Extension
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4-H Agriculture in Kenton County
4-H Agriculture
Kelley, Averbeck
4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
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, Kenton County will participate in the Ag Tour Program, designed to educate participants on the value of agriculture to Kentucky’s economy and the impact that agriculture has on their daily lives. Kenton County will also teach Ag in the Classroom/Acres of Adventures school students. Agriculture is Kentucky’s largest employer and contributes the greatest percentage of revenue to Kentucky’s economy. As many Kentucky youth will ultimately be employed in the Agricultural sector. Agriculture is an important core content area for youth to engage in and experience.
The importance of Kentucky agriculture extends well beyond the farm. The total economic impact of agriculture production, inputs, processing, and manufacturing is nearly $46.3 billion and represents 263,000 jobs in Kentucky. Because of the vast breadth of Agriculture and Natural Resources, along with their related industries, it is important for youth to experience the vast array of programs and activities that are encompassed in the agriculture core content area.
Given the Kenton County location and the opportunity to market in a large urban area, increased interest has developed in locally produced market products including beef, pork, lamb, poultry, vegetables and other ornamental products. Kenton County youth also have the opportunity to learn about, market their products and participate in the growing economic areas of transportation, use of agricultural by products, and agricultural safety.Agriculture in Kenton County:
Average size of farms: 94 acres
Average value of agricultural products sold per farm: $10,730
Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested cropland: $216.64
The value of nursery, greenhouse, floriculture, and sod as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 14.92%
The value of livestock, poultry, and their products as a percentage of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 46.80%
Average total farm production expenses per farm: $7,500
Harvested cropland as a percentage of land in farms: 28.06%
Average market value of all machinery and equipment per farm: $32,786
The percentage of farms operated by a family or individual: 92.53%
Average age of principal farm operators: 57 years
Average number of cattle and calves per 100 acres of all land in farms: 15.51
Vegetables: 16 harvested acres
Land in orchards: 17 acresSimilar to other counties in Kentucky, this impact does not include service-based industries such as banking, insurance, or legal sectors. Although the Kenton County production of some products will remain smaller in comparison to some Kentucky counties - the knowledge of production, basics of animal safety and handling, remain constant. The importance of these commodities and opportunity to gain knowledge, make them vitally important components of the Kenton 4-H program. All youth must understand that the end product of all Agriculture programs, projects and activities is the production of food and fiber. Agriculture impacts everyone.
Livestock and livestock products account for about half of Kentucky’s farm income. Therefore, the role of livestock and livestock projects in the Kentucky 4-H curriculum is fundamentally important. Youth must understand the role of agriculture in their daily lives, and the importance of livestock and livestock products in the type, kind and quality of the foods that they eat.
• 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.
• Document a significant increase in both the quantity and quality of education offered in the Agriculture Core Content area.
• Youth will increase their knowledge, level of competence and skills in Agriculture
• Volunteers will increase their knowledge, level of competence and skills in Agriculture
• Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including communications, record-keeping, leadership and service
• Youth will develop valuable entrepreneurial, work-force and job-preparedness skills
• Youth will practice safety when using equipment. Youth/volunteers will install and use safe handling procedures around animals.
• 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 practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems
• An increased number of 4-H members who select a career in Agriculture.
• Youth will utilize funds from sales of products to improve herd, facilities, product growth, and educational expenses.
• Youth will understand life cycles related to animal science and agricultural entities.
• Youth and volunteers will practice appropriate bio-security measures.
• Youth and volunteers will become aware of responsible behaviors such as appropriate feed, feeding times, training, veterinary care, housing, and transport.
• 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.
• An increased number of 4-H members who enroll and participate in projects, programs and activities in the Agriculture Area
• An increased number of volunteers involved with projects, programs and activities in the Agriculture Area
• Expanded knowledge of 4-H members in the Agriculture Area
• Youth will describe/define basic care for his/her project animal.
Initial Outcome: An increased number of 4-H members who enroll and participate in projects, programs and activities in the Agriculture Area
Indicator: Youth will attend 6 hours or more of agricultural livestock and/or horse education programs
Method: clubs meetings, educational programs, shows and competitive events,
Timeline: September through county and state fair exhibitions
Intermediate Outcome: Youth and volunteers will become aware of responsible behaviors such as appropriate feed, feeding times, training, veterinary care, housing, and transport.
Indicator: reduced veterinary costs, reduced project cost, improved ratio of finished projects
Method: farm visits, observation at shows, events, and exhibitions, speeches presented to local business organizations, record books, record sheets, written evaluation, completed projects
Timeline: September through end of program year.
Long-term Outcome: Youth will increase their knowledge, level of competence and skills in Agriculture
Indicator: Youth demonstrate appropriate animal husbandry and care practices, youth practice safety, youth demonstrate responsible behaviors, youth demonstrate employability skills, youth participate in shows and events
Method: Observation, completion of record books, scholarship forms, awards forms, awards lists, written evaluation, participating as a volunteer beyond eligibility, participating as a sponsor,
Timeline: Completion of eligibility as a senior 4-H member
Audience: Kenton County youth 9-18 years
Project or Activity: 4-H Agriculture programs
Content or Curriculum: 4-H livestock, 4-H horticulture, 4-H Horse
Inputs: 4-H volunteers, horticultural supplies grant
Date: September 2019 thru August 2020
Audience: Kenton 4-H youth 9-18 years
Project or Activity: 4-H Tractor safety
Content or Curriculum: 4-H tractor
Inputs: Local equipment vendors, local instructors,
Date: May thru August 2020
Audience: Kenton County 4th school programs
Project or Activity: Agricultural topics
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Acres of Adventures
Inputs: 4-H Agent instructor, 4-H program assistants, volunteer leaders
Date: September thru May 2020
Audience: Kenton County 4-H youth 9-18
Project or Activity: 4-H Poultry
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Poultry resources
Inputs: Local instructors, UK animal science resources, Club meetings
Date: Meetings monthly
Audience: Kenton County Schools students - including Covington Independent, Erlanger/Elsmere, Ludlow, Diocese of Covington schools, others by request
Project or Activity: 4-H Chick Incubation, life cycles
Content or Curriculum: UK animal science resources
Inputs: 4-H Agent instructor, organization of materials & scheduling, volunteers
Date: February thru May 2020
Audience: Livestock Parent/guardian orientation
Project or Activity: 4-H Livestock
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock materials
Inputs: 4-H livestock materials and rules, KDA rules, State Fair guidelines, local livestock rules, 4-H rules and guidelines, participation forms
Date: October 2019 thru January 2020 - dates announced with educational hours
Audience: Kenton County youth and adults
Project or Activity: Recycling assorted products
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Acres of Adventures
Inputs: Recycling station at county extension office, expanded by request
Date: September thru November 2020
Audience: Kenton County Youth 9-18 years
Project or Activity: 4-H Country Ham
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock materials
Inputs: Materials received from UK Meats, country ham, speech preparation,
Date: October 2019 thru August 2020
Activity: Multiple educational sessions, both classroom and on farm
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Youth Livestock Curriculum
Method: Club meetings, educational hours, farm visits, website/mailing information, contests, field trips, Focus 2 career education program
Date: September 2019 – May 2020
Activity: County Fair Shows, District Shows, and Sale of Champions
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock Curriculum
Method: Website/mailing information, bulk email reminders, contests, showmanship contests
Date: July 2019, February-August 2020
Activity: 4-H Livestock Judging Team & Skill-a-Thon Team
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock Curriculum
Method: Team practice sessions in person, online; resource materials-printed and electronic
Date: October 2019 – June 2020
Activity: 4-H Lamb Co-op
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Livestock Curriculum
Method: Actively seeking property for anticipated participants
Date: September 2019 – July 2020
Activity: 4-H Livestock Field Day and Farm Visits
Content: 4-H Livestock Curriculum
Method: Dairy U, Livestock camp opportunities
Date: April, May, June 2020
Activity: 4-H Dairy Judging
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Dairy Curriculum
Method: Video Judging, CD study, Dairy Camp
Date: February – June 2020
Activity: 4-H Horse County, District, State Fairs & Shows
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Rules and Guidelines
*Inputs listed below
Date: July 2019 through June 2020
Activity: Horse Bowl Contest
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Horse Bowl Manual
*Inputs listed below
Date: June 2020
Activity: 4-H Horse Education Classes
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Horse Resources
*Inputs listed below
Date: September 2019 – April 2020
*Inputs:
Computer and video equipment, University of Kentucky 4-H Livestock curriculum and agriculture publications, University of Kentucky specialists, other 4-H and agriculture agents and their materials, Kentucky Department of Agriculture materials, other universities’ materials and publications, outside agricultural entities and materials, local 4-H and agricultural leaders, local agricultural production sites, Volunteers, Program fees, and Program funds.
Author: Diane Kelley
Major Program: 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
The U.K., Cooperative Extension Service and Kenton County 4-H certified livestock volunteers plan and execute the educational meetings required for livestock participants in Kenton County. Cooperative Extension surveys conducted in 2011, 2015, and 2018, re-affirmed the importance of youth learning about livestock and animal health by raising market and production animals. Although the number of farms and average size of farms in Kenton County continues to steadily decline according t
Author: Diane Kelley
Major Program: 4-H Agriculture Core Curriculum AND Natural Resources
The Kentucky Extension Community Assessment Report for Kenton County was conducted in 2018 and data published in 2019. The Kenton County summary highlighted five top priority issues identified by community respondents and there were 3 top priorities in each issue category quantified by the respondents and data analysts. Referencing the minutes and reports among 4-H volunteers, the County 4-H Council, County Extension Council, and the Expansion and Review committee; the 4-H livestock
