Safety Education for Home, Food and AgriculturePlan of Work

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Grayson County CES

Title:
Safety Education for Home, Food and Agriculture
MAP:
Community Wellness and Safety
Agents Involved:
Whitney Carman, Kindra Jones, Natalie Taul
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Sustainable Agriculture
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
4-H Health Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
4-H Youth Development Programming
Situation:

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.


Long-Term Outcomes:

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.

Intermediate Outcomes:

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.


Initial Outcomes:

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.

Evaluation:

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

Learning Opportunities:

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




Success Stories

Building Strong Families, Canning with Kids

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

Full Story

4-H Summer Fun Kits

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

Full Story
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