Extension
It Starts With Us
To help foster the development of marketing, production, and managment skills within the area.
Develop Marketing, Production, and Managment Skills
Ag Agent, Tiffany Bolinger, Kelly Jackson, Kendriana Price, Matt Futrell, Kaitlyne Metsker
Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
Farmer's Markets
Agritourism Planning
Ag Marketing
Kentucky is home to 85,500 farms, tied with Oklahoma as the 4th ranking state in the number of farms (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012). The average farm size in Kentucky is 164 acres, compared to the national average of 421 (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012). Between 2007 and 2012, the Bluegrass State had a 6.7% decrease in the number of acres of farmland, which is the greatest percentage decrease any state in the country (Census of Agriculture, 2012). A farm is defined by the United States government as “any place that produced and sold, or normally would produce and sell, $1,000 or more of agricultural products during the census year.” While Kentucky’s population is increasing, the number of people living on farms is decreasing. Therefore, the need exists to educate people about the impact that it makes on their daily lives, as well as the importance of agriculture to the commonwealth. The top agricultural products produced on Kentucky farms are changing. In 2012, the Top 10 agriculture products in Kentucky were: Broilers, Corn, Horses & Mules, Soybeans, Cattle & Calves, Tobacco, Dairy Products & Milk, Wheat, Hay and Chicken Eggs (United States Department of Agriculture – Kentucky, 2012).
Sales at the Fairview Produce Auction reached nearly $2 million in 2011 on fresh fruits and vegetables alone, with an estimated retail value of over $4 million. But these numbers represent less than 1% of the total produce consumed by Kentuckians in 2010. Therefore it is important that educational efforts focus on improving the efficiency of production while expanding production with new growers and new commodities. Because of the level of produce being sold from Christian County, there is also a need to educate growers and vendors on Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) during production and sampling in order to reduce risks associated with pathogen contamination of produce. There is also a need to start new markets and strengthen existing markets.
* Youth will engage in entrepreneurial enterprise
* Youth will gain and maintain employment resulting from life skill development through 4-H
* Youth will be advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems
* Larger farmers market with more growers, vendors, and consumers
* Larger volumes of consistent, high quality produce
* Increased economic capacity for farmers
* Economic evaluation confirms that agritourism contributes substantially to the economic viability of farms and rural communities
* Profitability increased as demonstrated by increased sales, effective marketing, and consumer access
* Producers will discover and maintain direct to consumer marketing options
* Youth will practice and apply skills and knowledge in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences
* Youth will adopt and practice skills that contribute to employability
* Youth can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others
* Youth will set a goal and accomplish it
* Youth can influence the purchase of Kentucky Proud products
* Youth can practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems
* Increased number of farmer market vendors
* Producer growing and marketing skills will increase
* Increase use of media technology to promote farmers markets and fresh produce consumption
* Implement certification workshops for vendors
* Evidence in the form of publicity, brochures, and advertising that agritourism venues are thriving in all regions of the state.
* Demonstrate development and use of specific management practices and marketing tools
* Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences
* Youth will gain an understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems
* Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, record-keeping, leadership and service
* Increase post harvest and food handling knowledge
* Increase knowledge of produce and ornamental production and marketing
* Document current impacts of existing markets
* Identify agritourism venues with market growth potential
* Provide technical and market development support for startup agritourism venues
Initial Outcome: Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
Indicator: The number of youth who demonstrate a skill that was learned and improved by participating in a 4-H/ANR project, program, event or activity.
Method: Club meetings, Programs, Events ,and Activities
Timeline:July 2017-July 2018
Initial Outcome: Adopt post harvest and food handling knowledge.
Indicator: Participants will adopt state GAP (PBPT) standards for food/crop production and handling regulations when offering samples.
Method: Retrospective survey following GAP (PBPT) training
Timeline: Spring 2019
Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge of produce, and ornamental production and marketing.
Indicator: 50% of participants will indicate knowledge increase.
Method: Retrospective survey following production meetings
Timeline: December, January, April, June
Intermediate Outcome: Evaluate the number of vendors who sell at local farmers markets and the wholesale auction, as well as direct to consumer markets.
Indicator: The number of vendors will increase.
Method: Observation
Timeline: June 2019
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Ag, Livestock, Horse Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Beef, Sheep, Swine Selection Evaluation, Horse Achievement
Inputs: Agents, Specialist, Travel
Date: July 2017 - July 2018
Audience: Christian County First Graders
Project or Activity: Farm Days
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Farm 2 School
Inputs: Agents,Specialist, Farm & Demonstration Materials
Date: Spring 2019
Audience: Producers and consumers
Project or Activity: Food Safety and Certification for Sampling
Content or Curriculum: GAP (PBPT) Training
Inputs: Extension Horticulture and Agriculture Natural Resources Agents; Extension Specialists; Kentucky Department of Agriculture; Kentucky Cabinet for Health; Downtown Renaissance; Funding (County Funds, State, Local Funds); UK publications
Date: Jan-March 2019
Audience: Farmers Market Growers, Ag producers
Project or Activity: Fruit, Vegetable, and Ornamental Production classes, Woodland Owner's short course, Grain/Tobacco Production meetings, Private applicator trainings, Commodity Group Updates.
Content or Curriculum: Supplied by agents and specialists
Inputs: Extension Horticulture and Agriculture Natural Resources Agents; Extension Specialists (i.e., John Strang, Shubin Saha, Emily Pfeufer, Rick Bessin, Andy Bailey, Chad Lee, Ray Smith, Tim Woods, etc); Kentucky Department of Agriculture; Funding (County Funds, State, Local Funds); Fairview Education Committee; Fairview Produce Auction; UK publications
Date: December 2018/ January, May, June 2019
Author: Erica LaCour-Thompson
Major Program: Summer Residential Camps
According to Childcare Aware of America, in 2017 before and after school childcare for school-aged children costs families $5,389. In Christian County 27% of the population that is under the age of 18, and 60% of those youth are in low-income families (below the 200% of the federal poverty level) as reported by Kentucky Kids Count 2017 Data Book. Although the county has 1,260 less children in low-income families (below the 200% of the federal poverty level), this is still 12% higher than other y
Author: Austin Wright
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
TITLE: The Salad Man Jerry Wyatt Level Long Term: Benton, Kentucky is a rural area of Marshall County. The residents have a rich heritage in agriculture development, & culture. Jerry Wyatt which has constructed KY Hydro Farm to produce, the best in agriculture products in greenhouses, for over 50 years. Jerry Wyatt owner of KY Hydro Farm offers locally grown, high quality produce. They grow products year round in greenhouses which offer many environmental benefits over tradit
Author: Matthew Futrell
Major Program: Integrated Plant Pest Management
Going SocialOne of the great challenges of Land Grant Universities is to deliver information to the nontraditional learner. Through the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service all 120 counties in the commonwealth have a brick and mortar connection to the university and its research based information. The greater challenge is how does extension reach clientele that does not come through the door of the local extension office? Let’s go Social!!!S
Author: Austin Wright
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
TITLE: 1890 Land Grant Meeting Level Long Term: Hopkinsville, Kentucky is an urban area of Christian County. Is the location which Kentucky State University Small Farms Agent Austin D. Wright hosted the first annual 1890 Hemp Land Grant Meeting this meeting was designed to educate our 1890 Land Grant Universities in the development, production, rules and regulations in which hemp can save and assist small farmers in another option to produce revenue and continue the small farmers way o
Author: Kelly Jackson
Major Program: Commercial Horticulture
Kentucky has the fastest-growing Amish population in the U.S. According to the Young Center for Anabaptist and Pietist Studies, the population of Kentucky Amish grew by 3,060 people in the last five years and is currently 8th in population with approximately 12,060 Amish. Christian County and neighboring Todd County are two of the three most populated counties in Kentucky. Many Amish in these two counties, grow and sell vegetables and depend on these sales for their livelihood. Due to limited ac
Author: Kelly Jackson
Major Program: Commercial Horticulture
Flower sales are an increasingly growing commodity in Christian and Todd counties. However, to remain profitable growers need training on management practices including reducing heating and cooling costs for greenhouses. To meet this need members of the Fairview Educational Committee partnering with the Cooperative Extension Office in Christian County sponsored a flower production training which included local growers and speakers from the University of Missouri and the University of Kentucky. E
Author: Kelly Jackson
Major Program: Commercial Horticulture
Fruit and vegetable production sales at the Fairview Produce Auction, servicing Christian and Todd county farmers, exceeds $3 million annually. However to remain profitable growers need training on best management practices and proper use of pesticides. To meet this need members of the Fairview Educational Committee partnering with the Cooperative Extension Service in Christian County and University of Kentucky specialists sponsored a Twilight Tour training. Topics included a demonstration on sp
