Extension
It Starts With Us
Increasing Agricultural Systems In Washington County
Managing and Growing Environmental Agriculture and Horticulture Systems
Dennis Morgeson and Melissa Schenck
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Volunteer Development
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Soil testing
The 2019 Kentucky Extension Community Assessment reported these issues within Agriculture and Environment: less illegal dumping and littering, more market opportunities for farmers, and sustainability of family farms. Our local advisory councils for Agriculture, Horticulture, and 4-H Youth Development contributed to this assessment.
Maintain and increase family owned farms
Increased home horticulture participation
Youth and adult program participants will be educated advocates for sustainable agriculture and food systems
Producers utilize Extension resources to make fiscally sustainable decisions about farm management practices
Clientele will engage in horticultural programming and utilize research-based knowledge
4-H clientele will apply skills and knowledge in the production of agricultural commodities and environmental practices
Increased awareness and availability of research-based Extension resources, including cost share opportunities through the Governor's Office of Agriculture Policy Funding
Learn the most successful varieties to plant in Washington County, including proper planning, planting dates, and management
Community members will receive trainings, certifications, and accreditations in agriculture and natural resources programming
Initial Outcome: Increased awareness and availability of research-based Extension resources, including cost share opportunities through the Governor's Office of Agriculture Policy Funding
Indicator: Increased use of Extension resources and programming
Method: monitoring participation in CAIP, YAIP, and Next Generation Farmers
Timeline: annually
Intermediate Outcome: Producers utilize Extension resources to make fiscally sustainable decisions about farm management practices
Indicator: Increased soil testing in the community
Method: monitoring the numbers of soil tests
Timeline: bi-annually
Long-term Outcome: Increased home horticulture participation
Indicator: Increased participation in Wheelbarrow Series
Method: sign up sheets and registration
Timeline: bi-annually
Audience: Washington and Surrounding Counties
Project or Activity: Wheelbarrow Series
Content or Curriculum: Cooperative Extension Publications and Research
Inputs: Extension Funding, Fees from participants, Extension Staff
Date: February through November
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project or Activity: Country Ham, Livestock Projects, Horse Projects, Horticulture, School Based Programming
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Core Curriculums
Inputs: Extension resources, Fees, Volunteers, Extension Staff
Date: throughout the year, depending on the project
Audience: Washington County Farmers
Project or Activity: Meetings, Educational Activities, and Programs
Content or Curriculum: Extension resources
Inputs: Extension resources and specialists
Date: as needed, corresponding with cost share opportunities
Author: Melissa Schenck
Major Program: Agriculture
The Washington County Extension Office worked in partnership with the Washington County High School Gifted and Talented program to facilitated Teen Leadership Washington County Agriculture Industry day. Seventeen selected high school juniors were selected to participate in the program. In Agriculture Industry Day youth toured a state-of-the-art high-tunnel confinement cow-calf operation and a Kentucky Proud apiary. Speakers included a representatives from agriculture lending and the niche hemp m
Author: James Morgeson
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
The Gardener’s Wheelbarrow Series has been and continues to be the most popular class series in Washington County pertaining to Horticulture. During the Pandemic all classes have gone virtual however interest is still at an all time high. For the 2020-2021 series an evaluation was done via Facebook to determine class topics. This program year there were 30 class topics with new needs determined by the evaluation such as “Best Landscape Trees”, “Saving Seeds&rd
Author: Melissa Schenck
Major Program: Agriculture
When the new year came and Covid-19 restrictions continued to wreak havoc on traditional programs the Washington County 4-H program knew that some creative solutions would have to be implemented. The traditional classroom incubation program, for example, would be difficult to manage when entire grades could be quarantined overnight. Instead, the Washington County Extension office worked to create an incubation program that would allow for live interaction with the incubator from the comfort of h
Author: James Morgeson
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
After doing a few hands on Horticulture videos at the beginning of the pandemic it was determined through online evaluations that clientele wanted more hands on or how to videos on various horticultural topics. This need grew into an ongoing video program called Horticulture How To. Several videos have been made since and uploaded to the Washington County Horticulture You Tube Channel and the Washington County Facebook Page all linked to the Washington County Extension Website. Thus
Author: James Morgeson
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
The Washington County Agriculture Development Board approved $245,000 to use for County Agriculture Investment Program and the Next Generation Farmer Program in 2021. These programs are 50/50 cost share programs with participants spending $5000.00 and receiving $2500.00 from the program they participated. There were two informational meetings administered by the Horticulture Agent and Program Administrator explaining the program requirements. One of the requirements for receiving monies is
