Extension
It Starts With Us
Strengthening the Community
Community and Economic Development
Bell, Blankenship, Branstetter
Agritourism Planning
Economic Development
Local Food System Development and Mapping
Arts Engagement
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.
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.
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.
Community members increase knowledge and skills in the development of tourism, arts and other economic development activities in our community.
Long-term Outcome:
Indicator: Long Term Success of operation
Method: Personal follow - up
Timeline: Ongoing
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
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
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
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
