Creating awareness of the impact of agriculture on daily life and developing marketable skills forPlan of Work

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Greenup County CES

Title:
Creating awareness of the impact of agriculture on daily life and developing marketable skills for
MAP:
Enhancing Farm Income
Agents Involved:
Boyd, Hieneman
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
4-H Volunteer Programming
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Farmer's Markets
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, particularly youth, 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).

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.


Livestock producers will increase their profit on the farm.


Increase farm income

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 employ-ability.


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.


Livestock producers will begin to change management on the farm by using record keeping, increased health opportunities or improvement reproductive opportunities.

Increase in consumers at the Greenup County Farmers Market

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.

Livestock producers will learn how to keep accurate records, vaccinations, etc.

Farmers Market Sellers attend local training on how to market products.

Increase in sellers at local farmers market.

Evaluation:

Outcome: Initial

Indicator: Livestock record books, surveys from Agriculture Days, Livestock judging and Skill-a-thon scores

Method: County agents, county staff, and volunteer leaders.

Timeline: ongoing


Outcome: Intermediate

Indicator: Youth will produce a higher quality livestock project, youth will obtain jobs in the agriculture field

Method: County agents, and volunteer leaders

Timeline: ongoing


Outcome: Long term

Indicator: Youth will engage in and maintain their entrepreneurial enterprise.

Method: County agents, and volunteer leaders

Timeline: ongoing


Outcome: Long term

Indicator: Increase in farm income and increase in pounds sold

Method: University of Kentucky Specialist, County Agent, KY Beef Network

Timeline: Ongoing for next 2-3 years.


Outcome: Initial

Indicator: More vendors have registered through Greenup County Extension Service to sell at Farmers Market.

Method: County agents and volunteer leaders

Timeline: ongoing


Outcome: Intermediate

Indicator: Increase in foot traffic visiting the Extension Farmers Market booth

Method: County Agents, SNAP- ED, Volunteer Leaders

Timeline: ongoing


Outcome: Long term

Indicator: Increase in sales at the Farmers Market

Method: Survey 

Timeline: Ongoing 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: County Youth

Project or Activity: Livestock Judging and Skill-a-thon

Content or Curriculum: N/A

Inputs: County Agents and Volunteers

Date: Spring and Fall


Audience: County Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Livestock Clubs

Content or Curriculum: Livestock Species Handbooks, and Livestock Training Kits

Inputs: County Agents and Volunteers

Date: ongoing


Audience: County Youth

Project or Activity: Livestock Show and Sell

Content or Curriculum: N/A

Inputs: County Agents, Staff, and Volunteers

Date: August


Audience: County Youth

Project or Activity: County Agriculture Days

Content or Curriculum: N/A

Inputs: County Agents, Staff, and Volunteers

Date: Fall, Spring


Audience: Local Farmers & Artisans 

Project or Activity: How to add value to products 

Content: Curriculum prepared by CEDIK 

Inputs: County Agents 

Date: Winter 2019 and Spring 2020




Success Stories

Livstock Program

Author: Christopher Boyd

Major Program: 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources

Livstock Program

In Greenup County and across the nation people are experiencing financial troubles. With the rising cost of goods and gasoline people need to be as self-sufficient and sustainable as possible with in their own household. Raising your own produce and livestock is an excellent way to ensure that you will never go hungry and will help to remain financially sound. This is why the Greenup county 4-H program focuses on enhancing farm income across the area by teaching our youth to raise a good market

Full Story

Greenup County Farm to Table Event

Author: Christopher Boyd

Major Program: 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources

Greenup County Farm to Table Event

In an effort to promote local farms and increase the awareness of agriculture, local businesses and organizations within Greenup County a partnership was formed between some wonderful organizations.  4-H, FFA, The Historic McConnell House, Farm Bureau, Sweet Bee Gardens, Greenup Old Tractors Engines and Machinery Club, and Imel’s Greenhouse partnered together to plan and implement a Farm-to-Table Dinner that would not only increase agriculture awareness in the community but generate m

Full Story

Extension On The Move

Author: Linda Hieneman

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Extension programming has been suddenly required to shift from face-to-face contact with clientele to a mostly digital communication platform due to the current COVID-19 pandemic. The Greenup County office has made significant changes to the way in which we connect with our community. While we have embraced the technology that allows us to connect with people using the internet, we recognize that not all of our Extension program consumers have the capability or the desire to use technology every

Full Story

Cultivating a New Generation of Beekeepers

Author: Linda Hieneman

Major Program: Bees/Beekeeping

According to the US Department of Agriculture, one mouthful in three of the foods you eat directly or indirectly depends on pollination by honey bees.  Honey bee populations have been declining in Kentucky over the past ten or more years.  Education is key in helping protect honey bees as well as teaching beekeepers how to care for their hives.  The Greenup County Beekeepers Association was formed by a hand full of members in 2017.  The main focus of the A

Full Story

Supporting Local Food

Author: Linda Hieneman

Major Program: Local Food Systems

According to the USDA Local Food Systems report direct to consumer sales have increased from 1997 to 2007.   This supports the idea that more people would prefer to connect with the individuals who grew their food.  Nationally, there are more programs to help individuals purchase food directly from local growers.  The Greenup County Extension Service collaborates with the local Farmers Market and Artisans to build a strong community market.   Greenup County Extension Agents p

Full Story
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