Extension
It Starts With Us
Support Community and Economic Development
Support Community and Economic Development
Amanda Sears, Brandon Sears, Aubrey Clark, Scott Darst, Jessica Hunley
Communications and Expressive Arts
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Build Engaged and Empowered Communities – General
Thriving local economies, engaged leaders, active communities are critical to the development of strong families. Citizens with a healthy sense of community are vital to the positive economic development. (CEDIC, 2015). And, increased volunteer capacity is critical for the sustainability of community infrastructure.
Programming focused on marketing, support of local agricultural markets, assistance to small business owners, and participation in community fairs and festivals can support community and economic development. Through extension programming local citizens are engaged, educated, and empowered to address issues in their communities.
Youth will use their communication and leadership skills to serve as leaders in the community, mentors for younger youth and to enter the workplace and/or institution of higher learning/trade schools.
Farmers realize increased profits due to expanded market opportunities.
Youth apply skills learned in 4-H in other activities at home, school and in the community by demonstrating leadership, teamwork and communication as well as setting and achieving goals.
Farmers add value to their products and will develop new marketing outlets.
Youth will increase their knowledge about leadership and how to be an effective leader, team player and communicator.
Youth and adults will enter items in the county fair.
Farmers attend programs through the Madison County Cooperative Extension Service focused on adding value to their products.
Commercial Vegetable and Farmer’s Market members are trained on how to handle produce safely.
Outcome: Youth apply skills learned in 4-H in other activities at home, school and in the community by demonstrating leadership, teamwork and communication as well as setting and achieving goals.
Indicator: Number of youth volunteering in the community, participating in community events, and entering items in the county fair.
Method: Observation of 4-H project work, 4-H Common Measures evaluations, and county fair entry records.
Timeline:Ongoing for project observations, July for County Fair entries
Outcome: Residents exhibit in the county fair Floral Hall
Indicator: Number and quality of exhibits at the fair
Method: Number of exhibits at the county fair
Timeline: August
Outcome: Farmers add value to their products and will develop new marketing outlets.
Indicator: Increased number of participants in farmer’s markets, auctions, and contracts
Method: Survey farmer’s market managers and talk to growers
Timeline: yearly
Outcome: Farmers realize increased profits due to expanded market opportunities
Indicator: Increased number of consignors in hay auction, CPH 45 sales, and bred heifer sales
Method: Sale data and producer surveys
Timeline: annually
Audience: Youth Ages 5-18, adult exhibitors
Project or Activity: Madison County Fair Livestock Shows (Beef, Horse, Rabbit, Poultry and Dog)
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Curriculum, KDA Resources, County Fair Rules
Inputs: Volunteer time, space, awards, premiums, show tools and equipment, decorations, PA systems, others as needed
Date: July each Year
Audience: 4-H Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: 4-H Means Business
Content or Curriculum: Be the “E”
Inputs: 4-H Agent time, volunteer time, funding, curriculum, equipment, meeting space
Date: Annually
Audience: Madison County Fair goers and Exhibitors
Activity: Madison County Fair Livestock Shows (Goat, Cattle, Horse, Poultry)
Content: State and County Fair guidelines/rules
Input: All agents and Madison County Fair board members
Date: Annually, July
Audience: Madison County Residents, Homemakers, Youth
Activity: Floral Hall at the County Fair
Content: County Fair Catalog, Cultural Arts List
Input: Volunteers, Agents, Judges, Master Gardeners, fair guidelines, Homemakers
Date: Summer, annually
Audience: Madison County Producers
Activity: Scale Certification
Content: KDA guidelines
Input: KDA Regulatory Specialist, Horticulture Agent
Date: Spring
Audience: Madison County Farmer’s Market Participants and Producers
Activity: Micro processing
Content: UK
Input: Computer, UK Handouts, quizzes, FCS Agent
Date: every 3 to 4 years
Audience: Beef Cattle Producers
Activity: CPH-45 Feeder Calf Sales
Content or Curriculum: KDA and local sale committee guidelines
Inputs: ANR agent, KDA, KBN, Bluegrass Stockyards, and Madison County Beef Cattle Association
Date: Annually, December
Audience: Hay Producers
Activity: Regional Hay Auction
Content or Curriculum: Fair Board Auction Process/Rules
Input: ANR agent, Madison County Fair Board members, KDA mobile hay testing unit
Date: Annually, January
Audience: Farmer’s Market vendors
Activity: PBPT training
Content: KDA and UK resources
Input: KDA and UK
Date: Annually in spring
Author: Brandon Sears
Major Program: Forages
The most recent Ag Census lists Madison County as the 3rd largest hay producing county in the state of Kentucky with approximately 43,600 acres of hay. In an effort to help market local hay, the Madison County Extension ANR agent and the Madison County Fair Board partnered to coordinate a regional hay auction at the county fairgrounds.On Saturday January 9th, 2021 our 13th annual hay auction took place with 104 different lots of hay and straw offered for sale. This year
Author: Jessica Hunley
Major Program: Economic Development
Over the course of several months, we have been accepting donations from community members of materials such as fabrics, scrapbooking materials, and/ or crafting supplies line yarns. After a little time, we had substantial amounts of donations and after some restrictions were lifted and we were able to reopen to our Madison County Homemaker Groups, they were able to come in rotationally and periodically to browse and identify any of the materials that they deemed essential to their p
