Agriculture Awareness InitiativePlan of Work

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Logan County CES

Title:
Agriculture Awareness Initiative
MAP:
Promoting Agriculture Awareness
Agents Involved:
Leann Martin, Carrie Derossett
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Grains
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Agriculture
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy
Situation:

The average person is 3 generations from production agriculture. It is important to educate the public and our youth about where their food comes from and emphasize food safety.

Logan County has much to offer in the way of agriculture, ranking in the top five counties in Kentucky in grain crops, milk from cows, and hog production. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, 78% of the land in Logan County is farmland totaling $152,164,000 in products sold, ranking ninth in Kentucky. Logan County farms produce a variety of agricultural products. The top four agricultural commodities, based on sales, in Logan County are grain crops, milk from cows, cattle, and tobacco. 

Logan County's rich agricultural heritage is one to be proud of and treasured. Agriculture is the second leading industry in Logan County and has deeply impacted the overall economy.  

Long-Term Outcomes:

-Youth will be agriculturally literate and are able to make informed decisions regarding agricultural products and services.

- Residents will be agriculturally literate and are able to make informed decisions regarding agricultural products and services.

-Youth will be advocates for agriculture and sustainable fiber and food production. 

-Logan County residents will make the local farmers' market a staple in their grocery purchases.

- Citizens will be well educated and help defend against accusations of GMO/Conventional production, animal welfare, and other Ag. hot topics

- Producer become more involved in the Chamber of Commerce or other community based organization in efforts to further promote

Intermediate Outcomes:

- Youth will explain the role of agriculture in daily life.

-Youth will utilize and practice life-skills in 4-H agricultural projects and clubs, and life situations.

-Both producers and citizens learn to appreciate each others' time on the road and share the road especially during harvest/planting seasons

- Customers purchase meat or other goods based on the information learned

- Customers are able to make an educated decision about the food they eat and purchase

- Citizens help promote/support local farming businesses/farmers' market/road stands

Initial Outcomes:

- Increased knowledge about GMO/Organics/Natural/Conventional

- Increased knowledge about anti-hormone/anti-antibiotics, etc.

- Increased awareness of our farming community in the eyes of "city" citizens

- Citizens seek out the local farmers' market

-Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of animal and food science, and plant and soil science.

-Youth will gain an understanding of sustainable agricultural systems.

-Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision making, critical thinking, communications, record-keeping, wise use of resources, and leadership.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Citizens seek out and attend farmers' market

Indicator: increased attendance at market

Method: tally/count

Timeline: Summer 2022/ Each Summer


Initial Outcome: Residents are more aware of their Agriculture neighbors and appreciate the impact they have in our community 

Indicator: reduction in number of Agriculture related complaints (including roadways, social media, neighborhoods, etc.)

Method: tally/count/social media traffic

Timeline: Summer 2022; Each Spring, Summer, Fall


Intermediate Outcome: Consumers are able to make an educated decision on grocery purchases based on their desire for conventional/natural/organic and the knowledge they gained by knowing the difference

Indicator: satisfaction of purchases

Method: interviews/follow up/grocery simulation

Timeline: 1 year


Long-term Outcome: Citizens are able to defend their opinions of the type of food they purchased (organic/natural/conventional) based on true facts and not on emotion

Indicator:

Method: observation

Timeline: 1-3 years

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Logan County Citizens/Chamber Members
Project or Activity: Agriculture Appreciation Videos
Content or Curriculum: Drone video footage of all Logan County Agriculture
Inputs: Extension Agent time, Producers, Facility, Technology,
Date: January 2022, (Year long production) January 2023

Audience: Logan County Citizens/Chamber Members
Project or Activity: Agriculture Appreciation Breakfast
Content or Curriculum: Agriculture Leader speaker
Inputs: Extension Agent time, Volunteers' time, Chamber of Commerce, Speaker, Producers, Sponsors, Facility, Technology, Breakfast
Date: January 2021, Jan. 2022, Jan. 2023, Jan 2024

Audience: Logan County Agri-Tourism Producers/Hosts
Project or Activity: Agri-Tourism Commission and Classes
Content or Curriculum: Small Business Enhancements; Agri-Tourism Marketing & Communications
Inputs: Extension Agent time, Specialist's time, Small Business Development Center, CEDIK
Date: Summer 2020, Summer 2021, Summer 2022, Summer 2023

Audience: Consumers & Citizens
Project or Activity: Farmers' Market Highlighted Events
Content or Curriculum: Plate it Up, UK Nutrition Information
Inputs: Extension Agent Time, Volunteers, Farmers' Market Vendors,
Date: Summer 2020, Summer 2021, Summer 2022, Summer 2023

Audience: Logan County Citizens/Chamber Members
Project or Activity: Tour of Logan County Agriculture
Content or Curriculum: Visiting Farms in Logan County via video
Inputs: Extension Agent time, Volunteers' time, Chamber of Commerce, Producers, Sponsors, Facility, Technology,
  Date: Summer 2022, Summer 2023

Audience: Logan County Citizens/Chamber Members
Project or Activity: Leadership Logan Ag Day (Youth & Adult)
Content or Curriculum:
Inputs: Extension Agent time, Volunteers' time, Chamber of Commerce, Producers, Sponsors, Facility, Technology,
Date: Aug & Sept. 2022, Aug & Sept. 2023

Audience: Consumers & Citizens
Project or Activity: Family Fun at the Farmers' Market
Content or Curriculum: Plate it Up, UK Nutrition Information, Home Gardening, 4-H Agriculture, Kindergarten Readiness
Inputs: Extension Agent Time, Volunteers, Farmers' Market Vendors,
Date: Summer 2020, Summer 2021, Summer 2022, Summer 2023

Audience: Adults at Lifeskills Industries
Project or Activity: Lifeskills’ Garden Project
Content or Curriculum: Plate it Up, UK Nutrition Information, Home Gardening, Gardening in Small Spaces

Inputs: Extension Agent Time, Volunteers, Lifeskills’ volunteers, Lifeskills’ employees
 Date: Spring & Summer 2022, Spring & Summer 2023

Audience: Citizens & Producers
Project or Activity: Agriculture Safety & Awareness
  Content or Curriculum: State Safety Instructions & More

Inputs: Extension Agent Time, Volunteers, Producers, State Safety Instructors, Film crew

Date: Spring & Summer 2022, Spring & Summer 2023


Audience: Elementary School Students
Project or Activity: Olmstead Outdoor Garden Classroom
  Content or Curriculum: Home Gardening, Gardening in Small Spaces,  Plate it Up, UK Nutrition Information,

Inputs: Extension Agent Time, Volunteers, Student volunteers, Parent Volunteers, School Family resources Services, School Principle
 Date:  Summer & Fall 2020, Spring, Summer, and Fall 2021, Spring, Summer, and Fall 2022, Spring & Summer 2023,


Audience: Elementary School Students
Project or Activity: Olmstead Preschool Sensory Garden
  Content or Curriculum: Home Gardening, Gardening in Small Spaces,  Plate it Up, UK Nutrition Information, Sensory specific Resources

Inputs: Extension Agent Time, Volunteers, Student volunteers, Parent Volunteers, School Family resources Services, School Principle
 Date:  Spring, Summer, and Fall 2021, Spring, Summer, and Fall 2022, Spring & Summer 2023


Audience: 4-H youth

Project or Activity: Logan County 4-H Livestock Club

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Adventures 1 and 2; Kentucky Farm 2 School; Project Food, Land, and People; Livestock Volunteer Certification Resource Kit; Beef Resource Handbook; Beef Project and Record Book; Beef, Sheep, Swine Selection Evaluation; Dairy Cow Project and Record Book; Dairy Heifer Project and Record Book; Dairy Resource Handbook; 4-H Dairy Cattle 1, 2, 3, Helper’s Guide; Dairy Judging Resources; Goat Project and Record Book; Goat Resource Book; Sheep Resource Handbook; Market Lamb Project and Record Book; Sheep Breeding Project and Record Book; Swine Resource Handbook; Market Hog Project and Record Book; Swine Breeding Project and Record Book

Inputs: Livestock Volunteer Certification Training; Agent In-services

Date: Summer 2020-Summer 2023


Audience: 4-H youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Horse Program

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Horse Project Record Book; Horse Achievement Levels 1, 2, 3, and 4; Horse Safety Guidelines; Horse Smarts; Equine Reference and Youth Activity Guide; Horse Volunteer Certification Resource Kit

Inputs: Horse Volunteer Certification Training; Agent In-Services

Date: Summer 2020-Summer 2023


Audience: 4-H youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Country Ham Program

Content or Curriculum: How to Make a Country Ham Publication; How to Cure a Country Ham Video

Inputs: Agent In-services

Date- Summer 2020, Spring/Summer 2021, Spring/Summer 2022, Spring/Summer 2023



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County-Wide Early Childhood Promotion

Author: Leann Martin

Major Program: Local Food Systems

It is through our valued partnership with the Allen, Logan, and Simpson Community Early Childhood Council that we, the Logan County Cooperative Extension Service, seek to improve school readiness in Logan County by educating, encouraging, and engaging families. Kindergarten readiness means that each child enters school ready to engage in and benefit from early learning experiences that best promote the child’s success. The kindergarten screener measures readiness in five important domains,

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2022 Sweet Summer Time at the Farmers' Market

Author: Leann Martin

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Covid-19 was a huge eye-opener for so many people when it came to the availability of food, especially when quality and safety of the food available was in question. Educating families on the fresh food available to them locally, while encouraging family engagement, has been a driving force in the development of Logan County Extension Services’ Sweet Summer Time at The Farmers’ Market program. It is a community event, held at the Logan County Extension Complex in conjunction with the

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