Safety Education for Home, Food and AgriculturePlan of Work

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Grayson County CES

Title:
Safety Education for Home, Food and Agriculture
MAP:
Community Wellness and Safety
Agents Involved:
Whitney Carman, Kindra Jones, Natalie Taul
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Sustainable Agriculture
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Disaster Preparedness
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
4-H Youth Development Programming
Situation:
Health and wellness is an issue affecting all aspects of the community. Safety in the home, food and rural areas are something that Grayson County residents can always learn, or increase their awareness of. Environmental stewardship is of the utmost importance to farmers in Grayson County. Part of that stewardship is the continuing education and possibilities to extend the life of agriculture and natural resources through safety education and training. Farming is a very dangerous job and if not done with diligence, can be destructive to people, the land, water, and environment. On the other hand, residents need be continually educated on everyday safety around the home and food preparation. Programs such as food preparation, disaster preparedness, health safety, and environmental education, are great tools to use to increase awareness of safety.

Long-Term Outcomes:
Adults will utilize knowledge gained to acknowledge situations where dangers are possible and make best decisions based on that knowledge. Adults and youth will become familiar with in safety around the home and also learn about food safety. Farmers will utilize knowledge from trainings and be able to use best judgment in hazardous situations, or be able to prevent them. Participants of the food preservation program will show an increase in use of locally grown fruits and vegetables through home gardens and farmer's markets.
Intermediate Outcomes:
Youth and adults will be able to use skills learned in water quality and conservation to help keep a safe water supply for humans and animals. Farmers will be able to recognize good agriculture practices in farming, to help increase environmental stewardship. Participants of the food preservation program will successfully implement research based methods and safe food handling and preparation for both high acid and low acid foods.

Initial Outcomes:
Farmers will be educated on best practices for chemical use on farms, and water and natural resource education. Homeowners will be educated about the rinse and return program, and water quality education. Youth will be educated about conservation and environmental efforts. Participants of the food preservation program will have an increased knowledge of research based food preservation methods and safe food handling and preparation.
Evaluation:
Initial Outcome: Education of steps to ensure safety at home, on farm, and in food handling
Indicator: Increased knowledge of pesticide use, water quality, and food safety
Method: participant surveys
Timeline: Pre/Post program surveys

Intermediate Outcome: Improvement of environmental, home, and food safety practices.
Indicator: Utilization of trainings and educational materials learned for safety
Method: Survey of participants who participated in educational programs
Timeline: 3 month follow up survey

Long-term Outcome: Increased conservation and environmental safety awareness and increased use of locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Indicator: increased best management practices and safety precautions with clients, increased use of home gardens and local farmer's market.
Method: survey or questionnaire
Timeline: 6 month follow up survey
Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Farmers and Homeowners

Project or Activity: Pesticide Application Training

Content or Curriculum: Pesticide Application Training Manual, video and UK publications

Inputs: UK publications, UK videos, Specialists,

Date: winter 2017


Audience: Tobacco Farmers, horticulture growers, farmers’ market vendors

Project or Activity: Tobacco Good Agriculture Practices Training, HorticultureProduce Best Practices training

Content or Curriculum: GAP Training Manual, video and UK publications

Inputs: UK publications, UK videos, Specialists

Date: winter 2017, spring 2018



Audience: Farmers and Homeowners

Project or Activity: Water Quality Education

Content or Curriculum: Water Quality Program

Inputs: Kentucky Department of Agriculture, agents, UK publications, UK videos, Grayson Co. Road Department, Conservation office, local producers

Date: winter 2017, winter 2018


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Farm Safety Day

Content or Curriculum: Environmental stewardship of Agriculture

Inputs: UK Publications, agents, Farm Bureau, commodity groups, local farmers, schools

Date: Fall 2017


Audience: General Public

Project: Basic and advanced food preservation classes

Content or Curriculum: UK Food Preservation Curriculum

Inputs: UK Publications, agents, local city organizations (I.e. Community Meeting Centers), National Center for Food Preservation, So Easy to Preserve materials.

Date: Spring/summer 2017



Audience: Facebook and Social Media Users/General Public

Project or Activity: Social media posts regarding home, food and farm safety

Content or Curriculum: various research based resources

Inputs: UK Specialists, paid Extension Staff, social media outlets

Date: 2016-2020




Success Stories

Extension Family Farm Fest

Author: Whitney Carman

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Grayson County Extension Services’ annual Family Farm Fest has quickly become a family favorite for Fall activities in the Grayson County community. In an effort to promote the Grayson County Extension Service, the County Extension Council, along with agents from all program areas, planned and implemented our third annual Extension Family Farm Fest. The purpose of this event is to provide families with a fun, local agriculture experience, promote Extension Programs in the county along with

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Meats 101

Author: Natalie Taul

Major Program: Food Preparation

Being a savvy food consumer can benefit an individual or family in many ways. Knowing what to look for and how to shop for a certain product to ensure that you are getting the most bang for your buck, can afford a family a little wiggle room in their monthly budget as well as make their food go farther. Seeing a need for consumer education regarding meats education, the Family and Consumer Sciences Educator teamed up with the Agriculture Educator to provide a series of classes focused on consume

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