Youth and Adults Agriculture and Natural Resources Education, Adaptation, & Sustainability

Youth and Adults Agriculture and Natural Resources Education, Adaptation, & SustainabilityPlan of Work

Back to the Program

Scott County CES

Title:

Youth and Adults Agriculture and Natural Resources Education, Adaptation, & Sustainability

MAP:

Agriculture Education and Sustainability

Agents Involved:

Allen, Flynt, Johnson, Simon

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

4-H Volunteer Programming

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Beef

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Farmer's Markets

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Sustainable Agriculture

Situation:

Kentucky is home to 85,500 farms, tied with Oklahoma as the 4th ranking state in the number of farms (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012). The average farm size in Kentucky is 164 acres, compared to the national average of 421 (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012). Between 2007 and 2012, the Bluegrass State had a 6.7% decrease in the number of acres of farmland, which is the greatest percentage decrease any state in the country (Census of Agriculture, 2012). A farm is defined by the United States government as “any place that produced and sold, or normally would produce and sell, $1,000 or more of agricultural products during the census year.” While Kentucky’s population is increasing, the number of people living on farms is decreasing. Therefore, the need exists to educate people, particularly youth, about the impact that it makes on their daily lives, as well as the importance of agriculture to the commonwealth. The top agricultural products produced on Kentucky farms are changing. In 2012, the Top 10 agriculture products in Kentucky were: Broilers, Corn, Horses & Mules, Soybeans, Cattle & Calves, Tobacco, Dairy Products & Milk, Wheat, Hay and Chicken Eggs (United States Department of Agriculture – Kentucky, 2012). In order to provide agricultural education to youth, counties will either plan and conduct an Ag Day Program, designed to educate participants on the value of agriculture to Kentucky’s economy and the impact that agriculture has on their daily lives or teach Ag in the Classroom to elementary school students.

Long-Term Outcomes:

Youth will engage in entrepreneurial enterprise.
• Youth will gain and maintain employment resulting from life skill development through 4-H.
• Youth will be advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems.

Increased farm income
Increase the agricultural productivity
Maintain green space in our community

Intermediate Outcomes:

Youth will practice and apply skills and knowledge in the production of food and fiber in the areas
of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
• Youth will adopt and practice skills that contribute to employability.
• Youth can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.
• Youth will set a goal and accomplish it.
• Youth can influence the purchase of Kentucky Proud products.
• Youth can practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems.

Clientele utilize futures and options trading
Clientele incorporate sound management practices
Clientele exhibit proper animal husbandry
Clientele utilize alternative feed sources

Initial Outcomes:

Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant
sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
• Youth will gain an understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems.
• Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, record-
keeping, leadership and service.

Clientele learn how to utilize futures and options
Clientele learn how to incorporate sound management practices
Clientele learn proper animal husbandry

Evaluation:

Outcome: Youth engage in agricultural programs and increase profitability
Indicator: Community agriculture events, Record books
Method: Sign in sheets, Evaluations, Record Books, Interviews
Timeline: All year

Intermediate Outcome: Youth will participate in agriculture events and practice sound agricultural practices
Indicator: Livestock meetings, Community Agriculture events, County Fair, Community Gardens
Method: Sign in sheets, Evaluations, observation
Timeline: Throughout the year

Initial Outcome: Youth will learn basic principles of agriculture and where their food comes from
Indicator: Livestock meetings
Method: End of program evaluation
Timeline: Throughout the year

Outcome – Increase farm income, productivity and maintain green space
Indicator – Farm income, Acres of farms
Method – Ag statistics, Pre and post surveys
Timeline – Yearly

Outcome: Utilize futures and options trading, sound management and animal husbandry
Indicator: Farm income, acres of farms
Method: Pre and post, interviews
Timeline: yearly

Outcome: Increase knowledge in futures and options, sound management practices, and animal husbandry
Indicator: Changes in knowledge regarding the above
Method: Evaluation
Timeline: Yearly

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Youth
Activity: 4-H Small Animal Projects
Content or Curriculum: OSU Publications, UK Publications, specialists
Inputs: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: All Year

Audience: Youth
Activity: Chick Incubation
Content or Curriculum: OSU Publications, UK Publications, National CCS curriculum
Inputs: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers, Scott County Schools
Date: School year

Audience: Youth
Activity: Youth Gardening Workshops
Content or Curriculum: Kentucky Gardening, 4H Publications, UK Publications
Inputs: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Summer

Audience: Youth
Activity: Ag Adventure Day
Content or Curriculum: Ag Education to Elementary Students
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Fall

Audience: 4-H/Youth
Activity: Livestock/Animal Project Groups/Country Ham
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Year Round

Audience: Youth
Activity: School programs Clubs and projects
Content or Curriculum: Agriculture
Inputs: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers, Scott County Schools
Date: Throughout the year

Audience: 4-H Leaders
Activity: Volunteer Livestock and Horse Certification
Content or Curriculum: KY 4-H Livestock/Horse Certification Curriculum
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Spring and Fall

Audience: Youth
Activity: Horse Club
Content or Curriculum: Horse Certification Materials
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Dates: Throughout the year

Audience: General Farm Public
Education: Audience: General Farm Public
Activity: Grazing programs, Intensive Forage Demonstrations
Content or Curriculum: Back-grounding programs utilizing forages
Date: Fall

Activity: Master Cattlemen/Marketer/Stocker Programs
Content or Curriculum: Cattle Management
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Fall and Spring

Activity: Beginning Farmer Program, Mentor Sessions
Content or Curriculum: General Information on Farming
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Throughout Year

Activity: Farmer’s Market
Content or Curriculum: Direct Consumer Sales
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Summer

Activity: BQA & Livestock Handling & Care Training
Content or Curriculum: BQA management practices to improve production and handling
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Throughout the Year

Activity: Master Gardeners
Content or Curriculum: Continued Volunteer Training; Education on Gardening
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Throughout the Year

Activity: Ag Tour
Content or Curriculum: Learning more about existing enterprise in the county & touring new to add to farm income
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Summer

Audience: 4-H/Youth
Activity: Livestock/Animal Project Groups
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Year Round

Audience: General Public
Activity: Farm City Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Agriculture and Natural Resources
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Fall

Audience: General Public
Activity: Farm City Banquet
Content or Curriculum: Agriculture and Natural Resources
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Fall

Audience: General Public
Activity: Master Cattlemen/ Marketer/ Stocker Program; Feeder Calf Grading Schools
Content or Curriculum: Master Cattleman
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Fall

Audience: General Public
Activity: Horse College
Content or Curriculum: Horse College
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Fall

Audience: General Public
Activity: Agriculture Economics Training
Content or Curriculum: Agricultural Economics
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Fall

Audience: 4-H Leaders
Activity: Volunteer Livestock Certification
Content or Curriculum: KY 4-H Livestock Certification Curriculum
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Spring and Fall

Audience: General Public
Activity: Home Horticulture Series
Content or Curriculum: Gardening, Fruit Production
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Dates: Spring and Summer

Audience: General Public
Activity: Community Garden
Content or Curriculum: Gardening
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Dates: Spring and Summer

Audience: Detention Center Inmates
Activity: Vegetable Production Classes
Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener, UK Publications
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Dates: Winter Spring

Audience: General Public
Activity: Master Gardener Classes
Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener Curriculum
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Dates: Fall

Audience: 4-H Youth
Activity: Earth Day
Content or Curriculum: Natural Resources
Input: Staff, materials
Date: Spring

Audience:Youth
Activity: School Garden
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Fall, Spring

Audience:Youth
Activity: Community Garden
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Spring, Summer

Audience:Youth
Activity: County Fair Skillathon
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: June 2016

Audience: General Public
Activity: Pastures Please! & Farm and Facilities Expo for Horse Owners
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Winter program, Summer field day

Audience: General Public
Activity: Farm Commodity Production Updates
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Winter programming, Summer- on farm demonstrations/ field walks

Audience: General Public
Activity: Beef and Stocker Cattle Conference
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Fall programs

Audience: Women of General Public
Activity: Farm School for Women
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Summer

Audience: General Public
Activity: Opening the Barn Doors to Adults
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Fall

Audience: General Public
Activity: Round Table Discussions Regarding Ag Hot Topics
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Fall and Winter

Audience: General Public
Activity: Ag Lenders Conference
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Winter

Audience: General Public
Activity: Farm Start
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Spring

Audience: General Public
Activity: Alternative Agriculture Options
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Spring

Audience: General Public
Activity: Leasing Options for Landowners
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Winter

Audience: General Public
Activity: Tobacco & Grain Crop Production Updates
Content or Curriculum: Agriculture & Natural Resources
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Fall, Winter

Success Stories

Edible Soil Profile at Royal Spring Middle School

Author: Benjamin Conner

Major Program: Soils

While more of the population is growing up in an urban/suburban landscape, less are being exposed to agriculture and natural resources. According to the 2010 Census data, 32.5% of the total population in Scott County live in rural areas, thus 67.5% live in urban/suburban areas. Soil is a fundamental necessity to agriculture and natural resources. The extension agent took part of the Royal Spring Middle School Conservation Education Tour which was organized by the Scott County Conservation Distri