Agriculture Production and Environmental LiteracyPlan of Work

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Allen County CES

Title:
Agriculture Production and Environmental Literacy
MAP:
Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Environment
Agents Involved:
Adam Huber (ANR), Vacant (FCS), Anna Meador (4-H)
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Horticulture, Commercial
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Chemical Management
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Beef
Situation:

Allen County is located in south central Kentucky where there is an abundant amount of agriculture and wildlife present. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, Allen County is the #1 producer of vegetables and #1 producer of cattle and calve sales in the state. With 21% of the land in Allen County being woodlands and Barren River Lake flowing into the county, there are numerous outdoor activities and accommodations that Allen County has to offer outdoor enthusiasts. 

As you can see, Allen County is very diverse and with the help of County Extension Council, we identified the needs in our community, as well as programs that will help community members be more comfortable growing and safely handling their own food, exercising and staying healthy, along with learning the importance of keeping our environment clean and pollution free.     

Long-Term Outcomes:
Intermediate Outcomes:
  1. Increase participation in outdoor activities    
  2. Apply safety practices in Ag, Environment & wildlife activities 
  3. Employ best practices in livestock & horticulture production 
  4. Demonstrate food safety practices 
  5. Use habitat improvement methods to increase wildlife populations
Initial Outcomes:
  1. Recognize the importance of environmental footprint 
  2. Increase confidence in growing produce and livestock for consumption 
  3. Utilize safety practices in ag, environment, and wildlife  
  4. Learn 3 or more best practices in livestock, health, nutrition, & production 
Evaluation:

Initial Outcome:  Learn 3 or more best practices in livestock, health, nutrition, & production 

Indicator: Individuals state that they gained knowledge and will use the knowledge gained on their farming operation

Method: verbal, paper and electronic surveys

Timeline:  Annually after completion of programs 


Intermediate Outcome Increase participation of outdoor activities    

Indicator: Individuals state that they increased physical outdoor activities and exercise 

Method: verbal, paper and electronic surveys

Timeline: Annually after completion of programs 


Intermediate Outcome:  Use habitat improvement methods to increase wildlife populations

Indicator: Individuals state that they gained knowledge and will use the knowledge gained on their farming operation. 

Method: verbal, paper and electronic surveys

Timeline: Annually after completion of programs 


Long-term Outcome:  Maximize best management practices in farming operations 

Indicator:  Individuals state that they gained knowledge and will use the knowledge gained on their farm to improve yield, profit and BMP

Method:  verbal, paper and electronic surveys

Timeline: Annually after completion of programs 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Agriculture producers, elected officials, educators and all stakeholders

Project or Activity: Farm to Table Event

Content or Curriculum: Farmers Market ToolkitFarm to Table

Inputs: ANR, FCS & 4-H agents, Chamber of Commerce members, donated items 

Date: Annually, Fall 

Project or Activity:  Agriculture Field Day 

Content or Curriculum: General Ag content from UK specialist 

Inputs: ANR, FCS & 4-H agents, Ag Advisory Committee members, UK specialist, Vendors, donated items

Date: Annually Spring or Fall

 

Audience: Youth, Families, Stakeholders

Project or Activity:  Environmental Camp

Content or Curriculum: Forestry, wildlife & fish, environmental sustainability 

 Inputs: ANR, FCS, 4-H agents, 

Date: Annually, Summer

Project or Activity: 4-H livestock and horse projects

Content or Curriculum: 4-H agriculture core

Inputs: Club leaders, community partners

Date: Annually

            

Audience: Agriculture producers, business owners, families, youth   and stakeholders

Project or Activity:  Seed to Sell Program 

Content or Curriculum: Farmers Market Toolkit training, Plate It up KY proud, NEP “Grow Your Own” publications, 4-H Communication curriculum, 4-H Entrepreneurship curriculum

Inputs: ANR, FCS, 4-H Agent, youth participants, Allen County Farmers Market, supplies from local vendors 

Date: Annually, Spring-Summer


Project or Activity:  Farmers Market Education 

Content or Curriculum: Farmers Market Toolkit training, Plate It up KY proud

Inputs: ANR, FCS, NEP Assistant, Farmers Market manager/vendors 

Date: Annually, May-October


Project or Activity:  Wildlife and commercial vegetable meetings

Content or Curriculum: Research from UK specialist, UK publications

Inputs: UK Specialist, ANR Agent, KY Fish and Wildlife, KY Division of Forestry 

Date: Annually, Spring, Fall, Winter



Success Stories

Lime Research

Author: Adam Huber

Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

Lime Research

In today’s agriculture industry there are many ideas, products and beliefs out there that some agriculture companies try to push producers into “buying”.  A lot of these companies try to sell these ideas, products and beliefs to producers by showing them research that was done from their companies which would be a biased interpretation or maybe even no research at all. There are a few companies out there that are making the claim that liquid calcium products can be used to

Full Story

AG Academy Program provides Immersive Agriculture Education Experience for Youth in Allen County

Author: Anna Meador

Major Program: Agriculture

AG Academy Program provides Immersive Agriculture Education Experience for Youth in Allen County

AG Academy's immersive three-day program teaches youth about importance of agriculture's role in providing food, fiber and natural resources.U.S. Agriculture and American farmers play a crucial role for providing food, fiber and natural resources for a fast growing world.  “Unlike prior generations, consumers of today are not as connected with the land, the food grown on the land or the food they consume on a daily basis (Ten Eyck, 2000).”  In an effort to educate y

Full Story

Ag Academy

Author: Adam Huber

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Ag Academy

U.S. Agriculture and American farmers play a crucial role for providing food, fiber and natural resources for a fast growing world.  “Unlike prior generations, consumers of today are not as connected with the land, the food grown on the land or the food they consume on a daily basis (Ten Eyck, 2000).”  In an effort to educate youth on the importance of agriculture, Allen County 4-H and ANR Agents – Anna Meador and Adam Huber crafted, AG Academy, a three day program to

Full Story

Raising Grain In Tobacco Country

Author: Adam Huber

Major Program: Grains

Allen, Barren, Hart, Metcalfe, & Monroe counties have traditionally been some, if not, Kentucky’s largest burley tobacco producing counties.   However over the past 15 years the amount of tobacco grown has rapidly decreased.  Traditional burley farmers have switched to the production of grain, specially corn, wheat, and soybeans.  Agriculture agents from Allen, Barren, Hart, Metcalfe, & Monroe counties (W8) joined efforts to provide an educational program for produce

Full Story

Allen, Simpson and Warren County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program

Author: Adam Huber

Major Program: Master Gardener

Allen, Simpson and Warren County Extension Master Gardener Volunteer Program

In response to clientele requests, the Allen, Simpson and Warren County Extension Agents for Agriculture and Horticulture collaborated together to offer the Extension Master Gardener Volunteer program in the Winter/Spring of 2023. Educational classes were offered for a total of 12 weeks with 14 home consumer horticulture topics being covered. Consumer horticulture topics covered in the program were home vegetable gardening, small and tree fruit production, home lawn care practices, woody tree an

Full Story
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