agriculture.
Initial Outcome: Youth will develop valuable life skills, including decision making, critical thinking, and wise use of resources relating to agriculture.
Indicator: Youth participate in an agriculture related project.
Method: 4-H Common Measure Experience Survey
Timeline: June 2022
Initial Outcome: Participants will indicate understanding of research-based production practices. Participants will recognize the importance of forage management practices. Participants will have increased awareness of new marketing opportunities.
Indicator: Participants self-reporting
Method: Post-program evaluations (use UK provided evaluations when applicable)
Timeline: Following completion of programs
Intermediate Outcome: Youth will utilize and practice life skills in agricultural projects, clubs and life situations.
Indicator: Youth complete agriculture related project.
Method: 4-H Common Measure Experience Survey
Timeline: June 2022
Intermediate Outcome: Participants will implement recommended production practices to successfully produce food and agriculture products. Participants will implement recommended forage management practices to increase utilization of forages and reduce dependency on purchased feeds and hay. Participants will use information about local market opportunities to sell products.
Indicator: Producers self-reporting
Method: Post-program evaluations (use UK provided evaluations when applicable)
Timeline: 3 – 9 months post-program
Long-term Outcome: Youth will become agriculturally literate.Indicator: Youth plan and implement an agricultural related project.
Method: 4-H Common Measure Experience Survey
Timeline: June 2022
Long-term Outcome: Producer participants will experience long-term viability in farming. Participants will reduce expenses and/or increase profits of farm operations.
Indicator: Producers self-reporting
Method: Post-program evaluations (use UK provided evaluations when applicable)
Timeline: 3 – 12 months post-program
Audience: 4-H Members age 9 to 18
Project or Activity: Horse Club Educational sessions
Content or Curriculum: Horse Educational Kit, Content identified by 4-H Club
Inputs: 4-H Staff, 4-H Certified Volunteers
Date: July 2021- June 2022
Audience: 4-H Members age 9 to 18
Project or Activity: Dog Club Educational sessions
Content or Curriculum: Dog Educational Kit, Content identified by 4-H Club
Inputs: 4-H Staff, 4-H Certified Volunteers
Date: July 2021- Jun 2022
Audience: 4-H Members age 9 to 18
Project or Activity: Poultry Club Educational sessions
Content or Curriculum: Poultry Educational Kit, Content identified by 4-H Club
Inputs: 4-H Staff, 4-H Volunteers
Date: July 2021- Jun 2022
Audience: 4-H Members age 9 to 18
Project or Activity: Rabbit Club Educational sessions
Content or Curriculum: Rabbit Educational Kit, Content identified by 4-H Club
Inputs: 4-H Staff, 4-H Volunteers
Date: July 2021- Jun 2022
Audience: Horse Owners and Farm Managers
Project or Activity: Equine Farm Equipment Field Day
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Equine and Ag Engineering materials; Equipment Dealers’ Materials
Inputs: Agriculture Agents, UK Horse Specialist, UK Ag Engineer; Local Equipment Businesses
Date: September 2021
Audience: Producers and Consumers
Project or Activity: Oldham County Ag Connection (Agriculture Education for producers and consumers; concentration on local food, plus all Oldham County Agriculture Activity)
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Extension materials; Producer Stories; Ag Census Data; KY Department of Agriculture resources
Inputs: Agriculture Agent, Local Producers, Local Experts/Guest Speakers
Date: Quarterly meetings beginning January 2022
Audience: Livestock/Horse Producers
Project or Activity: Pasture Seeding & Management (Pastures Please)
Content or Curriculum: UK Extension Forages
Inputs: Agriculture Agent, UK Forage Specialist
Date: January 2022
Audience: Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: Oldham County Cattlemen's Association meetings - all meetings include educational speaker
Content or curriculum: UK Extension and other related agency information
Inputs: Agriculture Agents, UK Specialists, Farm Hosts, Other local experts
Date: Meets Quarterly 2021-2022
Audience: Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: Beef Quality & Care Assurance Certification/Cattle Handling and Care Certification
Content or curriculum: UK Extension materials and videos
Inputs: Agriculture Agent
Date: July 2021, August 2021, November 2021
Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Private Pesticide Applicator Training/Certification
Content or curriculum: UK Extension materials
Inputs: Agriculture Agent
Date: January 2022, February 2022, March 2022
Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Produce Best Practices Training
Content or curriculum: UK Extension materials
Inputs: Agriculture Agent
Date: March 2022
Audience: Farmers
Project or Activity: Farmers Market Scale Certification
Content or curriculum: KY Dept of Agriculture Farmers Market Manual
Inputs: Agriculture Agent, KDA Scale Inspector
Date: March 2022
Author: Traci Johnson
Major Program: Beef
Educational programs that strengthen agriculture production skills are a continued priority identified by the Oldham County Extension and Agriculture Councils. In Oldham County, pasture makes up one-third of available farmland and provides grazing for livestock. Livestock are important to Oldham County’s economy, with cattle alone representing over 2.6 million dollars in sales in 2017, according to the last Census of Agriculture. Because of the economic importance of ca
Author: Traci Johnson
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Programs that help farmers improve management, production and marketing practices are a continued priority identified by the Oldham County Ag Development Council and Extension Council. Tax information and other farm business management resources were identified as important needed information to assist new and existing farmers, based on client calls. The Oldham County Agriculture & Natural Resources Agent partnered with the UK Extension Farm Business Management State Coordinator
Author: Kelly Woods
Major Program: Agriculture
Ballardsville High Riders Horse Club in Oldham County provides the opportunity for 4-H members to develop leadership, initiative, self-reliance, sportsmanship and other desirable traits of character. 4-H members enhance their horsemanship knowledge, skills and develop an understanding of the equine business of breeding and training.The changes brought on by 2020 and 2021 did not stop the club from continuing their journey. The club hosted monthly educational virtual meetings taught by seni
Author: Traci Johnson
Major Program: Equine
Ranking 6th in Kentucky, the market value of horses sold in Oldham County was over 6.3 million dollars, according to the 2017 U.S. Agriculture Census. Horses are a leading business and recreational interest, including many thoroughbred breeding farms, training and boarding operations, layup facilities, and pleasure horses. During a recent area Master Horseman program, tractor and equipment knowledge was identified as a topic that many horse farm managers and owners needed more infor
