Effective Resource ManagementPlan of Work

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Whitley County CES

Title:
Effective Resource Management
MAP:
Family and Agricultural Economics
Agents Involved:
Cornelius, ANR, Moses, 4H
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Farm Management
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Ag Marketing
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Money Habitudes
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Securing Financial Stability (general)
Situation:
The Kentucky, as well as the national, economy entered into a period of prolonged recession in December 2007. During the period of economic recession and in the continued slow recovery, Kentucky consistently lagged behind other areas of the United States in household economic indicators, including personal income, population living below the poverty line, and unemployment rates. Many individuals, families, and households were unprepared to manage the rapidly changing economic conditions. Many household financial strategies employed prior to the recession most likely made them more vulnerable during the period of economic crisis.

Whitley County has an unemployment rate of 9.5% according to the Kentucky Data Profiles. In 2014, the median income for families were $22,000 to $38,000 per year according to the US Census Data. Also, 27.3% of families with children are living below the poverty level in Whitley County.

The Census of Agriculture data reports that 157 Farm Operators reported net gains in 2012, but most had net losses. Keeping good records and having good farm, family, and personal management systems in place can increase quality of life. The Whitley County Cooperative Extension will use the Managing in Tough Times Curriculum and MoneyWise publications to help awareness on how to use resources better. Radio Ads and newsletter articles will include information about saving money in both the family and on the farm.
Long-Term Outcomes:
Families and Farmers will use resources more efficiently.

Families and Farmers will save time and money as a result of changed behaviors.

Families, Farmers, and individuals improve their quality of life by changing attitudes.
Intermediate Outcomes:
Families and Farmers adopt recommended practices to help them save time and money relating to household and farm management.

Households and farmers practice techniques to help them improve quality of family life.

Individuals adopt attitudes that foster healthy communication skills among family members.
Initial Outcomes:
Families and Farmers identify techniques to improve money management.

Families and Farmers locate spending leaks in their current budget.
Evaluation:
Long-Term Outcome:
Indicator: Families and Farmers create better consumer habits and savings
Method: CEDIK Economical Surveys, Pre/Post Evaluations
Timeline: 2018-2020

Intermediate Outcome:
Indicator: Families and Farmers apply education about budgets into daily life.
Method: Pre/Post Evaluations
Timeline: 2017-2018

Initial Outcome:
Indicator: Families and Farmers recognize areas to improve savings.
Method: Pre/Post Evaluations
Timeline: 2015-2017
Learning Opportunities:

Audience: County Homemakers

Project or Activity: Homemakers leaders present Special Interest lessons to teach skills that help individuals make better use of resources

Content or Curriculum: Lessons such as chair Seating (Cane, Reed); Quilting; Sewing; and Needlework

Inputs: Agents, Leaders

Date: Monthly


Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: Budgeting programs (Coupoining; Food Spending) to help families on limited incomes and others interested to save money and reduce debt.

Content or Curriculum: UK Programs; NEP Food Spending

Inputs: Agent, UK Specialists

Date: As Requested


Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: Budgeting Classes

Content or Curriculum: MoneyWi$e

Inputs: FCS, ANR, Moses, 4H

Date: May-July


Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: Grocery Store Tours/Budget

Content or Curriculum: NEP Curriculum, MoneyWi$e

Inputs: NEP Assistant, FCS

Date: January


Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: Small Steps to Health and Wealth

Content or Curriculum: Small Steps to Health and Wealth

Inputs: Cornelius

Date: Fall


Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: Holiday Budgeting

Content or Curriculum: Stretching Your Holiday Dollar

Inputs: Cornelius

Date: November-December


Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: "Managing in Tough Times" Radio Spots and Newspaper Articles

Content or Curriculum: UK Resource Programs; MITT

Inputs: Agents, UK Specialists

Date: Continuous


Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project of Activity: Estate Planning Series/Workshop

Content or Curriculum: KEHA Homemaker Lesson, UK Curriculum

Inputs: Agent, UK Specialists

Date: November/February


Audience: Whitley County Residents ages 18-55

Project or Activity: Master Homesteaders

Content or Curriculum: Combination of all programming with emphasis on low inputs and healthy land management

Inputs: All agents, volunteers, UK pubs, and classroom materials

Date: 2018


Audience: Whitley County Residents

Project or Activity: Foraging Classes

Content or Curriculum: Learn how to forage for food in the woods to increase food security and resiliency

Inputs: Foraging specialist, Horticulture Agent, and woodland areas

Date: 2016 – 2020




Success Stories

Kentucky Furbearer Program

Author: Stacy White

Major Program: Youth Forestry and Natural Resource Education

In his 1893 essay “The Significance of the Frontier in American History”, historian Frederick Jackson Turner famously wrote:  “Stand at Cumberland Gap and watch the procession of civilization, marching single file—the buffalo following the trail to the salt springs, the Indian, the fur-trader and hunter, the cattle-raiser, the pioneer farmer—and the frontier has passed by.”  Wildlife, especially furbearers, have played a crucial role in the opening o

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Agent Trapping Workshop

Author: Stacy White

Major Program: Wildlife Habitat and Damage Management Education

Human interactions with wildlife are increasing across the world as populations grow and available wildlife habitat shrinks or becomes more frequently adjacent to humans. Several species of wildlife are thriving within these new landscapes due to their ability to take advantage of many of the things humans either produce (i.e. agricultural crops) or create (i.e., human dwellings or predator free landscapes). In addition, over the last 50 years a cultural shift has occurred within the urban and r

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Henderson Settlement

Author: Stacy White

Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture

Founded in 1925, Henderson Settlement is a Methodist mission in Frakes, KY.  The goal of the mission is to offer Christ centered service to the residents of Frakes and surrounding communities in both Kentucky and Tennessee;  communities that are economically depressed and afflicted with many of the social maladies common in today's world.  Areas of impact include work camp, community outreach, agriculture, and crafts/thrift store. The mission manages approximately 1,600 acres

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Jones farm cattle handling

Author: Stacy White

Major Program: Beef

The proper handling of beef cattle requires knowledge of cattle behavior and the presence of adequate handling facilities with sufficient fencing, watering, and feeding facilities to allow you to utilize recommended management procedures. Facilities on farms should be adequate to do the job and as economical as possible. They should last a long time and lead to better care of farms and animals.  The Whitley County ANR agent worked with a beef producer to improve the cattle handling faciliti

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Prewitt High Tunnel Tomatoes

Author: Stacy White

Major Program: Commercial Horticulture

Root-knot nematode (RKN) is a soil-dwelling microscopic roundworm. This nematode is parasitic on numerous plants, including vegetables, fruits, field crops, ornamentals, and common weeds. RKN can occur in commercial and homeowner plantings. Frequently, the nematode interacts with other plant pathogens to form a disease complex in which the resulting disease is much more severe than that caused by either component alone. Rootknot nematode is particularly serious when high populations are allowed

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