Extension
It Starts With Us
Safety Education for Home, Food and Agriculture
Community Wellness and Safety
Whitney Carman, Kindra Jones, Natalie Taul
Sustainable Agriculture
4-H Health Core Curriculum
4-H Youth Development Programming
Health and wellness is an issue affecting all aspects of the community. Safety in the home, food and rural areas are something that Grayson County residents can always learn, or increase their awareness of. Environmental stewardship is of the utmost importance to farmers in Grayson County. Part of that stewardship is the continuing education and possibilities to extend the life of agriculture and natural resources through safety education and training. Farming is a very dangerous job and if not done with diligence, can be destructive to people, the land, water, and environment. On the other hand, residents need be continually educated on everyday safety around the home and food preparation. Programs such as food preparation, disaster preparedness, health safety, and environmental education, are great tools to use to increase awareness of safety.
Adults will utilize knowledge gained to acknowledge situations where dangers are possible and make best decisions based on that knowledge. Adults and youth will become familiar with in safety around the home and also learn about food safety. Farmers will utilize knowledge from training and be able to use best judgment in hazardous situations, or be able to prevent them. Participants of the food preservation program will show an increase in use of locally grown fruits and vegetables through home gardens and farmer's markets.
Youth and adults will be able to use skills learned in water quality and conservation to help keep a safe water supply for humans and animals. Farmers will be able to recognize good agriculture practices in farming, to help increase environmental stewardship. Participants of the food preservation program will successfully implement research based methods and safe food handling and preparation for both high acid and low acid foods.
Farmers will be educated on best practices for chemical use on farms, and water and natural resource education. Homeowners will be educated about the rinse and return program, and water quality education. Youth will be educated about conservation and environmental efforts. Participants of the food preservation program will have an increased knowledge of research based food preservation methods and safe food handling and preparation.
Initial Outcome: Education of steps to ensure safety at home, on farm, and in food handling
Indicator: Increased knowledge of pesticide use, water quality, and food safety
Method: participant surveys
Timeline: Pre/Post program surveys
Intermediate Outcome: Improvement of environmental, home, and food safety practices.
Indicator: Utilization of trainings and educational materials learned for safety
Method: Survey of participants who participated in educational programs
Timeline: 3 month follow up survey, and added programming if needed.
Long-term Outcome: Increased conservation and environmental safety awareness and increased use of locally grown fruits and vegetables.
Indicator: increased best management practices and safety precautions with clients, increased use of home gardens and local farmer's market.
Method: survey or questionnaire
Timeline: 6 month follow up survey
Audience: Farmers and Homeowners
Project or Activity: Pesticide Application Training
Content or Curriculum: Pesticide Application Training Manual, video and UK publications
Inputs: UK publications, UK videos, Specialists,
Date: Summer, and Winter 2018
Audience: Farming Families
Project or Activity: Farm Stress Literacy
Content or Curriculum: farmer theater, social media videos, surveys, UK publications, Extension Publications
Inputs: UK Publications, UK Specialists, local health facilities, local farmers, Extension Agents
Date: Fall 2018
Audience: Tobacco Farmers, horticulture growers, farmers’ market vendors
Project or Activity: Tobacco Good Agriculture Practices Training, Horticulture Produce Best Practices training
Content or Curriculum: GAP Training Manual, video and UK publications
Inputs: UK publications, UK videos, Specialists
Date: Winter 2018, Spring 2019
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Farm Safety Day with Warren RECC
Content or Curriculum: Environmental stewardship of Agriculture
Inputs: UK Publications, agents, Farm Bureau, commodity groups, local farmers, schools
Date: Spring 2019
Audience: General Public
Project: Basic and advanced food preservation classes
Content or Curriculum: UK Food Preservation Curriculum
Inputs: UK Publications, agents, local city organizations (I.e. Community Meeting Centers), National Center for Food Preservation, So Easy to Preserve materials.
Date: Spring/summer 2019
Audience: Facebook and Social Media Users/General Public
Project or Activity: Social media posts regarding home, food and farm safety
Content or Curriculum: various research based resources
Inputs: UK Specialists, paid Extension Staff, social media outlets
Date: 2018-2020
Author: Natalie Taul
Major Program: Food Preservation
Seventeen participants, eight youth and nine adults, completed the Food Preservation Program in Grayson County. They learned the water bath canning method of food preservation. Seven of the participants (41%) were new to Cooperative Extension programming. Over half (56%) of the adult participants reported using food preservation methods sometimes and 22% reported using food preservation methods quite often prior to the program. The adult participants said that they learne
Author: Kindra Jones
Major Program: 4-H Health Core Curriculum
Summer for Kentucky youth has been slightly different for 2020, as parents have had to find new ways to occupy their children’s time. Covid-19 has shut down many of the summer recreational activities that parents and youth look forward to, like pools and playgrounds. Many people have added a small pool to their back yard, are spending more time on the nearby lakes, or trying to stay cool anyway they can while not being coped up inside. But when families go to community pools or participate
