Educating the community on issues that lead to a better Fulton County.Plan of Work

Back to the Program

Fulton County CES

Title:
Educating the community on issues that lead to a better Fulton County.
MAP:
Strengthening Leaders In the Community
Agents Involved:
Ben Rudy, Bernita Cheirs, Anna McCoy
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Home & Consumer Horticulture
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Local Food Systems
Situation:

Understanding how our daily choices impact our lives, home, community, and environment is vital to preserving our natural resources and lead to a healthy community for the present and future generations. These choices begin in the home. Gardening, lawn and landscape care effect family and community. By working in garden or yard physical activity improves the participant’s health, relieve stress, and can provide a healthy food source. Over time, the decrease of obesity and health concerns reduce medical bills and beautifies the community, thus encouraging business to move into the area.


According to the EPA, 100 million pounds of active ingredients from pesticides were applied in home and gardens throughout the United States. Each year, over $11 billion is spent on household and garden pest control products. Proper use of pesticides by homeowners and commercial operations is imperative and directly impact our environment including groundwater sources. The need to apply pesticides increases when plant care/selection best practices are not followed. With Fulton County’s location on the Mississippi River, the decision our homeowner’s make have an effect on the rest of the Mississippi River Communities downstream from us.

Long-Term Outcomes:

To improve the environmental quality in the home and landscape throughout Fulton County.

To create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life-cycle.

To improve the built and natural environment.

To increase active and healthy lifestyles.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Home owners will implement UK soil tests and recommendations.

Home owners will implement recommended practices while applying pesticides.

Homeowners will implement environmentally conscious decisions regarding home landscape maintenance.

Homeowners will implement environmentally conscious decision regarding home energy use and conservation practices.

Youth will practice being green by implementing one or more practice related to conservation and recycling.

Home consumers will utilize researched based information to properly apply best practices including proper plant selection, proper cultural practices.

Initial Outcomes:

Producers and consumers will aspire to form positive opinions about water quality and waste management.

Producers and consumers will gain knowledge on safe chemical usage pertaining to weed, disease and insect control.

Homeowners will adopt landscaping practices that can improve the health and appearance of lawn and gardens while protecting and preserving natural resources.

Youth will learn the importance of being green.

Homeowners will start their own gardens and taking care of their lawns and landscapes.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge of home horticulture topics

Indicator: Increase in contacts with the office regarding horticulture

Method: Office Logs

Timeline: Program Year


Initial Outcome: Increase of garden in Fulton County.

Indicator: Increase in participation in Town and County Days

Method: Agent Observations

Timeline: Program Year


Intermediate Outcome: Homeowners will adopt landscaping practices that protect and preserve our natural resources

Indicator: Participants will indicate an increased knowledge change when evaluated at the end of the program

Method: Retrospective survey; Follow-up survey, Agent Observations

Timeline: Program Year


Intermediate Outcome: Producers/home owners will utilize information gained to make good decisions regarding variety selection, chemical usage, and plant production practices.

Indicator: self-reported changes of behavior/site visit observations

Method: pre-post surveys

Timeline: Program Year

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Homeowners

Activity: Landscape maintenance and gardening videos

Content or Curriculum: Supplied by agents and specialists

Inputs: facilities, staff, volunteers; county funding

Date: Program Year


Audience: Homeowners

Project or Activity: Soil Testing

Content or Curriculum: UK Soil and Manure Test Recommendations

Inputs: Agent Time

Date: Program Year


Audience: Homeowners

Project or Activity: Diagnostic Services

Content or Curriculum: UK Diagnostic Services recommendations

Inputs: Agent Time

Date: Program Year


Audience: Youth

Activity: Youth Gardening

Content or Curriculum: Gardening Series, Learn Grow Eat & Go Curriculum

Input: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (Agents, staff, and specialists), Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Local Volunteers

Date: Spring/Summer 2018-2020


Audience: Extension Homemakers/General Public

Activity: Leader trainings, workshops

Content: Upcycling/Repurposing

Inputs: Extension resources, eXtension, other university's Extension resources, USDA

Date: 2019-2020


Audience: Fulton County Producers and Homeowners

Project or Activity: Newsletter, News Articles, Facebook, emails, etc

Content or Curriculum: UK and other resource material

Inputs: Agent Time

Date: Program Year


Audience: Fulton County Producers

Project or Activity: PAT Training

Content or Curriculum: PAT Program

Inputs: Agent Time

Date: Annually


Audience: Adults and youth

Project or Activity: Food Preservation

Content or Curriculum: Various UK Lessons

Inputs: FCS, Homemakers, 4-H

Date: Summer 2020



Success Stories

How much soil is there?

Author: Benjamin Rudy

Major Program: Soils

How much soil is there?

Fulton County Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension Agent, Ben Rudy visited the 2ng grade classes at Fulton County Elementary School after while they were studying a science lesson on soil and its importance.   During his demonstration, he utilized an apple to represent the earth and slicing portions of the apple to represent how the earth in utilized by different percentages. Here is a breakdown of earth in percentages that was presented to the class by slicing the apple into smaller

Full Story

Impact of the Banana Festival Health Fair

Author: Anna Morgan

Major Program: Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)

Accessing healthcare services is critical to being healthy but in rural western Kentucky residents face a variety of access barriers. Ideally, rural residents should be able to have many simple medical services such as primary care, dental care, behavioral health, emergency care, and public health services readily but they do not. According to Healthy People 2020, access to healthcare is important for: overall physical, social, and mental health status, prevention of disease, detection and treat

Full Story

Travel Safety- Know Before You Go

Author: Anna Morgan

Major Program: Embracing Life as We Age (general)

Americans are traveling more than ever. Being prepared and organizing for a trip can makes travel experiences more pleasant for individuals and their families. The Fulton County Family and consumer Sciences Agent taught this lesson in 4 counties to 42 Purchase Area Homemakers. Learning to complete necessary travel arrangements and be prepared if the unexpected happens. Simple actions can keep individuals and property protected while traveling. This program guided participants in identifying comm

Full Story

Grow. Learn. Succeed. Family Engagement Event

Author: Anna Morgan

Major Program: Nurturing Parenting

Four River Counties Community Early Childhood Council is of vital importance to the rural area of Far Western KY by serving Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton and Hickman Counties. Extension FCS Agent serves as the council chairman. Early Childhood grant advocates for the young child and their families by improving quality childcare, increasing parent knowledge, improving school readiness, and collaboration to meet the needs of the families.  According to the 2019 Early Childhood Profiles Fulton Cou

Full Story

Truth and Consquences

Author: Anna Morgan

Major Program: Truth and Consequences: The Choice is Yours

Kentucky has one of the highest rates of drug abuse in our country; we fall in one of the top ten states in several drug use categories (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2016). According to new KIP data, marijuana use among 10th graders is showing an upward trend. Therefore, there is a strong need for substance abuse prevention and intervention for our youth. The Fulton County Extension Agent for 4-H Youth Development and Family and Consumer Science partnered with the Youth Ser

Full Story
Back to the Program