Extension
It Starts With Us
Effective Resource Management
Family and Agricultural Economics
Moses (Community Arts), Burgard (FCS), Jones (4-H), Prewitt (Horticulture)
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Recovering Your Finances
Financial Education - General
Whitley County has an unemployment rate of 4.4% according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics 2023. The median income for individuals were $18,444 a year according to the 2020 US Census Data. 27.6% of households are living in poverty in Whitley County.
The 2017 Census of Agriculture data reports that 165 Farm Operators reported net gains and 383 Farm Operators had net losses. Keeping good records and having good farm, family, and personal management systems in place can increase quality of life. The Whitley County Cooperative Extension will use the Managing in Tough Times Curriculum and MoneyWise publications to help awareness on how to use resources better. Radio Ads and newsletter articles will include information about saving money in both the family and on the farm.
Families and Farmers will use resources more efficiently.
Families and Farmers will save time and money as a result of changed behaviors.
Families, Farmers, and individuals improve their quality of life by changing attitudes.
Families and Farmers adopt recommended practices to help them save time and money relating to household and farm management.
Households and farmers practice techniques to help them improve quality of family life.
Individuals adopt attitudes that foster healthy communication skills among family members.
Families and Farmers identify techniques to improve money management.
Families and Farmers locate spending leaks in their current budget.
Long-Term Outcome:
Indicator: Families and Farmers create better consumer habits and savings
Method: CEDIK Economical Surveys, Pre/Post Evaluations
Timeline: 2025
Intermediate Outcome:
Indicator: Families and Farmers apply education about budgets into daily life.
Method: Pre/Post Evaluations
Timeline: 2021-2025
Initial Outcome:
Indicator: Families and Farmers recognize areas to improve savings.
Method: Pre/Post Evaluations
Timeline: 2021-2025
Audience: Whitley County Homemakers
Project or Activity: Homemakers leaders present Special Interest lessons to teach skills that help individuals make better use of resources
Content or Curriculum: Lessons include Planning Thrifty and Holiday Meals, Clutter-Free Living, Holiday Ideas
Inputs: FCS Agent, Homemaker LeadersDate: Monthly
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Budgeting programs (Couponing; Food Spending) to help families on limited incomes and others interested to save money and reduce debt.
Content or Curriculum: UK Programs; NEP Food Spending
Inputs: FCS Agent, UK Specialists
Date: Quarterly throughout year
Audience: Whitley County residents in substance use recovery
Project or Activity: Recovering Your Finances workshops developing money management and resource skills for those in recovering from substance use addiction.
Content or Curriculum: Recovering Your Finances
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: Spring/Fall 2024, Winter/Summer 2025
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Budgeting Classes
Content or Curriculum: MoneyWi$e, MoneyHabitudes, Where Did the Money Go?, UK Finance Publications
Inputs: FCS Agent, Moses, 4H
Date: Quarterly throughout year
Audience: Middle and High School Aged Youth
Project or Activity: Budgeting (online curriculum and school fair)
Content or Curriculum: It's Your Reality
Inputs: 4H, Community Partners, FRYSCs
Date: March
Audience: Teens
Project or Activity: Teen Club
Content or Curriculum: Build Your Future
Inputs: 4H
Date: Monthly Club Meetings
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project or Activity: Holiday Budgeting
Content or Curriculum: Stretching Your Holiday Dollar, Holiday Ideas
Inputs: FCS Agent
Date: November-December
Audience: Whitley County Residents
Project of Activity: Estate Planning Series/Workshop
Content or Curriculum: Transferring Cherished Possessions
Inputs: FCS Agent, UK Specialists
Date: November/February
Author: Linda Burgard
Major Program: Financial Education - General
Inflation has driven the cost of groceries higher in recent years. According to USDA Economic Research Food Price Outlook (2024), food-at-home prices increased by 11.4% in 2022, 5.8% in 2023 and an additional increase of 2.2% is expected throughout 2024. These historically high average prices make meal budgeting, especially holiday meals which tend to cost more, extremely important. To address this issue the Whitley County Extension agent for Family and Consumer Sciences taught Planning Ho
Author: Stacy White
Major Program: Beef
Wilderness Trail Area Bull Value Assessment Program The Wilderness Trail Area ANR agents developed a series of hands-on beef programs over the last year, including marketing, predator control, reproduction, and beef quality assurance. The most recent program was a collaboration between specialists and agents called the Bull Value Assessment Program. This was a two-week program where producers learned how to read bull EPDs and apply them to real-world situations. They
