To help foster the development of marketing, production, and managment skills within the area.Plan of Work

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Christian County CES

Title:
To help foster the development of marketing, production, and managment skills within the area.
MAP:
Develop Marketing, Production, and Managment Skills
Agents Involved:
Tiffany Bolinger, Kelly Jackson, Matt Futrell, Kaitlyne Metsker, Jeremiah Johnson, Mary Anne Garnett
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
4-H Volunteer Programming
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Farmer's Markets
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Agritourism Planning
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Ag Marketing
Situation:

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.

Long-Term Outcomes:

* 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

Intermediate Outcomes:

* 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

* Demonstrate development and use of specific management practices and marketing tools

Initial Outcomes:

* 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

Evaluation:

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 2019-July 2020


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 2020


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 2020

Learning Opportunities:

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 2019 - July 2020


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 2020


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 2020


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, Rachal Rudolph, 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: January, May, June 2020



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