Extension
It Starts With Us
Growing Local Foods and Local Leaders
Local Food Systems & Leadership Development to Meet Morgan County Food Needs
Sarah Fannin
Local Food Systems
Horticulture, Commercial
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
SITUATION:
The USDA has identified portions of Morgan County as a “food desert” meaning that residents do not have adequate access to food products. Family farms have been hard hit with the loss of tobacco income, rising input costs, youth outmigration, and tornado damage. Both needs – a lacking local food supply and sluggish farm profits – have potential to be met by implementing direct farm marketing strategies including food sales and agritourism. With the increase of farmers that are female, opportunities exist to develop leadership and Farmer's Market to expand the local food system.
LONG-TERM OUTCOMES:
1. Farm families will see increased profits by improving existing operations or adding new food production or agritourism enterprises.
2. Local food consumption and agritourism will contribute significant dollars to the overall Morgan County economy.
3. Morgan County residents will have greater access to safe, affordable, locally produced food.
4. There will be increased access to local foods in restaurants, retail outlets, schools and other institutions.
5. Women farmers will be recognized as integral parts of the farm economy.
INTERMEDIATE OUTCOMES:
1. Farmers will implement new entrepreneurial opportunities and alternative marketing strategies – especially those targeting the Local Food movement and local vacationing.
2. Local leaders will continue support for ag production as an economic development policy.
3. Morgan County residents will make conscious choices to purchase locally grown food products.
4. Women farmers will apply best management practices in all areas of agriculture.
INITIAL OUTCOMES:
1. Farmers will gain confidence in entrepreneurial skills/activities for trying new enterprises and direct marketing strategies.
2. Leaders will understand the importance of local food systems in community and economic development.
3. Residents will become aware of new and existing opportunities to purchase locally produced food and the benefits of such purchases.
4. Women farmers will attain practical skills to safely engage in farming.
Initial Outcome: Leaders will understand the importance of local food systems in community and economic development.
Indicator: degree of plan completion & commitment
Method: progress report community asset survey & ag economic development plan by committee
Timeline: June, 2018
Intermediate Outcome: Morgan County residents will make conscious choices to purchase locally grown food products.
Indicator: # of residents indicating increased purchases of local products
Method: pre and post survey
Timeline: Pre survey – October, 2017; Post survey – October, 2018
Long-term Outcome: Farm families will see increased profits by improving existing operations or adding new enterprises.
Indicator: # of new enterprises
Method: agent observation
Timeline: end of 4 year plan of work
LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:
Audience: local leaders, farmers, consumers
Project or Activity: Local Food Systems Committee Formation
Content or Curriculum: community mapping of assets & needs as related to food system
Inputs: community & leadership development specialists
Date: August, 2019
Audience: general public, Farmer’s Market, local business
Project or Activity: Market in the Park, Sorghum Festival
Content or Curriculum: buy local campaign materials
Inputs: Old Mill Park, Festival Committees
Date: 1st Saturday in August, 2019, last weekend in Sept
Audience: Sweet Potato Growers Association, Farmer’s Market members, commercial growers
Project or Activity: trainings
Content or Curriculum: value added products, direct marketing, Market Ready, home based microprocessing,
Inputs: Ky Food Innovation Center, vegetable specialists
Date: September, 2019 & April, 2020
Audience: farmers, landowners
Project or Activity: Agritourism School & Tours
Content or Curriculum: entrepreneurship curriculum, site visits
Inputs: agents, KY Farms are Fun
Date: March, 2020
Audience: general public
Project or Activity: Community Garden Project
Content or Curriculum: Home Gardening in KY
Inputs: Extension Farm, Horticulture Dept & agents
Date: March, 2020
Audience: Female Farmers
Project or Activity: Ag Boot Camp
Content or Curriculum: North Carolina Women in Ag series
Inputs: other female farmers, Extension farm & equipment, SAWG funds, agents
Date: July 2019, monthly
Audience: Adults & Youth
Project or Activity: Heritage School
Content or Curriculum: Country Ham Project, Outdoor Cooking, Home Gardening guide
Inputs: Extension farm and equipment
Date: monthly
Author: Sarah Fannin
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
A high percentage of Morgan County’s population is eligible for supplemental food assistance including the Senior and WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program administered by the local health department. The current pandemic has only caused additional food insecurity for many of these families. The ANR agent received a $2,667 KY Double Dollars grant from Community Farm Alliance which allowed WIC and Senior FMNP participants to double their vouchers up to $12 per day when purchasing
Author: Sarah Fannin
Major Program: Small Farm Diversification
Farmers are facing unprecedented challenges with increasing input costs, volatile markets and weather changes. Every tool is needed in their arsenal to help address these issues. Often times, small changes in management practices can help pay unexpected dividends. Individual stories from producers this past year have proven once again the value of Extension education, services and demonstrations.Examples include:*a Master Cattlemen participant changing immunization programs res
