Agricultural Education and Production Plan of Work

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Floyd County CES

Title:
Agricultural Education and Production
MAP:
Agricultural Awareness, Diversification and Production
Agents Involved:
Hackworth, Coleman and Slone
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Small Farm Diversification
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Agriculture & Natural Resources
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Local Food Systems
Situation:

Agriculture is not as prevalent in Floyd County as in other parts of the state. The county has mostly part-time and small farmers. Most of these producers have diversified operations with small numbers of livestock and/or acres of pasture and crops. Even though these are smaller operations, they still add financial support to their families and to the county. The major livestock in the county consists of beef cattle, goats, sheep and horses. The major crops consist of hay, corn, fruits and vegetables. Also, a large number of the people in the county raise a small garden or fruit trees for home use. The leadership has directed us to address the above areas with the necessary emphasis on sustainability, diversification, small farm production and marketing. Emphasis will be on learning experiences that will benefit both youth and adults. Mainly directed to those individuals involved or with an interest in livestock, crops, fruit, and vegetable production, both commercially and family based. Another goal for Extension is to increase agricultural awareness and literacy among the youth in the county. One of the key initiatives in 4-H is to increase a young person’s awareness of the impact agriculture has on his/her daily life. Family and Consumer Sciences acknowledges a foundation of nutrition knowledge, skills and competencies in topics such as food preservation, handling, and techniques

Long-Term Outcomes:

Long-term Outcomes:

*Number of people who increased profits, reduced expenses, and/or reduced risks on their agricultural operations. 

*Number of people adopting new technologies and/or skills in agriculture production. 

*Number of producers who increased or maintained sales and/or reduced risk when selling farm and value-added products.

*Youth will be agriculturally literate.

*Youth will make informed decisions regarding agricultural products and services.

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

*Routinely employ healthy dietary practices that promote health and wellness (e.g. consume recommended daily fruits and vegetables and improve food management skills)

Intermediate Outcomes:

Intermediate Outcomes:

*Number of farmers who have diversified their small farms, or added “new enterprises”.

*Number of people who used Extension resources and diagnostics to test soil and identify plants, weeds, insects, pests, and/or diseases. 

*Number of growers who extended the growing season, diversified crop production, implemented irrigation systems, and/or practiced crop rotation.

*Number of people who used Extension information to make decisions on site selection, varieties, and/or maintenance. 

*Number of certified Master Gardeners and active volunteers.

*Number of direct and indirect contacts made by Master Gardeners. 

*Number of producers who adopted best practices to improve their livestock operations.

*Number of beekeepers who used Extension information and resources in their production 

*Number of people who completed food safety related trainings, obtained process certifications and/or used Extension marketing resources. 

*Number of people who utilize forested lands as part of agricultural operations.

*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. 

*Increase intake of fruits and vegetables.

*Employ healthful food preservation techniques

*Increased access to healthy food via local farmers markets, food retailers, and/or home gardens

Initial Outcomes:

Initial Outcome:

*Number of farmers who increased their knowledge on farm business planning and financial management skills.

*Number of people who gained knowledge in establishing and maintaining hives, honey production, and marketing.

*Number of people who gained knowledge in commercial, consumer, home horticulture, and crop diversification. 

*Number of people who gained information and/or knowledge on livestock related topics and production.

*Number of people who gained knowledge of better management practices and conservation related to their operations.

*Number of people who gained an understanding of the importance of diversity in small operations.

*Number of people who gained knowledge that managing the forest could be a viable enterprise.

*Number of people who gained knowledge on food safety, handling, processing, liability and/or marketing.

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

*Increase motivation to access and prepare healthier foods.

*Improve food and nutrition-related skills (e.g. gardening, preparation and preservation techniques, safe food handling, food resource management)

Evaluation:

Long-term Outcome: Number of people who increased profits, reduced expenses, and/or reduced risks on their agricultural operations.

Indicator: Percentage of program participants that show changes

Method: Observations and Surveys

Timeline: After program conclusion and sufficient time for implementation – year round


Long-term Outcome: Number of producers who increased or maintained sales and/or reduced risk when selling farm and value-added products.

Indicator: Percentage of program participants that show changes

Method: Observations and Surveys

Timeline: After program conclusion and sufficient time for implementation – year round


Long-term Outcome: 

Indicator: Number of youth who demonstrate a skill that was learned and improved by participating in ANR project program, event or activity. 

Method: observation, testimonials, surveys

Timeline: year round


Intermediate Outcome: Number of people who used Extension resources and diagnostics to test soil and identify plants, weeds, insects, pests, and/or diseases.

Indicator: Percentage of program participants that show changes

Method: Observations and Surveys

Timeline: After program conclusion and sufficient time for implementation – year round


Intermediate Outcome: Number of people who used Extension information to make decisions on site selection, varieties, and/or maintenance. 

Indicator: Percentage of program participants that show changes

Method: Observations and Surveys

Timeline: After program conclusion and sufficient time for implementation – year round


Intermediate Outcome: 

Indicator: number of youth who have engaged in a community project related to ANR. 

Method: observation, testimonials, surveys

Timeline: year round


Initial Outcome: Number of people who gained knowledge in commercial, consumer, home horticulture, and crop diversification.  

Indicator: Percentage of program participants that show changes

Method: Observations and Surveys

Timeline: After program conclusion and sufficient time for implementation – year round


Initial Outcome: Number of people who gained knowledge in establishing and maintaining hives, honey production, and marketing.

Indicator: Percentage of program participants that show changes

Method: on site/phone consultations, observations, and surveys

Timeline: After program conclusion and sufficient time for implementation – year round


Initial Outcome: 

Indicator: Number of youth who set a goal and accomplish it. 

Method: observation, testimonials, surveys

Timeline: year round


Initial Outcome: Preparing and preserving food 

Indicator: Number of individuals who reported preserving fruits and vegetables, modifying ingredients and/or preparation techniques to improve nutrition 

Method: Self-report survey; specific curricula or program evaluations

Timeline: Fall


Initial Outcome: Availability and access to healthy food

Indicator: Number of individuals who reported: utilizing delivery systems/access points (e.g., farmers’ markets) that offer healthy foods; supplementing diets with healthy foods grown or preserved (e.g., community or backyard gardens, fishing, hunting, farmers markets); dollar value of vendor-reported sales Senior benefits redeemed at farmers’ markets; number of pints of foods preserved through water bath canning, pressure canning, freezing, or drying. 

Method: Self-report survey 

Timeline: Year round

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Livestock Producers

Project or Activity: Producers Program

Content or Curriculum: feeding, health, reproduction, marketing, forages and basic management

Inputs: Extension Resources, Agents, Specialists

Date: Year round


Audience: Horticultural Producers

Project or Activity: Fruit & Gardening Programs

Content or Curriculum: beginning gardening, variety selection, pest control, fruit pruning and grafting, small area production, processing and preservation, marketing

Inputs: Extension Resources, Agents, Specialists

Date: Year round


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: 4 H and Youth Ag Programs

Content or Curriculum: agriculture issues and production to introduce and educate youth about the importance of agriculture

Inputs: Extension Resources, Agents, Specialists

Date: Year round


Audience: Producers and Landowners

Project or Activity: Conservation Programs

Content or Curriculum: Soil sampling, cost-share programs, and related issues

Inputs: Extension Resources, Agents, Specialists and Collaborative Organizations

Date: Year round


Audience: Land Owners

Project or Activity: Forest Landowners Programs

Content or Curriculum: Forestry, wildlife, habitat and related issues

Inputs: Extension Resources, Agents, Specialists and Collaborative Organizations

Date: As needed


Audience: General Clientele

Project or Activity: Small scale & specialty agricultural production programs

Content or Curriculum: Various agricultural related topics and issues

Inputs: Extension Resources, Agents, Specialists and Collaborative Organizations

Date: As needed


Audience: Youth grades K-8th

Project or Activity: Clubs and School enrichment

Content or Curriculum: Acres of Agriculture, Chick incubation,  

Inputs: club leaders, agents and staff

Date: Spring


Audience: Youth in grades 4-12

Project or Activity: 4-H project work will focus on family hands on projects

Content or Curriculum: KY 4-H project books and National 4-H project books

Inputs: Club leaders, parents, agents and staff

Date: Spring


Audience: General Community

Project or Activity: Farmers Market Outreach Content or Curriculum: Cooking programs, marketing, increased access (e.g. location, hours, EBT), Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud resources, Farmers Market Toolkit, Super Star Chef
 Inputs: Nutrition Education Program (NEP), paid staff, grant funds, facilities, Kentucky Department of Agriculture 

Date: April – October/Growing seasons


Audience: Families

Project or Activity: Food Preservation Content or Curriculum: Publications, Trainings, Home-Based Micro-Processing Training

Inputs: Paid staff, volunteers, facilities, programmatic materials, NEP 

Date: July – September for adults and youth



Success Stories

Gardening Education – Daycare and Homeless Shelter Projects

Author: Keith Hackworth

Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home

At the direction of our leadership, Extension has been collaborating with several community groups again this year. We have increased the collaboration project with the Floyd County Health Department, local daycare centers, local homeless shelter, and Extension Master Gardeners. Grant funding through the health department has allowed us to increase from six daycare centers to seven this year. The goal of the program is to provide education and nutritious fruits and vegetables to daycare age yout

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Beekeepers educating the beginners

Author: Keith Hackworth

Major Program: Beekeeping

Extension continues to support the Floyd County Beekeepers Association by offering programming, guidance, and assistance while promoting their efforts. The county continues to have increased interest in beekeeping and trying to preserve this tradition. Since the association officially formed seven years ago, their fifty plus members have educated and mentored nearly a hundred new beekeepers in Floyd and surrounding counties. Attendance at some of their monthly meetings reached more than forty. T

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Farmers Market Kid’s Days Community Collaboration

Author: Heather Coleman

Major Program: Agriculture & Natural Resources

For the last three years Floyd County Extension has collaborated with our Floyd County Farmers Market and Floyd County Health Department to bring Kids Day to the Farmers Marker. What started out as a onetime event in 2021 has grown to four Saturday Events from June-September.  Our Floyd County Health Department has provided fruit and vegetable vouchers along with nutrition education play activities. Our Farmer’s Market has had special guests come in, such has Prestonsburg Fire Departm

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BREED SOUNDESS EXAMS

Author: Chad Allen

Major Program: Beef

         Implementing Breeding Soundness Exams (BSE) on a small cattle producers’ farm is a large hurdle for East Kentucky producers. With a shortage of large animal veterinarians, it is a large expense as well as difficult to find time for the Vet to make a farm call. As Extension Agents, we wanted to share the importance of having annual exams conducted on breeding age bulls as a protection against open cow herds. To help combat this concern, and bring better man

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