Extension
It Starts With Us
Youth and Adults Agriculture and Natural Resources Education, Adaptation, & Sustainability
Agriculture Education and Sustainability
Allen, Flynt, Johnson, Conner, Redmon
Forages
Beef
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
Beekeeping
Kentucky is home to 74,800 farms (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2019). The average farm size in Kentucky is 172 acres. 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 2018, the Top 5 agriculture products in Kentucky were: Broilers, All other animals and products, soybeans, corn, cattle and calves (United States Department of Agriculture – Kentucky, 2018). 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.
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
Increase conservation practices on the farm
Maintain green space in our community
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 direct farm sales and marketing
Clientele incorporate sound management practices
Clientele exhibit proper animal husbandry
Clientele utilize alternative feed sources
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 sell through direct means
Clientele learn how to incorporate sound management practices
Clientele learn proper animal husbandry
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
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: Spring
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: Spring
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: 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: General Public
Activity: Farm City Field Day
Content or Curriculum: Agriculture and Natural Resources and Horticulture
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Summer
Audience: General Public
Activity: Farm City Banquet
Content or Curriculum: Agriculture and Natural Resources and Horticulture
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: 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, Summer, and Fall
Audience: General Public
Activity: Master Gardener Classes
Content or Curriculum: Master Gardener Curriculum
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Dates: Fall and Winter
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: Spring and Fall
Audience:Youth
Activity: Community Garden
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Spring and Summer
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: General Public
Activity: Ag Lenders Conference
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Winter
Audience: General Public
Activity: Leasing Options for Landowners
Input: Staff, equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Winter
Audience: General Public
Activity: Grain Crop Production Updates
Content or Curriculum: Agriculture & Natural Resources
Input: Staff, office equipment, curriculum, materials, volunteers
Date: Fall, Winter
Author: Benjamin Conner
Major Program: Beef
Central Kentucky is known for producing good, quality, beef cattle. The Bourbon County Livestock Improvement Association Elite Heifer Sale was started in 1991 to help smaller producers come together to market their cattle. These cattle would be bred heifers that are due to calve in the spring. They set standards for all cattle to meet to qualify for the sale and ensure the cattle are pregnant up to 60 days following the sale. I was assigned to help this group of producers from central Kentucky p
Author: Benjamin Conner
Major Program: Community Engagement
In an age where technology and instant communication are commonplace, the Scott County Agriculture and Natural Resources newsletter, “The Farmacy”, was a bit behind the times. September 2020 marked the first time the newsletter had been sent out electronically through email. Prior to that date, it was sent by mail to over 980 contacts. These contacts included duplicates, deceased individuals, and several that had moved away from the community. The process of mailing to 980 contacts t
Author: Sarah Redmon
Major Program: Agriculture
Throughout the pandemic livestock shows have been sparse. After the cancellation of the Scott County Fair, the Scott County Investment in Youth Livestock Showcase committee wanted to give youth the opportunity to not only showcase their project animals but show them. 31 youth from Scott County 4-H and FFA participated in an evening program where dairy cattle, beef cattle, sheep, goat, pigs, rabbit, poultry, and country ham livestock exhibitors got to show their animals in showmanship, bree
Author: Sarah Redmon
Major Program: Agriculture
Due to the pandemic and the move to remote learning the University of Kentucky Scott County Extension 4-H Youth Development program offered multiple virtual clubs and have continued with Project Porch. What a better way to get youth involved than to celebrate National Pumpkin Day with Halloween right around the corner. Scott County 4-H Agent were able to get 100 pumpkins donated from local farms for the project. Youth signed up through Qualtrics form. Scott County 4-H Youth Development age
Author: Benjamin Conner
Major Program: Beef
In order to prepare producers to be efficient and profitable, Central Kentucky County Extension Agents for Agriculture & Natural Resources have collaborated with Beef and Agricultural Economic Extension Specialists to present the Kentucky Beef Conference annually for over 20 years. The assistance of long time business community sponsors has allowed producers to hear from nationally known experts in cattle marketing. COVID-19 restrictions forced the team to re-evaluate how to continue pr
Author: Sharon Flynt
Major Program: Master Gardener
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the Kentucky Horticulture agents, headed by Andrea Stith and Amy Aldenderfer, started the Horticulture Webinar Wednesdays as an alternative to in-person horticulture lessons. The live webinars are Wednesdays at 2 p.m. ET and 1 p.m. CT. Utilizing a volunteer scheduling website, agents, specialists, and other experts were recruited to present a 30-45 minute lesson to the public, with time at the end for questions. All the presentations were recorded,
Author: Benjamin Conner
Major Program: Beef
Improving genetics in the cow herd is a goal that many farmers have in order to produce a better product. One way to do that is to utilize artificial insemination in your herd. Artificial insemination allows farmers to access genetics from bulls across the country and world because of the ability to freeze and ship semen collect form said bulls. In the past farmers have been limited on their genetics based on the bulls they were able to purchase and use on the farm. Artificial insemination
Author: Sarah Redmon
Major Program: Agriculture
Educating youth at a young age about gardening, accessing fresh foods and sustainability is extremely important in the hopes of our community to live a healthy lifestyle. The Scott County 4-H Agent worked with youth from Southern Elementary School on a five week program learning about Agriculture and Natural Resources, through a gardening program. 51 youth learned about how plants are diversified in helping create different colors for dyes, smells, clothing, medicine, and shelter. Youth learned
Author: Sarah Redmon
Major Program: Agriculture
Agriculture Discovery Night at the Scott County Georgetown Kiwanis Fair has been a night for families to come together at the fair and learn about Agriculture Education for several years. This year was one of the most successful years that the Agriculture Committee has had. The 4-H Youth Development Agent sits on the Kiwanis Fair Board and created a Livestock Show Committee to oversea the 5 large animal livestock shows along with planning the Agriculture Discovery Night. Through planning over 20
