Marketing, Diversifying, and Managing Local AgriculturePlan of Work

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Estill County CES

Title:
Marketing, Diversifying, and Managing Local Agriculture
MAP:
Local Foods and Sustainable Agriculture
Agents Involved:
Taylor Miles, Judy Vaughn, Emma Day
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Substance Use and Mental Health - ANR
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Forages
Situation:
Due to lower commodity prices and higher input prices, farms need to diversify and become more efficient in order to insulate against prolonged suppressed pricing.
Long-Term Outcomes:
Stabilize farm incomes using improved marketing techniques, development of a robust local food economy, and diversified enterprises.
Intermediate Outcomes:
Farmers and community members will adopt new technologies and practices based on research by land grant universities that encourage the use of local products, local marketing, practical risk management plans, and smart diversification.
Initial Outcomes:
Increase knowledge, and skills in production techniques, and marketing tools.
Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge, and skills in production techniques, and marketing tools.

Indicator: Use of marketing tools

Method: Inverviews

Timeline: Fall 2021


Intermediate Outcome: The adoption of new technologies to encourage local marketing.

Indicator: Increased awareness of local food systems in the local community

Method: Increased use of local food market

Timeline: Summer 2022


Long-term Outcome: Development of a robust local food economy

Indicator: stable, diverse local food market

Method: frequency of Farmers Market days and number of vendors

Timeline: Fall 2024

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Crop Production Meeting

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: Winter


Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Livestock Production Meetings

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All year


Audience: Community members/ youth

Project or Activity: Horticulture Meetings

Content or Curriculum:

Date: Winter/Spring


Audience: Youth/Farmers

Project or Activity: Farm Field Day

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: Summer/Fall


Audience: Community members/ youth

Project or Activity: Vocational Technology Center Cooperation

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All Year


Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Forage Management

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: Winter/Spring


Audience: youth

Project or Activity: Animal Science Project Group/Clubs

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: September-May


Audience: Community members

Project or Activity: C.A.I.P Cost Share Program

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All Year


Audience: Community members

Project or Activity: Farmer's Market

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All Year


Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Agriculture Marketing

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All year


Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: BQCA Training

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All Year


Audience: Community members/ youth

Project or Activity: Forest Management

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All Year


Audience: Farmers/ Youth

Project or Activity: Farm Tours/ Field Days

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All Year


Audience: Farmers/ Youth

Project or Activity: Small Farm Management 

Content or Curriculum: Education

Date: All Year





Success Stories

Holiday Centerpiece Workshop

Author: Emma Lee

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

Holiday Centerpiece Workshop

As a new Agriculture and Natural Resources agent in Estill County, I have made it my goal to reach as many audiences as possible to let them know I am here to help. When considering different program options, I wanted to choose something that anyone, even people with no agricultural background, might be interested in. I finally decided on a Holiday Centerpiece Workshop on December 29th, 2022 at 6 p.m. There were 18 individuals who signed up and attended. This class was a partnership with former

Full Story

Bird Education Program and Craft at Senior Citizens Center

Author: Emma Lee

Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership - ANR

On March 23rd at 11:00 am, I attended the Estill County Senior Citizens Center to provide an educational program about birds. There were 11 people present. I first discussed our local birds and how to identify them. Then, I instructed them on how to make a bird feeder using a pinecone, peanut butter, and birdseed. They enjoyed making the feeder and I followed up with them 2 weeks later. They stated how the birds loved the feeder and they have been checking it every day. They learned how to ident

Full Story

Beginner Vegetable Gardening

Author: Emma Lee

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

As spring began approaching this year, I was getting many calls about tips for starting a vegetable garden. Due to the amount of interest, I decided to hold a Beginner Vegetable Gardening class that was open to everyone at all stages of gardening experience. The class was held on March 27th at 6 p.m. There were 29 attendees, including people who were new to the area or have never had any experience with gardening. I presented a powerpoint that included types of vegetables, how to plant and take

Full Story

Growing Mushrooms

Author: Emma Lee

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

Estill County has a mushroom festival every year and clients were calling more frequently to get more information about growing mushrooms. I held a class on growing oyster mushrooms on April 19th at 12 pm and had 21 people attend. Everyone asked questions after the program and were then given a mushroom grow kit of their own to learn first hand. My target audience was all of the individuals that were interested in the mushroom festival, as well as mushrooms in general. I had a great response to

Full Story
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