Extension
It Starts With Us
McCracken County Agriculture Education
Agriculture and Natural Resources Education
Osborne, Bell, Dodson, Alsip Hank, Anderson, SNAP
Agriculture
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Grains
Nutrition and Food Systems General
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.
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.
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
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.
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
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
Author: Lisa Dodson
Major Program: Agriculture
“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, &
Author: Samantha Anderson
Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
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
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
