Extension
It Starts With Us
Protecting the Environment
Natural Resources and the Environment
Mike Meyer, Benita Peoples, Jessica Barnes, Jessica Sayre
Ag Water Quality Program
Pesticide Safety – Plant Pests
Environmental Sustainability & Responsibility
Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
Residents are concerned about safety of local water supply from Licking River. County still has a few wells and cisterns that need better maintenance. Building and construction add to soil erosion. Land covered with concrete and black top create further run off. Citizens are becoming more aware of the "Green Conception”. Since 90% of all water humans consume is from ground water, our water must be protected. Most fresh water available to us is ground water (not from rivers and lake sources), therefore Harrison County needs to improve environmental quality by implementation of sound environmental practices.
- Improve landowner management of natural resources.
- Reduction of public health hazards related to use of agricultural pesticides. - Encourage the use of new and developing agriculture methods including the use of GPS - global positioning systems.
- Families are encouraged to recycle, reuse, and reduce, to improve the environment.
Improve environmental quality by use of sound environmental practices resulting in less soil erosion, improved quantity and quality of water.
- Properly dispose of unused farm pesticide, household chemicals and containers.
- Utilize personal safety equipment when using pesticides.
- Promote establishment of riparian buffer zones to reduce soil erosion and reduce flooding damage.
- Increase number of dead livestock pickup to protect air, surface water and ground water sources.
- Youth education opportunities for soils and water conservation protection, natural resources and environmental awareness.
- Practice recycling.
- Demonstrate to the public the possible hazards of pesticides, and other chemicals or compounds to water resources, human health, livestock, wildlife, and pets.
Initial Outcome: Youth display knowledge of proper conservation methods and environmental awareness.
Indicator: Youth apply conservation measures and environment practices in everyday lives
Method: involvement in camps, judging and 4-H projects
Timeline: All Year
Intermediate Outcome: Number of animals picked up by dead animal programs.
Indicator: New and returning participants, practices adopted
Method: Yearly report of number of dead animals picked up
Timeline: Year Round
Intermediate Outcome: Number of producers receiving pesticide certification
Indicator: New and returning participants
Method: Number of participants attending certification classes
Timeline: Year Round
Long-term Outcome: Number of people participating in recycling practices and projects
Indicator: New and returning participants, practices adopted.
Method: Observation, oral and written evaluations, adoption of practices, used oil collected, and pesticide containers returned.
Timeline: July and September
Audience: Cynthiana/Harrison County community members
Project or Activity: Promoting city/county recycling program
Content or Curriculum: Reduce waste, recycle, reuse waste, used tire disposal
Inputs: extension staff, Cynthiana city departments
Date: Year Round
Audience: Community members
Project or Activity: Extension Homemaker Environment & Safety Programs, FCS and Ag Newsletters
Content or Curriculum: recycling, timely educational materials
Inputs: FCS Homemaker Environment and Safety committee, Agents
Date: 8 times a year
Audience: 4-H members, community members
Project or Activity: Water Quality and Natural Resources Awareness
Content or Curriculum: Protect ground and surface water, 4-H Curriculum, Project Wet, Project Wild, Ground Water Model, promote water conservation
Inputs: Agents, UK Extension Specialists, volunteers
Date: Year Round
Audience: community members, Homemakers, 4-H members
Project or Activity: Go Green Education
Content or Curriculum: Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, use of cloth carryout bags at point of purchase, and green cleaning. Use of environmentally friendly products in home construction and home furnishings.
Inputs: Extension agents, specialists, chamber of commerce
Date: Year round
Audience: Farmers, producers, homeowners
Project or Activity: Pesticide Certification Training, Agricultural and paint container collection
Content or Curriculum: Environmental protection training
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, Partner with local pesticide dealers
Date: Year Round
Audience: Local farmers
Project or Activity: Dead Animal Disposal
Content or Curriculum: Sanitation, protect water resources, promote on-farm composting, cooperation with the county
Inputs: Countryside Industries
Date: Year Round
Audience: Land owners
Project or Activity: Wildlife Management and Control
Content or Curriculum: Personal and environmental protection. Reduced property and crop damage. Reduced interactions between population and unwanted wild animals, buzzards, coyotes, snakes and insects.
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, Agents, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife
Date: Year Round
Audience: 4-H members
Project or Activity: UK 4-H/Harrison County Soil Conservation District Soils judging
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Soils Judging Project
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, Harrison County Conservation District, volunteers
Date: April-Aug
Audience: 4-H members
Project or Activity: Summer 4-H Camps, 4-H Shooting Sports, 4-H Horse Camps, Environmental Camps and Cloverbud Camp
Content or Curriculum: Safety, Environmental Resource Source, Recreation,. KY State Parks and Recreation, KY 4-H Specialists
Inputs: 4-H volunteers, paid staff
Date: July - June
Author: Mike Meyer
Major Program: Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
For the past seven years, Harrison County 4-H has partnered with our local Soil Conservation District, Farm Bureau, and school system to give every student in either 4th or 5th grade a hands-on learning opportunity at North Central 4-H Camp. Teachers in Harrison County have stressed the importance of youth having hands-on science experiences as a way of retaining knowledge in core tested areas. 4-H Environmental Education Camp is an overnight event that focuses on water quality, soil
Author: Mike Meyer
Major Program: Natural Resources 4-H Core Curriculum
In 2018, the Harrison County 4-H Council leaders worked together to identify ways that we could expand and improve our outreach to middle school students. Combining several resources and program areas in 4-H, we created a plan to implement a cross-program activity that would combine natural resource and environmental education with communications and leadership. After applying for and receiving a 3M Corporate Grant, the council purchased water testing and marketing technologies that
Author: Jessica Barnes
Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture
In Harrison County we are very fortunate to have a strong Beef Cattle Association that is always willing to partner with Extension in all that they do. Since their inception their focus has been to help the Harrison County farmer no matter if they produce grain, tobacco, vegetables, or livestock. One way in particular that they have partnered with Extension to make a very large impact in our county is to purchase equipment that producers wouldn't generally be able to justify for
Author: Jessica Barnes
Major Program: Soils
A producer called asking if any of the tobacco diseases that we are familiar with will transfer or contaminate industrial hemp if planted following a tobacco crop. He was specifically concerned with Black Shank in tobacco transferring or infecting industrial hemp. I reached out to Nicole Gauthier to see if she knew if there was any correlation between heavily infested Black Shank fields and diseased hemp. She was unaware of any research that had been done in this area to prove
