Extension
It Starts With Us
Agricultural Marketing
Promoting Commodities
May, Sasser
Beef
Forages
Horticulture, Commercial
Volunteer Development
Agricultural Leaders in Perry County have always been concerned that in order for Perry County’s Agricultural Industry to have any significant economic impact in the County, new and alternative markets would have to be established. This situation has never been of more importance now because of the down turn in the economy as a result of the loss of coal industry jobs, nearly 70%.This has led to an employment rate of 9.5% which places Perry County in the top 10 in the state for high unemployment. Loss of jobs has also led to residents leaving the County to find work. The County has seen a population decline of 8.1%. (Zimmerman, KY By The Numbers, October 2019) Many of those remaining residents are looking for ways to support their families without having to move out of the area to find work. In fact according to Perry County’s response to the 2019 KY Extension Community Assessment, the number 1 priority indicated is the need for “More jobs paying good wages and benefits”.
This situation has stimulated a renewed interest in Agriculture in the County. Agricultural receipts are up nearly 300%. There is a push under way to produce and buy local. Only 21% of the zip codes in Perry County have access to healthy food outlets or Farmer's Markets. Perry County is considered one of the unhealthiest Counties in the State. It's been deemed a "Rural Food Desert".
The Perry County Cooperative Extension Service will play a major role in this effort by serving as a catalyst working with clientele and other organizations to deliver programming on alternative markets, local food production, farmer’s market support, forestry, beekeeping and agritourism.The community Assessment indicated that youth and adults also needed support in career readiness. A better appreciation of the abundance of natural resources and the ever developing technology to increase value of these assets is another area for increased education.
Producers will take advantage of alternative markets, become more profitable and will diversify and expand their operations.
Youth will be environmentally literate and be advocates for environmental sustainability and stewardship.
Youth will innovate in addressing social problems an situations using STEM.
Producers realize the potential of working together to market their products and see an increase in farm profits. New alternative markets will be discovered. Producers will become more diverse.
Youth will utilize and practice life-skills, incorporating new methods and technology.
Youth will explain the importance and role of natural resources in daily life.
Agricultural groups will work cooperatively to develop strategies and goals that will forge a path to new marketing opportunities. New partnerships and coalitions will be formed. The Extension Service and Extension leadership will construct an Extension Annex Complex.
Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including critical thinking, problem-solving., effective communication, and leadership.
Outcome: Number of new marketing opportunities. Increase in farm profits. More diverse farming operations to become more competitive in a global economy.
Indicator: number of participants taking advantage of new marketing opportunities and increase profits and sales.
Number of participants attending workshops.
Number of people who report change in knowledge.
Number of youth who use skill and knowledge learned in 4-H project program.
Number of youth who indicated that in 4-H they have been allowed to figure out things for themselves.
Method: Evaluations of programs, clientele surveys.
4-H Common Measurers survey.
Timeline: All year
Audience: Beef Cattle Producers
Project or Activity: Beef Cattle workshops, trainings and suppost the IRM Program producers in Perry County
Content or Curriculum: Marketing and herd health
Inputs : Agents, Specialist, Producers, Veterinarians
Date: All year
Audience: Mountain Cattlemen Association Members
Project or Activity: Mountain Cattlemen Association Educational Meetings
Content or Curriculum: Educational Programs to teach management, health and marketing skills
Inputs: Agents, Specialist, Veterinarians, On Farm Demonstrations
Date: Quarterly
Audience: Fruit and Vegetable Growers
Project or Activity: Fruit and Vegetable Growers training meetings
Content or Curriculum: Training will be provided on Best Management Practices, Marketing, Pest and Disease control, Processing and Cover Crops
Inputs: Agent, Specialist, UK Publications and Resources
Date: Spring and Summer months
Audience: Farmer Market Vendors
Project or Activity: Perry County Farmer’s Market Support
Content or Curriculum: Work with the Perry County Farmer’s Market Board to promote, support and provide training to the Farmer’s Market Vendors
Inputs: KDA, Agent, Specialist, UK Publications and Resources
Date: All year
Audience: Beekeepers, Perry County Beekeepers Association, and General Public
Project or Activity: Beekeeping Program
Content or Curriculum: Conduct workshops, work with the Perry County Beekeepers Association and coordinate the annual Beekeeping School to increase interest in Beekeeping and explore potential markets for bee products.
Inputs: State Apiarist, Agent, Local Beekeepers, UK Publications and Resources
Date: All Year
Audience: Forage Producers and Livestock Owners
Project or Activity: Hay Testing, Hay, and Pasture Management
Content or Curriculum: Provide education on the importance of Forage Testing and how to establish and manage forage crops
Inputs: Agent, Specialist, Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Date: All YearAudience: Timber Owners
Project or Activity: Workshops and training
Content or Curriculum: Provide training to timber owners and Master Loggers on forest management and marketing.
Inputs: Agent, Specialists
Date: All Year
Audience: Southeast KY Sheep Producers Association
Project or Activity:Promotion, Education workshops and meetings
Content or Curriculum: Provide support to the newly formed Southeast KY Sheep Producers Association through educational workshops and trainings and membership meetings.
Inputs: Agent, Specialist, Producers
Date: All Year
Audience: School-aged youth – 6-9 graders
Project or activity: Environmental Resources 4-H Academy
Content or Curriculum: Project WET, Projects Food, Land, People, Project Learning Tree, Flying Wild, Stream Team, WHEP, Kentucky’s Useful Forest, Project underground, 4-H Fishing curric..
Inputs: Robinson Forest Camp, Youth scholars, Teen ambassadors, Agents, Program assistants, supplies for hands-on projects, Field trips for exploring environment.
Date: 2021-2024
Audience; School aged youth – 5-6 graders
Project or Activity: County 4-H Forestry Field Days
Content or Curriculum: KY 4-H Forestry Field Day materials, geology.
Inputs: Youth, teachers, buses, contest supplies, Biltmore sticks, compasses, tree walk, county Park and shelters, KDF personnel, RCARS personnel, USDA personnel, recognition items.
Audience: Science Teachers
Project or Activity: National 4-H Science Experiment, 4-H physics Zoo, NEED Energy Fair.
Content or Curriculum: NSE curricula and kits, Zoo kit, NEED kit
Inputs: Curricula kits, passports, youth, teachers, supplies.
Author: Charles May
Major Program: Beef
In 2015 a new concept in beef cattle production was introduced by the University of Kentucky Extension IRM Team. It was called the Integrated Reproductive Management Program. This program is a multidisciplinary program that assist producers by educating them on making changes or improvements in their individual operations to ultimately increase farm profitability. These practices include, having a defined calving season, herd health program and a sound nutritional program.&nb
Author: Logan Sasser
Major Program: Agriculture
Success Story Feb 2023A year and a half ago, Perry Co. 4-H began working diligently to revitalize the agricultural community within the Perry Co. youth. Due to many variables such as losing the agricultural program at the school and COVID, participation in these activities had dwindled greatly. In the short time we’ve had in 2023 so far, we feel that we have made incredible strides to create a bright future for the agriculture of this region.While finances can be a burden when developing a
Author: Charles May
Major Program: Beekeeping
The 13th East Kentucky Winter Beekeeping School was held virtually again in January 2023. A virtual School, like this one, is challenging but the committee, made up of local Beekeepers, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture state Apiarist and Extension Agents from Perry, Harlan, and Letcher Counties, as well as other County volunteers, worked extremely hard to pull off another successful virtual event. Even with the virtual event, this was once again one of
Author: Charles May
Major Program: Forages
This spring the Perry County Extension Service teamed up with Meade Tractor of Hazard, the Mountain Cattlemen Association, Kentucky Cattlemen Association and UK Extension Forage Specialists, to conduct a forage event and equipment demonstration. The event was held at the Perry County Extension Service Annex. This event was developed as a response to the July 28, 2022, eastern Kentucky flood. It was an educational event that instructed forage producers how t
Author: Charles May
Major Program: Forages
Producing high quality hay has been at the forethought of many hay and livestock producers in Eastern Kentucky. Over recent years a large percentage of our primary hay ground has been affected and/or damaged by flood waters. Experiencing this has led to specialist, agents, area equipment representatives and producers to join together to establish a program to educate area producers on ways the quality of the hay can be improved through the use of proper techniques and equipment. On June 1,2023 H
