McCracken County Agriculture Education Plan of Work

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McCracken County CES

Title:
McCracken County Agriculture Education
MAP:
Agriculture and Natural Resources Education
Agents Involved:
Osborne, Bell, Dodson, Alsip Hank, Anderson, SNAP
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Agriculture
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Grains
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Situation:

1. Kentucky is home to 75,966 farms, with McCracken County representing 318 of the total farms in the Commonwealth (National Agriculture Statistics Service, 2017). The average farm size in Kentucky 171 acres, compared to the national average of 444 acres (National Agriculture Statistics Services, 2017.) Between 2000 and 2012, the Bluegrass State had a 6.7% decrease in the number of acres of farmland, which is the greatest percentage decrease of any state in the country (Census of Agriculture, 2012). Since 2012, this percentage has continued to decline (Census of Agriculture, 2017). A farm is defined by the United States Department of Agriculture as any place that produced and sold, or normally would produce and sell, $1,000 or more of agriculture products during the census year. While KY population is increasing, the number of people living on farms is decreasing. Therefore, the need exists to educate people, particularly youth, about the impact that it makes on our daily lives, as well as the importance of agriculture to the Commonwealth. The top agriculture products produced on Kentucky farms are changing. In 2015, the top 10 agriculture products were: broilers, cattle and calves, horses and other livestock, soybeans, corn, tobacco, hay, milk, eggs and wheat (USDA-KY, 2017).

In order to provide agricultural education to youth, the county will either plan and conduct an Ag Day Program, designed to educate participants on the value of agriculture to Kentucky’s economy and the impact that agriculture has on their daily lives or teach Ag in the Classroom to elementary school students.


2.  As the years go by, more people become farther removed from the farm. Therefore, there are many that are unaware of the importance of agriculture in their everyday lives from the clothes on our backs, the fuel in our vehicles and the food on our dinner table. Unfortunately, as we become more and more removed from the agriculture industry, the greater the misconceptions. There is an important need in our community for agriculturalists to share their story, educate consumers on where their food comes from and share the truth about agriculture.

Long-Term Outcomes:

1. 

• Youth will engage in entrepreneurial enterprise.

• Youth will gain and maintain employment resulting from life skill development through 4-H.

• Youth will be advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems.


2. 

-Individuals will be able to identify and correct misconceptions within the agricultural industry.

Intermediate Outcomes:

1.  

• Youth will practice and apply skills and knowledge in the production of food and fiber in the areas

of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.

• Youth will adopt and practice skills that contribute to employability.

• Youth can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.

• Youth will set a goal and accomplish it.

• Youth can influence the purchase of Kentucky Proud products.

• Youth can practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems.


2. 

-The number of individuals in the agriculture industry willing to "share their story" will increase.

-The number of individuals approaching sustainable agriculture increases

Initial Outcomes:

1. 

• Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant

sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.

• Youth will gain an understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems.

• Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, record- keeping, leadership and service.


2.

 -Residents will become more aware of how beneficial agriculture and agricultural practices are.

Evaluation:

1. 

Initial Outcome: The number of youth who learn a skill by participating in a 4-H ANR project, program, event or activity.

Indicator: Number of youth enrolled in ag-related program

Method: Ag Day, Ag-related clubs and 4-H Ag Curriculum


Timeline: School year


Intermediate Outcome: The number of youth who demonstrate a skill that was learned and improved by participating in a 4-H ANR project, program, event or activity.

Indicator: Numbers of youth who demonstrate ag-related skills

Method: Ag Day, Ag-related clubs and 4-H Ag Curriculum

Timeline: School year: August to May


Long-term Outcome: Implementation of gained agricultural skills obtained through Extension services

Indicator: Number of youth who implement ag programs

Method: Ag Day, Ag-related clubs and 4-H Ag Curriculum, Entrepreneurship

Timeline: School calendar year


2. 

Initial Outcome: Residents will become more aware of how beneficial agriculture and agricultural practices are.

Indicator: Number of consumers reporting an increase in agriculture awareness

Method: survey, personal interviews, follow-up conversations

Timeline: ongoing


Intermediate Outcome: The number of individuals in the agriculture industry willing to "share their story" will increase.

Indicator: An increase in the number of agriculture volunteers

Method: survey

Timeline: ongoing


Long-term Outcome:-Individuals will be able to identify and correct misconceptions within the agricultural industry.

Indicator: A decrease in misconceptions

Method: survey, conversations, follow-calls

Timeline: ongoing

Learning Opportunities:

1. 

Audience: Youth 9 to 19 years of age

Project or Activity: Ag Day, Ag-related clubs

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Ag Curriculum

Inputs: UK and KSU Agents, volunteers, Specialists

Date: Year Round



Audience: Youth 9 to 19 years of age

Project or Activity: "Grow it, Eat it, Wear it"

Content or Curriculum: Agent-developed curriculum

Inputs: UK and KSU Agents, volunteers, Specialists

Date: Spring to Summer


Audience: Youth 9 to 19 years of age

Project or Activity: "Learn, Grow, Eat, and Go"

Content or Curriculum: Jr. Master Gardner Curriculum and Agent-developed curriculum

Inputs: UK and KSU Agents, volunteers, Specialists

Date: School Year


Audience:  Youth 9 to 19 years of age

Project or Activity:  "Vegetable Gardening"

Content or Curriculum:  Agent-developed curriculum

Inputs:  UK & KSU, Extension Agents, Volunteers & Specialists


Audience: Consumers/Youth

Project or Activity: Windowsill Garden Project Bags

Content or Curriculum: publications, commodity organizations curriculum, relevant supplies as related to project

Inputs: UK/KSU College of Ag Professionals, Publications, Research Information, commodity organizations, State and Federal Agencies, farmers/producers, volunteers

Date: Spring/Summer


Audience: Consumers/Youth

Project or Activity: Grab and Go Garden Bags

Content or Curriculum: publications, commodity organizations curriculum, relevant supplies as related to project

Inputs: UK/KSU College of Ag Professionals, Publications, Research Information, commodity organizations, State and Federal Agencies, farmers/producers, volunteers

Date: Spring/Summer/Fall


2. 

Audience: Consumers

Project or Activity: educational programming: "Mythbusters" , "Find Our CommonGround",

Content or Curriculum: publications, content from commodity groups

Inputs: UK/KSU College of Ag Professionals, Publications, Research Information, commodity organizations, State and Federal Agencies, farmers/producers,

Date: ongoing


Audience: Consumers

Project or Activity: Commodity Breakfast

Content or Curriculum: publications, volunteer's stories/experiences

Inputs: UK/KSU College of Ag Professionals, Publications, Research Information, commodity organizations, State and Federal Agencies, farmers/producers, volunteers

Date: Fall


Audience: Consumers/Youth

Project or Activity: Field Day

Content or Curriculum: publications, volunteer's stories/experiences, commodity organizations curriculum

Inputs: UK/KSU College of Ag Professionals, Publications, Research Information, commodity organizations, State and Federal Agencies, farmers/producers, volunteers

Date: Fall


Audience: Consumers/Youth

Project or Activity: Family Project Bags

Content or Curriculum: publications, commodity organizations curriculum, relevant supplies as related to project

Inputs: UK/KSU College of Ag Professionals, Publications, Research Information, commodity organizations, State and Federal Agencies, farmers/producers, volunteers

Date: Spring/Summer/Fall/Winter




Success Stories

McNabb Elementary Summer School Program

Author: Lisa Dodson

Major Program: Agriculture

McNabb Elementary Summer School Program

“The process of gardening gives empowering experiences. Students engaged in designing and maintaining gardens show an increase in self-efficacy (Lekies, et al., 2006; Poston, Shoemaker, & Dzewaltowsk., 2005), proenvironmental attitudes (Mayer-Smith, Bartosh, & Peterat, 2007; Skelly & Zajicek, 1998; Skelly & Bradley, 2007) and environmental stewardship (Alexander, North, & Hendren, 1995; MayerSmith, Bartosh, & Peterat, 2007; Pothukuchi, 2004; Waliczek, Bradley, &

Full Story

Annual Free Seedling Giveaway

Author: Samantha Anderson

Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation

Annual Free Seedling Giveaway

According to the United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Service, planting trees provides a multitude of benefit to local ecosystems. These benefits include protecting soil from rill and sheet erosion, protecting water quality by filtering excess nutrients and chemicals from surface runoff, increasing infiltration rates, and providing long term wildlife habitats. In partnership with the McCracken County Soil Conservation District, McCracken County Agent for Agricul

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Spring into Green Garden Edition

Author: Kelly Alsip

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

Spring into Green has been a long-established area-wide program in the Purchase Area. This event brings participants from all eight counties to gain new information from educational workshops and demonstrations. The event was hosted virtually last year, and participants were excited to have the event back in person for 2022. Spring into Green: In the Garden edition, was hosted by the Purchase Area Family and Consumer Science agents at the Graves County Extension Office. Speakers at this year&rsq

Full Story
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