Extension
It Starts With Us
Home and Consumer Agriculture
Agriculture
Jeffiers, Reed, Cockerham
Agriculture
Beekeeping
Local Food Systems
Horticulture, Commercial
New marketing outlets and new products are emerging in the county, including maple syrup and elderberry syrup sold on the farm, at local events, at the county farmers’ market, and at a new agribusiness in the county. Direct retail of meat, eggs, vegetables, honey, and live plants is growing as well, with a younger demographic leading the way. Council members identified the need to maximize sales through these outlets as a high priority for programming because they provide better profits and higher food security than national networks.
Wendell Berry (1990), Kentucky novelist, poet, environmentalist, and farmer, stated that “…eating is an agricultural act” (p.1). Unfortunately, for many, there is a disconnect between the food we eat and where that food comes from. Today’s society lacks understanding regarding agricultural production and processing (Spielmaker and Leising, 2013). The Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program and the Family and Consumer Sciences program, strives to increase agricultural literacy among youth in Kentucky. The Agricultural Education in Secondary Schools Committee established by the National Research Council (1988) described an agriculturally literate person as one who’s “…understanding of the food and fiber system would include its history and its current economic, social, and environmental significance to all” (p. 8). The National Agriculture Literacy Logic Model defines an agriculturally literate person as one “…who understands and can communicate the source and value of agriculture as it affects our quality of life” (Spielmaker et al., 2014, p. 2). One of the key initiatives in Kentucky 4-H is to increase a young person’s awareness of the impact agriculture has on his/her daily life.
In addition to this, agritourism remains a viable way of reaching the public with both education and raw products and added value products.
The citizens of Johnson County will have an ample food supply of healthy foods.
Produce, syrups, honey, eggs and a multitude of products and the experience of going to the farm are marketed profitably to local customers.
Farms are environmentally sustainable.
Commodity groups create strong markets for local products while complying with all regulatory standards.
Youth and adults will be agriculturally literate.
Youth and adults will make informed decisions regarding agricultural products and services.
Youth and citizens will be advocates for agriculture and sustainable fiber and food production.
The people of Johnson County will learn how to create an ample food supply.
Agritourism destinations are developed and opened for business with sound marketing plans.
Produce, syrups, honey, eggs and other commodities by local farmers, yielding quality, safe products.
Commodity groups organize, meet, and develop plans for their businesses.
Individual learn how to grow, develop quality products market and sell them.
Producers follow labeling, packaging, marketing, and processing laws.
Youth will explain the role of agriculture in daily life.
Youth will utilize and practice life-skills in 4-H agricultural projects and clubs, and life situations.
Educational programs will be offered to assist people in growing gardens, best practices in sales of commodities, and learn how to gain added values to their products.
Farmers know how to produce quality fruits, vegetables, eggs, syrups and other commodities.
Farmers understand market options for their products.
Commodity growers learn about the benefits of organizing groups and begin to form them.
Farmers understand packaging, processing, and labeling laws.
Youth and adults will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of animal and food science, and plant and soil science.
Youth will gain an understanding of sustainable agricultural systems.
Youth and adults will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, critical thinking, communications, record-keeping, wise use of resources, and leadership.
Outcome: The citizens of Johnson County will have an ample food supply of healthy foods.
Indicator: Food bank data, farmers’ market sales, senior voucher utilization
Method: Information gathering from these sources
Timeline: Annually
Outcome: Produce, syrups, honey, eggs and other commodities are marketed profitably to local customers.
Indicator: Sales data from producers
Method: Direct survey
Timeline: Annually
Outcome: Agritourism will be used as a tool to both teach about farming as well as to enhance purchasing opportunities.
Indicator: Number of virtual farm tours created, and how many clips reach the public through social media
Method: Social Media clips.
Timeline: minimum of One Farm per year
Outcome: Farms are environmentally sustainable.
Indicator: Erosion and pollution data from state groundwater surveys
Method: Analysis of published data
Timeline: Biannually
Outcome: Commodity groups create strong markets for local products while complying with all regulatory standards.
Indicator: Issuance of home-based microprocessor, PBPT, and sampling certificates
Method: Data from UK & KDA
Timeline: Annually
Outcome: Youth plan and implement an agriculture project
Indicator: Youth complete an agricultural project
Method: Number of youth who demonstrated a skill that was learned or improved by participating in 4-H agriculture programming (PRACTICE)
Number of youth who gained an understanding of the role of agriculture in the production of food, fiber, and wood products (KOSA)
Timeline: February-September
Audience: General public, children and tourists
Project or Activity: Create a virtual Farm Tour of relevant sites in Johnson County.
Content or Curriculum: utilizing existing curriculum, we will adapt it to the current farm situations throughout the county to showcase farmers, their products and operations, virtually, while educating the public as to the commodities and local opportunities
Inputs: Technology support systems, Ag and FCS curricula, local farms
Date: 2021-24
Audience: Syrup producers
Project or Activity: Annual production meeting
Content or Curriculum: UK Forestry resources, out-of-state materialsInputs: On-farm tours/demonstrations; local & state presenters
Date: Fall annually
Audience: Egg producers
Project or Activity: Producers’ workshops
Content or Curriculum: Feeding, health, handling, storage, washing, packaging
Inputs: UK poultry curriculum
Date: Annually
Audience: Vegetable producers
Project or Activity: Production meeting
Content or Curriculum: UK research & local test results
Inputs: Specialists & test plots
Date: Spring annually
Audience: All direct retail producers
Project or Activity: Packaging, labeling, handling, harvesting, sampling laws
Content or Curriculum: PBPT, sampling certificate, HB 391, scale certification
Inputs: Existing UK materials, KDA Weights & Measures
Date: Annually
Audience: All producers
Project or Activity: Water quality plan development
Content or Curriculum: UK curriculum from BAE
Inputs: Educational meeting with NRCS, Extension
Date: Annually
Audience: Youth and adults
Project or Activity: Farm bucks for Good Health
Content or Curriculum: Pride of Kentucky
Inputs: FCS steering committee
Date: June 2021
Audience: 4-H and Community Youth ages 9-18
Project or activity: 4-H Horticulture Program, 4-H Seeds, Sprouts and Seedlings Workshop Series
Curriculum: Junior Master Gardener Curricula; 4-H Gardening Levels A, B, C, D, and Helper’s Guide, Seeds, Sprouts and Seedlings Resource materials, Butterfly Wings, Acres of Adventures 1 and 2; Kentucky Farm 2 School; Project Food, Land, and People;
Inputs: Extension personnel, school personnel, community partners, volunteers
Date: Spring and Summer each year as requested by community, schools and partners, county and program councils
Audience: 4-H and Community Youth ages 9-18
Project or Activity: 4-H Livestock, Poultry and Rabbit Club Programs
Curriculum: Acres of Adventures 1 and 2; Kentucky Farm 2 School; Project Food, Land, and People; Livestock Volunteer Certification Resource Kit; Beef Resource Handbook; Beef Project and Record Book; Beef, Sheep, Swine Selection Evaluation; Dairy Cow Project and Record Book; Dairy Heifer Project and Record Book; Dairy Resource Handbook; 4-H Dairy Cattle 1, 2, 3, and Helper’s Guide; Dairy Judging Resources; Goat Project and Record Book; Goat Resource Book; Sheep Resource Handbook; Market Lamb Project and Record Book; Sheep Breeding Project and Record Book; Swine Resource Handbook; Market Hog Project and Record Book; Swine Breeding Project and Record Book, Livestock Volunteer Certification Training, Agent In-services, Egg Preparation Demonstration; Kentucky 4-H Chicken and Turkey Barbeque Project; Kentucky 4-H Poultry: Barbeque Contests; National Avian Bowl Manual; ChickQuest: A Classroom Journey through the Life Cycle; ChickQuest Logbook; Hatching with my “Peeps” Embryology Countdown Calendar; Poultry Project and Record Book, 4-H Rabbit 1, 2, 3, and Helper’s Guide; Rabbit Learning Lab Kit
Inputs: Extension personnel, school, personnel, community partners, county and program councils
Date: Annually as requested by clubs, schools and partners
Author: Brenda Cockerham
Major Program: Local Food Systems
60 sets of seeds, 30 gardening calendars (until supplies ran out) and informative packets were distributed throughout the community by way of the Highland Community Food Basket and the Farmer’s Market. This was in part inspired by the Victory Garden Initiative and the need to communicate that there are three gardening seasons in Kentucky. These packets contained various fall seeds, recipe cards, a measuring spoon, fall planting seed information, along with other various forms of informatio
Author: Brian Jeffiers
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Proper fall care of gardens is key to reducing weeds and increasing yields in the following season. A key step is to sow a cover crop to condition the soil and combat weeds. Winter grains like rye are an effective choice for providing these benefit. Due to the difficulty of providing programming in the COVID environment, the County Extension Agent for Agriculture & Natural Resources and the ANR program assistant assembled bags for contactless pickup by Johnson County home gardeners. The bag
Author: Brian Jeffiers
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
As the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted food supplies in early 2020, many families began looking for ways to produce their own vegetables at home. However, many lacked the expertise to do so. To address this need, Johnson Co. Extension sought and received a grant of $11,300 to conduct the Grow Appalachia program with 48 Johnson County families. The program includes education as well as technical assistance and inputs for production. The pandemic further complicated educational efforts by making
