Strengthening the CommunityPlan of Work

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Metcalfe County CES

Title:
Strengthening the Community
MAP:
Community and Economic Development
Agents Involved:
Bell, Blankenship, Branstetter
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Agritourism Planning
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Economic Development
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Local Food System Development and Mapping
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Arts Engagement
Situation:

Metcalfe County Extension Advisory Council members identified the following needs in our community with regard to community economic development opportunities: there is a lack of art and craft type workshops and opportunities for artists and crafters to make a living practicing their art or craft in Metcalfe County; there is a need for Extension to find ways to support small, low risk, innovative farm business start – up’s in our county.

Producers, crafters and artisans need more opportunity to showcase, exhibit and market their product. 

Long-Term Outcomes:

Greater opportunity and community support/facilitation is available for individuals who are self-employed or for those with solid business plans for a business that can address an unmet service or need in the county. More small farm and non-traditional businesses will successfully begin operations in a supportive community environment. 

Intermediate Outcomes:

Local community members will apply skills to develop tourism and arts enterprises through support of local residents with the talent and skills to provide these goods and services. 
Small, innovative, low risk farm business start-ups will access information that supports their venture. 

Initial Outcomes:

Community members increase knowledge and skills in the development of tourism, arts and other economic development activities in our community.

Evaluation:

Long-term Outcome:

Indicator: Long Term Success of operation

Method: Personal follow - up

Timeline: Ongoing

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Mammoth Cave Area Homemaker Members

    Project/Activity: Recycled Art Multi – County (HLT)

    Content/curriculum: FCS Extension Agent developed/KEHA provided       

    resources for lesson

    Inputs: MCA FCS Extension Agents time; Homemaker Volunteers; Lesson    

    space provided by Barren and Warren County Extension offices; County 

    Homemaker funds

    Date: 3/26 & 27 2018


Audience:  General Population

    Project or Activity:  Metcalfe Proud Festival

    Content or Curriculum: Content developed by local committee

    Inputs: Agents, Community Members, Volunteers, Producers

    Date: June 2018


Audience:  General Population

    Project or Activity:  Seven Springs Sorghum Festival

    Content or Curriculum:  Content developed by local committee

    Inputs: Community Members, Volunteers, Exhibitors

    Date: September 2017


Audience:  General Population

    Project or Activity:  Metcalfe County Pumpkin Festival

    Content or Curriculum: Content developed by local committee

    Inputs :Community Members, Volunteers, Vendors

    Date: October 2017


Audience: Exhibitors and General Public

    Project or Activity:  Metcalfe County Fair

    Content or Curriculum:  Fair Board/KDA Guidelines

    Inputs:Fair Board, Agents, Volunteers, Exhibitors

    Date: June 2017


Audience:  Fruit and Vegetable Producers, local crafters, youth gardeners,   

    WIC and SNAP recipients, community member/customers

    Project or Activity: Metcalfe County Farmer’s Market

    Content or Curriculum: KDA Farmer’s Market Manual and Guidelines, GAP 

    training, SR & WICFMNP Voucher program training; HBMP training

    Inputs: Agents, volunteers

    Date: March-December, Annually


Audience: Metcalfe County Residents interested in sustainable gardening 

    and community gardening

    Project or Activity: Metcalfe County Extension Sustainable Community 

    Garden Project and establishment of Community garden vegetable, flower 

    and herb seed bank

    Content or Curriculum: SNAP Gardening curriculum; FCS and ANR 

    Extension Horticulture Publications; USDA materials

    Inputs: Barren River Health Department and Appalachian Region  

    Commission Flex E Grant funds; FCS and ANR County Agent time; SNAP-   

    Ed program Assistant time; grant paid consultant/project manager time; 

    community member volunteer time, in-kind newspaper PR;  Extension 

    District Board Property for garden space; Metcalfe Co. Extension District 

     Budget funds for project implementation (to be fully reimbursed by Flex 

     E Grant funds in July and October 2017, Extension farmer’s Market 

    pavilion storage space for garden tools, seed matches and storage 

     envelopes from Seed Savers, SNAP incentive items, SNAP 

    reimbursement funds, Extension Agent program funds, Extension office 

    water source and copying.

    Date: March – October, Annually



Success Stories

Metcalfe County Community Garden Project

Author: Lynn Blankenship

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

38.7 % of all Metcalfe Co. families with children aged up to 17, live below the poverty level.  For female headed households with children in the same age range with no father present, that number jumps to 85.5%.  Other grim numbers tell us that 70% of our adults present as overweight & only 23% of adults consume the recommended servings of fruits & vegetables daily. The goals of this project are to increase the consumption of fresh, locally grown produce among Metcalfe Co. lim

Full Story

Tri County Hay Auction

Author: Amy Branstetter

Major Program: Economic Development

The second annual Metcalfe County Hay and Straw Auction was held on Saturday January 27th 2018 at the Metcalfe County Fairgrounds.  This year Barren, Metcalfe, and Monroe Counties partnered to make the sale a tri-county event. This was an opportunity to keep money in the local economy by making excess hay available to those needing feed for the remainder of the winter. The Metcalfe County Fairboard was also able to raise operating money from the sale commission. Twenty seven lots of ha

Full Story

Metcalfe County Farmer's Market 2017/18

Author: Lynn Blankenship

Major Program: Farmer's Markets

According to Kentucky Health Facts: Only 19 - 23 % of residents in Metcalfe County consume the recommended number of servings of fruits and vegetables daily.  20% of Metcalfe County Adult residents are diagnosed with having type II Diabetes and 33% of adults in Metcalfe County are missing 6 or more teeth.  In order to make the freshest, best tasting and most affordable produce available locally, the Metcalfe County Farmer's market operates on Friday's from 8 a.m. - 1 p.m. from

Full Story
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