Extension
It Starts With Us
To help foster the development of marketing, production, and managment skills within the area.
Develop Marketing, Production, and Managment Skills
Jay Stone, Tiffany Bolinger, Kelly Jackson, Kendriana Price, Matt Futrell, Kaitlyne Metsker
Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
Farmer's Markets
Agritourism Planning
Ag Marketing
Kentucky is home to 85,500 farms, tied with Oklahoma as the 4th ranking state in the number of farms (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012). The average farm size in Kentucky is 164 acres, compared to the national average of 421 (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012). Between 2007 and 2012, the Bluegrass State had a 6.7% decrease in the number of acres of farmland, which is the greatest percentage decrease any state in the country (Census of Agriculture, 2012). A farm is defined by the United States government as “any place that produced and sold, or normally would produce and sell, $1,000 or more of agricultural products during the census year.” While Kentucky’s population is increasing, the number of people living on farms is decreasing. Therefore, the need exists to educate people about the impact that it makes on their daily lives, as well as the importance of agriculture to the commonwealth. The top agricultural products produced on Kentucky farms are changing. In 2012, the Top 10 agriculture products in Kentucky were: Broilers, Corn, Horses & Mules, Soybeans, Cattle & Calves, Tobacco, Dairy Products & Milk, Wheat, Hay and Chicken Eggs (United States Department of Agriculture – Kentucky, 2012).
Sales at the Fairview Produce Auction reached nearly $2 million in 2011 on fresh fruits and vegetables alone, with an estimated retail value of over $4 million. But these numbers represent less than 1% of the total produce consumed by Kentuckians in 2010. Therefore it is important that educational efforts focus on improving the efficiency of production while expanding production with new growers and new commodities. Because of the level of produce being sold from Christian County, there is also a need to educate growers and vendors on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) during production and sampling in order to reduce risks associated with pathogen contamination of produce. There is also a need to start new markets and strengthen existing markets.
* 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
* Larger farmers market with more growers, vendors, and consumers
* Larger volumes of consistent, high quality produce
* Increased economic capacity for farmers
* Economic evaluation confirms that agritourism contributes substantially to the economic viability of farms and rural communities
* Profitability increased as demonstrated by increased sales, effective marketing, and consumer access
* Producers will discover and maintain direct to consumer marketing options
* 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
* Increased number of farmer market vendors
* Producer growing and marketing skills will increase
* Increase use of media technology to promote farmers markets and fresh produce consumption
* Implement certification workshops for vendors
* Evidence in the form of publicity, brochures, and advertising that agritourism venues are thriving in all regions of the state.
* Demonstrate development and use of specific management practices and marketing tools
* 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
* Increase post harvest and food handling knowledge
* Increase knowledge of produce and ornamental production and marketing
* Document current impacts of existing markets
* Identify agritourism venues with market growth potential
* Provide technical and market development support for startup agritourism venues
Initial Outcome: Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
Indicator: 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.
Method: Club meetings, Programs, Events ,and Activities
Timeline:July 2017-July 2018
Initial Outcome: Adopt post harvest and food handling knowledge.
Indicator: Participants will adopt state GAP standards for food/crop production and handling regulations when offering samples.
Method: Retrospective survey following GAP training
Timeline: Spring 2018
Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge of produce, and ornamental production and marketing.
Indicator: 50% of participants will indicate knowledge increase.
Method: Retrospective survey following production meetings
Timeline: December, January, April, June
Intermediate Outcome: Evaluate the number of vendors who sell at local farmers markets and the wholesale auction, as well as direct to consumer markets.
Indicator: The number of vendors will increase.
Method: Observation
Timeline: June 2018
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Ag, Livestock, Horse Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Beef, Sheep, Swine Selection Evaluation, Horse Achievement
Inputs: Agents, Specialist, Travel
Date: July 2017 - July 2018
Audience: Christian County First Graders
Project or Activity: Farm Days
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Farm 2 School
Inputs: Agents,Specialist, Farm & Demonstration Materials
Date: Spring 2018
Audience: Agritourism Operators
Project or Activity: Promote agritourism venue members through marketing
Content or Curriculum: Partnering with Chamber committees; website; creating marketing promo videos
Inputs: Extension Horticulture and Agriculture Natural Resources Agents; Extension Specialists; Kentucky Department of Agriculture; Downtown Renaissance; Funding (County Funds, State, Local Funds); UK publications; Local Civic Leaders; State Agritourism Development Staff; Local Tourism; Enterprise Owners; Materials (i.e., Agritourism State Website and Manual)
Date: 2017/18 program year
Audience: Producers and consumers
Project or Activity: Food Safety and Certification for Sampling
Content or Curriculum: GAP Training
Inputs: Extension Horticulture and Agriculture Natural Resources Agents; Extension Specialists; Kentucky Department of Agriculture; Kentucky Cabinet for Health; Downtown Renaissance; Funding (County Funds, State, Local Funds); UK publications
Date: Jan-March 2018
Audience: Farmers Market Growers, Ag producers
Project or Activity: Fruit, Vegetable, and Ornamental Production classes, Woodland Owner's short course, Grain/Tobacco Production meetings, Private applicator trainings, Commodity Group Updates.
Content or Curriculum: Supplied by agents and specialists
Inputs: Extension Horticulture and Agriculture Natural Resources Agents; Extension Specialists (i.e., John Strang, Shubin Saha, Emily Pfeufer, Rick Bessin, Andy Bailey, Chad Lee, Ray Smith, Tim Woods, etc); Kentucky Department of Agriculture; Funding (County Funds, State, Local Funds); Fairview Education Committee; Fairview Produce Auction; UK publications
Date: December 2017/ January, May, June 2018
Author: Austin Wright
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
SituationChristian County conducted a survey on agricultural businesses and farming occupation. It showed a 35% increase in farm businesses between 2007 until 2012. The average farm size is 306 acres with 5% adding value to products and 1% operating community supported agriculture. Current unemployment rate for Christian County is 10.1% which is +6% the national average. The plan that is composed would produce over 150 jobs in Christian County. Partnerships and
Author: Austin Wright
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
SituationChristian County conducted a survey on agricultural businesses and farming occupation. It showed a 35% increase in farm businesses between 2007 until 2012. The average farm size is 306 acres with 5% adding value to products and 1% operating community supported agriculture. Current unemployment rate for Christian County is 10.1% which is +6% the national average. New Minority Owned Farms would start a defiant start in the positive direction for small farmers to mo
Author: Matthew Futrell
Major Program: Dairy
Pasture WalkOn March 27th twenty five dairymen met with University of Kentucky specialist Ray Smith and Donna Phillips to have a pasture walk. Why out walking pastures you might ask. Pasture walks provide an opportunity for producers to see the newest and latest forage varieties that are being tested by the University on actual farms and in production.The pasture walk held on the John Stoltzfus farm in Trenton, KY provided a unique opportunity for organic dairy farmers to e
Author: Kelly Jackson
Major Program: Commercial Horticulture
Kentucky has the fastest-growing Amish population in the U.S. According to the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, the population of Kentucky Amish grew by 3,060 people in the last five years and is currently 8th in population with approximately 12,060 Amish. Christian County and neighboring Todd County are two of the three most populated counties in Kentucky. Many Amish in these two counties, grow and sell vegetables and depend on these sales for their livelihood. Due to limited ac
Author: Kendriana Price
Major Program: Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
The Kentucky 4-H Program holds the mission of improving people through intentional life skill development. Annually, camping programs across the state serves 25,000 guests at the four camp camps located across the state. West Kentucky 4-H Camp, located in Dawson Springs, KY, is the home to the Christian County 4-H Summer Residential Camping Program. Last year, West Kentucky 4-H Camp served 2,131 campers, volunteers, and staff. A goal for Christian County is to continue to rebuild the local progr
Author: Kendriana Price
Major Program: Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
In today’s world of technology and social media, communicating about upcoming events with a broad group of people has changed. The days of individuals receiving information from the newspaper or mailbox, have fallen to the wayside of technology and social media. As a result, the 4-H team in Christian County looked for alternative ways to promote 4-H summer camp and reach a broad range of people.Traditionally, 4-H summer camp promotion has occurred via mailing 4-H camp enrollment packets to
Author: Jay Stone
Major Program: Facilitation Training
Agriculture Awareness ranks as a top priority for the Christian County Ag Advisory Council. Among the methods of reaching people, the use of social media rose to the top this year as a means of engaging both Ag and Non-Ag sectors of our population. A social media plan was developed and implemented by the Christian County Extension Agent for Agriculture. Social media has been identified as an important delivery method because you must engage people where they are. And most of the 98% of non-farme
Author: Jay Stone
Major Program: Tobacco
Crop production is vital to the ag economy in Christian county, and on a per acre basis, tobacco remains the most valuable crop in the county. Nearly 7,900 acres are grown by 113 farmers, representing burley, dark-air, and dark fired tobacco.In an effort to aid these producers in becoming more efficient in their operations, extension programming has mounted efforts to aid producers in the areas of disease control, variety selection, fertility management, and evaluation of tillage requirements. I
Author: Jay Stone
Major Program: Beef
The importance of using balanced diets in a beef cattle feeding program is well documented, however convincing some cattle producers to go to the extra effort of providing a balanced diet to their animals can sometimes be quite challenging. Most beef producers are part time producers and are quite content to simply provide a roll of hay and a protein block and see no value in knowing the nutrient content of the forage they are feeding. By the same token, we as extension educators routinely offer
