4-H AgriculturePlan of Work

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Boone County CES

Title:
4-H Agriculture
MAP:
Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Awareness
Agents Involved:
Steve Conrad, Cathy Fellows, Rusty Wolf
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Agriculture & Natural Resources
Situation:

Wendell Berry (1990), Kentucky novelist, poet, environmentalist, and farmer, stated that “…eating is an agricultural act” (p.1). Unfortunately, for many, there is a disconnect between the food we eat and where that food comes from. Today’s society lacks understanding regarding agricultural production and processing (Spielmaker and Leising, 2013). The Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program strives to increase agricultural literacy among youth in Kentucky. The Agricultural Education in Secondary Schools Committee established by the National Research Council (1988) described an agriculturally literate person as one who’s “…understanding of the food and fiber system would include its history and its current economic, social, and environmental significance to all” (p. 8). The National Agriculture Literacy Logic Model defines an agriculturally literate person as one “…who understands and can communicate the source and value of agriculture as it affects our quality of life” (Spielmaker et al., 2014, p. 2). One of the key initiatives in Kentucky 4-H is to increase a young person’s awareness of the impact agriculture has on his/her daily life.

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Learning Opportunities:


Success Stories

Farm Frenzy teaches youth about Agriculture

Author: Rusty Wolf

Major Program: Agriculture & Natural Resources

Youth in Boone County have a growing disconnect with agriculture due to rapid urbanization. Our County Extension Council and District board have also come to this conclusion, so we partnered to put on farm frenzy.Farm Frenzy is a weeklong field trip event for 2nd to 3rd grade students to come and view various stations about the agricultural industry in Kentucky and in Boone County. The stations were: beef cattle, dairy cattle, swine, sheep/goats, horses, tractors, honeybees, gardening, poultry,

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The Power of Produce at your local Farmers Market

Author: Cathy Fellows

Major Program: Agriculture & Natural Resources

Many of today’s youth live in larger towns and cities away from farms, some unaware of where the food they eat actually comes from.Boone County Kentucky is located at the northernmost part of the State and has a population of 139,093 people. 1.   In September 2023, the University of Kentucky’s Boone County Cooperative Extension offered the Farm Frenzy Program to all second and third grade students from Boone County Kentucky. 776 youth attended the three-day Farm Frenzy agricultu

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Farm Safety Day teaches youth proper practices.

Author: Rusty Wolf

Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology

Farm Safety Day teaches youth proper practices.

The problemAccording to the US Bureau of labor and statistics agriculture is the most dangerous sector in America with around 23.1 deaths per 100,000 workers. Petroleum power portion of 4-H SET curriculum has long been underused in this county and this was a trial run of the interest with the youth in our county.The educational program responseIt is important for extension to install proper farm safety practices at a young age in our traditional agricultural audience.  For this program I pa

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Animal Science Classes Educates Youth about the opportunities in agriculture

Author: Rusty Wolf

Major Program: Agriculture & Natural Resources

The problemAccording to the 2023 Cooperative Extension Needs Assessment for Boone County the number 3 issue is sustainability of family farms. In an urban county the agricultural land is always at risk of development, the population of Boone County has grown around 50,000 people since 2000. With a population growing as fast as it is and industry being developed all around the airport it is important to try and preserve the heritage and agriculture of Boone County.The educational program response

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