McCracken County CES

Title:

Increasing Agriculture Awareness

MAP:

Agriculture/Horticulture

Agents Involved:

Wooley, Wimberley, Henderson, Osborne, Smith, ANR Agent

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Ag Policy

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Sustainable Agriculture

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Farmer's Markets

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Soils

Situation:

As the years go by, more people become farther removed from the farm. Therefore, there are many that are unaware of the importance of agriculture in their everyday lives from the clothes on our backs, the fuel in our vehicles and the food on our dinner table. Unfortunately, as we become more and more removed from the agriculture industry, the greater the misconceptions. There is an important need in our community for agriculturalists to share their story, educate consumers on where their food comes from and share the truth about agriculture.

Long-Term Outcomes:

-Individuals will be able to identify and correct misconceptions within the agricultural industry.

Intermediate Outcomes:

-The number of individuals in the agriculture industry willing to "share their story" will increase.

-The number of individuals approaching sustainable agriculture increases

Initial Outcomes:

-Residents will become more aware of how beneficial agriculture and agricultural practices are.

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Residents will become more aware of how beneficial agriculture and agricultural practices are.

Indicator: Number of consumers reporting an increase in agriculture awareness

Method: survey, personal interviews, follow-up conversations

Timeline: ongoing

Intermediate Outcome: The number of individuals in the agriculture industry willing to "share their story" will increase.

Indicator: An increase in the number of agriculture volunteers

Method: survey

Timeline: ongoing

Long-term Outcome:-Individuals will be able to identify and correct misconceptions within the agricultural industry.

Indicator: A decrease in misconceptions

Method: survey, conversations, follow-calls

Timeline: ongoing

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Consumers

Project or Activity: educational programming: "Mythbusters" , "Find Our CommonGround",

Content or Curriculum: publications, content from commodity groups

Inputs: UK/KSU College of Ag Professionals, Publications, Research Information, commodity organizations, State and Federal Agencies, farmers/producers,

Date: ongoing

Audience: Consumers

Project or Activity: Commodity Breakfast

Content or Curriculum: publications, volunteer's stories/experiences

Inputs: UK/KSU College of Ag Professionals, Publications, Research Information, commodity organizations, State and Federal Agencies, farmers/producers, volunteers

Date: Fall

Audience: Consumers/Youth

Project or Activity: Field Day

Content or Curriculum: publications, volunteer's stories/experiences, commodity organizations curriculum

Inputs: UK/KSU College of Ag Professionals, Publications, Research Information, commodity organizations, State and Federal Agencies, farmers/producers, volunteers

Date: Fall

Success Stories

Ag Day Extravaganza

Author: Amanda Wilson

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

There’s been a deficit amongst the Paducah City Schools due to a limited amount of exposure to the field of Agriculture, outside of Cooperative Extension. The thought came to mind that we, McCracken County Cooperative Extension (MCCE), should fill this gap, and hold an Ag Day for Paducah City Schools. This idea took several years to materialize, but I’m proud to say our dream came true. All program areas of MCCE collaborated to deliver a high quality, hands on agricultural experience

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Success story 1

Author: Austin Smith

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

One in five kids do not know where their food comes from. I got to experience this firsthand this summer at west Kentucky 4H Camp. We took more boys than we had spots in the cabins so I volunteered to sleep in the tents with our remaining 12 boys. They were between the ages of 10 to 12 years old. Throughout the night the dairy cow that was at camp was mooing all night long. The next morning when we woke up and started getting ready the boys were talking about how crazy of noise this that the hor

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Inaugural McCracken County Winter School

Author: Samantha Anderson

Major Program: Grain Crops

Traditionally, the winter months provide a pause in activity for Kentucky producers. Seeing a need to effectively utilize this time to provide educational opportunities to producers in McCracken County, Samantha Anderson, Agricultural and Natural Resources Agent, hosted the inaugural McCracken County Winter School program.The month-long program covered topics including tobacco, grain crops, beef cattle and machinery management. Program presenters included University of Kentucky Cooperative Exten

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Family Gardening Bags

Author: Samantha Anderson

Major Program: Home & Consumer Horticulture

With family lifestyles getting busier and COVID19 closing many places and parks, it has put a strain on many families.  According to Harvard Graduate School of Education, "studies show gardens support and encourage healthful eating as a key component of children's physical wellbeing, which can aid their academic and social success, too." Through the efforts of the McCracken County Cooperative Extension Service, families in McCracken County started their own vegetable gard

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