Extension
It Starts With Us
Natural Resources and Environmental Quality
Environmental Stewardship & Awareness
Allen, Coleman, Slone
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education
Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Floyd County is diverse from a natural resource perspective. Forestry is becoming a major industry in the county with 85% of the land being forested. Most of these forested lands are privately held. The citizens of the county are becoming more aware of the importance of, and possible financial gain from, their forested lands. Education is still needed to help improve the forest’s quality and improve citizen’s management skills. There is also an abundance of wildlife in the county partly due to the fact the county is dominated by woodlands. Other natural resources that we have an abundance of needs to be considered are coal, gas, and oil. Recently, the county has an increase in natural gas and oil production. All of the natural resources of the county should be used wisely. Conservation practices must be learned by citizens in order to protect the valuable ecosystem of the county. Like many other counties in the area, environmental concerns are of great importance to the county, water quality being the #1 concern.
We must continue to educate our youth. Our programs provides environmental education opportunities by engaging youth in hands-on, interdisciplinary educational experiences that foster an increased understanding and appreciation for natural resources and environmental sciences. Programs and projects are offered in the areas of environmental science, entomology, forestry and wood science. People, animals and plants are dependent on our Earth’s natural resources. Everything from the air we breathe, to the water we drink, to the soil we use for food production – these resources are vital to our existence. Therefore, it’s important that we care for and respect these resources. Understanding how our daily choices affect our environment, we can conserve natural resources and protect our environment for present and future generations. Extension can help educate the public about the importance of the environment and about conservation methods that help improve environmental conditions. During our community assessment, leaders prioritized dumping and littering as an important issue. Local leaders agreed that the above issues are of high importance and must be addressed.
*Number of clients who shared information about environmental issues with elected officials.
*Number of people who shared information or advocated that native wildlife has a value and purpose.
*Number of dollars saved/earned by implementing forest health, management and utilization practices
*Number of people who understand the importance of the wise use of natural resources and strive to improve the environmental conditions.
*Number of people who reduce, reuse, and recycle thus creating an improved environment.
*Youth will be environmentally literate.
*Youth will make informed decisions and take responsible action regarding natural resources, conservation, protection and restoration.
*Number of people who used Extension resources in making decisions or employing best practices related to pollinators, and/or their habitats.
*Number of people who implemented one or more best practices for soil quality/soil health, soil/water conservation, or improving water quality.
*Number of people who planted native plants in buffer zones or adopted changes to improve the water quality of forested streams.
*Number of people who implemented one or more practices related to wildlife habitat, management, and/or damage.
*Number of individuals who implemented one or more forest health, management and/or utilization practices
* Number of people who increase implement household and homeowner conservation practices; such as, reducing waste, reuse, and recycling.
*Youth will explain the importance and role of natural resources in daily life.
*Youth will utilize and practice life-skills in 4-H natural resources and environmental projects and clubs, and life situations.
*Number of people gaining knowledge on establishing pollinator habitats.
*Number of people who increased knowledge of streams, watersheds, stream ecology and best practices to improve water quality.
*Number of people who increased knowledge of wildlife habitat, management, or damage identification or control.
*Number of people who increased knowledge on forest health, management and/or utilization.
*Number of people who increase knowledge of better management practices related to protection of natural resources.
*Number of people learning the importance of recycling.
*Youth will gain knowledge and skills in environmental sciences and natural resources content.
Long-term Outcome: Number of people who understand the importance of the wise use of natural resources and strive to improve the environmental conditions.
Indicator: Percentage of program participants that show changes
Method: Surveys and Visual Observations
Timeline: Year round
Long-term Outcome: Number of youth who demonstrate a skill that was learned and improved by participating in a natural resources project program, event or activity.
Indicator: Percentage of program participants that show changes
Method: observation, testimonials, surveys
Timeline: year round
Intermediate Outcome: Number of people who implemented one or more best practices for soil quality/soil health, soil/water conservation, or improving water quality, forest and/or wildlife management.
Indicator: Percentage of program participants that show changes
Method: Surveys and Visual Observations
Timeline: Year round
Intermediate Outcome: Number of youth who have engaged in a community projects related to Natural Resources
Indicator: Percentage of program participants that show changes
Method: observation, testimonials, surveys
Timeline: year round
Initial Outcome: Number of people learning the importance of recycling.
Indicator: Percentage of program participants that show changes
Method: Surveys and Visual Observations
Timeline: Year round
Initial Outcome: Number of people gaining knowledge on establishing pollinator habitats.
Indicator: Percentage of program participants that show changes
Method: Surveys and Visual Observations
Timeline: Year round
Initial Outcome: Youth will gain an understanding of energy and the benefits of natural energy
Indicator: Students will learn various ways to identify energy and gain an understanding of how each works
Method: Pre & Post-tests, oral or written evaluations
Timeline: Year round
Initial Outcome: Number of youth who set a goal and accomplish it.
Indicator: Percentage of program participants that show changes
Method: observation, testimonials, surveys
Timeline: year round
Audience: Land Owners
Project or Activity: Forest land owners education
Content or Curriculum: UK Forestry and Forest Management materials
Inputs: Extension Resources, agents, specialist, Conservation, and KDF
Date: Fall
Audience: General Clientele
Project or Activity: Environmental Quality Program
Content or Curriculum: Discussion of environmental concerns of the area
Inputs: Extension Resources, agents, specialist, local government, and Conservation
Date: September/October
Audience: General Clientele
Project or Activity: Clean-ups Programs
Content or Curriculum: Promotion and recruitment for local cleanup program of roadsides and streams
Inputs: Extension Resources, agents, specialist, local government, and Conservation
Date: Spring/Fall
Audience: General Clientele
Project or Activity: Recycling/Reuse programs
Content or Curriculum: Cleanup Program, Recycling Pays, Rinse and Return,
Appliance Buy-Back, and School recycling program
Inputs: Extension Resources, agents, specialist, local government, and Conservation
Date: Spring/Fall
Audience: Land Owners and Sportsmen
Project or Activity: Wildlife Habitat Program
Content or Curriculum: Awareness and improvements of wildlife habitat
Inputs: Extension Resources, agents, specialist, Conservation, KDF, and KDF&W
Date: Year round
Audience: Adults and Youth
Project or Activity: Water quality program
Content or Curriculum: water awareness education
Inputs: Extension Resources, agents, specialist, local government, Conservation and KDW
Date: Spring/Fall
Audience: County Youth
Project or Activity: Youth grades 4-8
Content or Curriculum: Need Curriculum, 4-H Energy Projects books, Weather Project Books
Inputs: Extension Resources, agents, and specialist
Date: Spring/Fall
Audience: Youth grades 3rd-8th
Project or Activity: clubs and school enrichment
Content or Curriculum: Entomology, Butterflies, Forestry, Geology, Wood science
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 Clientele
Project or Activity: Community event, media display, public display, small group
Content or Curriculum: Household Waste Management: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Inputs: Extension Resources, agents, specialist, and American Cleaning Institute
Date: year round
Audience: General Clientele
Project or Activity: Community event, media display, public display
Content or Curriculum: Help Yourself to a Healthy Home, Green Cleaning, Keep it Clean
Inputs: Extension Resources, agents, specialist, and American Cleaning Institute
Date: year round
Author: Chad Allen
Major Program: Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
Our household garbage can be overwhelming and the items that can be composted can be as high as 20% of what we send to the landfills. On August 5th we hosted a backyard composting class at the Floyd County Extension office. The class consisted of basic composting to show that up to 20 percent of our household waste can be composted vs going to the landfill. We polled the group on a few questions to gather information on the benefit of the workshop. 25 total people
