4-H AgriculturePlan of Work

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Boone County CES

Title:
4-H Agriculture
MAP:
Agriculture, Horticulture and Environmental Awareness
Agents Involved:
Christy Eastwood, Steve Conrad, David Koester
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
Situation:
Agriculture is Kentucky's largest employer and accounts for the greatest amount of revenue in Kentucky's economy. Every person in Kentucky is impacted by Agriculture every day in the foods that they eat and the fibers that are used in their clothes, homes, work places and vehicles.
Long-Term Outcomes:
Youth will:
Engage in entrepreneurial enterprise.
Gain and maintain employment through life skill development.
Be advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems.
Intermediate Outcomes:
Youth will:
Practice and apply skills and knowledge in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant science, horticulture and animal science.
Adopt and practice skills that contribute to employability.
Explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.
Set a goal and accomplish it.
Influence the purchase of Kentucky Proud products.
Practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems.
Initial Outcomes:
Youth will:
Gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant science, horticulture and animal science.
Gain an understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems.
Develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, record-keeping, leadership and service.
Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increase Equine Skill Set

Indicator: acknowledgement of increase

Method: written evaluation

Timeline: end of program year


Intermediate Outcome: Responsibly take care of animals on their own

Indicator: little or no help from family/leaders

Method: observation

Timeline: 2-3 years


Long-term Outcome: 4-H youth with employment in the equine field

Indicator: increase in employment of our youth

Method: observation

Timeline: 5-10 years


Initial Outcome: 4-H livestock project participants will increase their knowledge of animal husbandry while caring for their livestock project.

Indicator: project participants will have healthier livestock.

Method: observation, written evaluation

Timeline: end of the project


Intermediate Outcome: livestock judging participants will evaluate, judge and select livestock in terms of competency.

Indicator: improve their placings at competitions.

Method: competition results

Timeline: at the end of the season


Long-term Outcome: participants will have more success with their own livestock projects in the show ring due to picking better animals at the start of the project.

Indicator: higher placing's in the show ring.

Method: competition results

Timeline: county and state fair participation


Initial Outcome: country ham project participants will cure 2 green country hams.

Indicator: both country hams will not be spoiled.

Method: observation

Timeline: end of the project


Intermediate Outcome: country ham project participants will write and present a speech on the assigned topic.

Indicator: participants will receive a blue or red Danish ribbon

Method: speech competition and the county and state level.

Timeline: end of the project


Long-term outcome: individuals will feel confident speaking in front of others.

Indicator: individuals will participate in other areas of their life taking on additional roles of leadership.

Method: evaluation

Timeline: 6 months after completion of project.


Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 9-18 year olds

Project or Activity: 4-H Horse Educational Hours

Content or Curriculum: state supported

Inputs: extension staff and resources; certified volunteers; private equine facilities

Date: October-April


Audience: 4-H Livestock Club meetings

Project or Activity: mandatory educational hours

Content or Curriculum: certified 4-H livestock curriculum, livestock kits

Inputs: Extension office, volunteers, 4-H members, club leaders, parents, Extension funding

Date: Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. 2017; Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May 2018


Audience: 4-H livestock judging team

Project or Activity: meetings and competitions

Content or Curriculum: certified 4-H livestock curriculum, other resources, livestock kits

Inputs: Extension office, 4-H members, volunteers, leaders, parents, Extension funding

Date: Sept., Oct., Nov., Dec. 2017; Jan., Feb., Mar., Apr., May, June 2018 (weekly meetings)


Audience: 4-H country ham project

Project or Activity: curing ham, writing speech and presenting speech

Content or Curriculum: certified 4-H livestock curriculum, other resources

Inputs: Extension office, 4-H members, volunteers, leaders, parents, Extension funding, ham house

Date: Jan., May, July, August 2018



Success Stories

Soil/Vegetables/Fruits

Author: Stephen Conrad

Major Program: Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum

Florence Elementary put out a request for help in soils/gardening. Because of their location, the vast majority of the students are never around a flower or vegetable garden. In an effort to answer their request, the Boone County Cooperative Extension Service offered a soils/vegetable lesson. 215 3rd and 4th grade students learned about the appropriate make up of soil, proper aeration, and why vegetables/fruits are important to our diet. The lesson ended with each student filling a pot with pott

Full Story

Livestock Judging Teams help Youth Develop Life Skills

Author: Christy Eastwood

Major Program: Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum

Throughout the history of 4-H youth programming, the development of valuable life skills such as communication, problem solving, and understanding one’s self have been taught through experiential learning activities (Boyd, Herring, & Briers, 1992). When youths learn the process of evaluation through livestock judging, these same skills can be integrated into other real life situations. McCann and McCann (1992) reported that the livestock judging activity provides youth with an opportun

Full Story
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