Extension
It Starts With Us
Sustaining Our Natural Resources
Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities
Alissa Ackerman, Ag Agent, FCS Agent
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Integrated Pest Management
Natural Resources
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
Each decision individuals make can impact the health and safety of the family and environment. Understanding how daily choices can impact our environment is vital to conserving and preserving our natural resources and ensuring a healthy environment for present and future generations. Clay County alone has just over 300,000 acres of land with approximately 256,000 acres of forest land. Natural resources must be respected and the proper decisions be made for our future.
-Create safe home environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life cycle.
-Citizens will embrace environmental stewardship for sustainable use of Clay County's natural resources.
-Youth will make informed decisions and take responsible action regarding natural resources.
-Improved safety, cost, skills related to environment of the home and landscaping.
-Our citizens will recognize that natural resources are a vital part of the county's economic engine and can produce both income and enjoyment. Citizens will adopt solutions to improve environmental quality.
-Youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect natural resources.
-Increased knowledge, opinions, or skills related to the home and home landscaping.
-Citizens will gain knowledge in the use of recommended practices to better maintain our natural resources.
-Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, critical thinking, communications, record-keeping, wise use of resources and leadership.
Long-Term Outcome: Create safe home environments that promote and support the physical and mental wellbeing of families throughout the life cycle.
Indicator: number of individuals that make changes to improve natural resources. Number of individuals who report implementing a gardening technique to save money.
Method: Formal and informal evaluations, word of mouth.
Timeline: 2020-2024
Intermediate Outcome: Assess the cost saving or benefits with a new practice related to home care.
Implement a practice or demonstrate a skill that will improve the landscape.
Indicator: number of individuals who make changes for the purpose of improving natural resources or saving money related to home and home landscaping
Method: Evaluation/Word of mouth.
Timeline: 2020-2024
Initial Outcome: Families will change knowledge, skill, and opinion related to home and home landscape.
Indicator: Number of individuals that experience a change in knowledge, opinion, and skills or aspirations related to home.
Method: Formal and informal evaluations/word of mouth
Timeline: 2020-2021
Long Term Outcome: Citizens will have an increased knowledge of natural resources in Clay County
Indicator: Number of citizens that indicate that they have made changes to better protect, preserve, produce and/or promote Clay County's natural resources.
Method: Participation in trainings, workshops, contests, observations
Timeline: 2020-2024
Intermediate Outcome: Adults will be able to recognize that natural resources are a vital part of the county
Indicator: Participation in workshops and programs
Method: Program and workshop participation
Timeline: 2020-2024
Initial Outcome: Citizens gain a knowledge of how to protect, preserve, produce and promote natural resources
Indicator: Program and Workshop Participation
Method: Program and Workshop Participation
Timeline: 2020-2024
Long Term Outcome: Youth will feel a sense of belonging to something larger(a global environment)and work to prepare for the future generations to come
Indicator: Students involved in leadership roles involving agriculture, environment, and/or natural resources
Method: Surveys, follow-ups, interviews
Timeline: 2020-2024
Intermediate Outcome: Increased number of youth engaged in agriculture and environmental or natural resources events, practices, or activities
Indicator: Number of participants involved; projects, activities, or enterprises students are working on themselves
Method: Surveys, follow-ups, interviews
Timeline: 2020-2024
Initial Outcome: Students show increased awareness of how agriculture, our environment, and natural resources affect our world.
Indicator: Number of students that show change based on what they have learned
Method: Pre and Post Surveys
Timeline: 2020-2024
Audience: Agricultural Producers
Project or Activity: Private Pesticide Applicator Program
Content or Curriculum: UK CurriculumInputs: Agricultural Agent
Date: Fall 2021, Spring 2022
Audience: Youth / adults
Project or Activity: Forestry Field Day / Environmental Day Camp
Content or Curriculum: Volunteers, Field Experts, AgentsInputs: 4-H Agent, Agriculture Agent, leaders
Date: Fall 2021
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H NRESci Academy
Content or Curriculum: Agents, Field Experts, 4-H State SpecialistInputs: 4-H Agent
Date: 2021 - 2022
Author: Willie Bowling
Major Program: Forest Education: Health, Management, and Utilization
Kentucky has many natural resources, but our forests present one of our greatest opportunities. For instance, our forests provide both economic opportunity (both timber and non-timber forest products) as well as ecosystem services (wildlife habitat, clean water, carbon sequestration, etc.). The forest resource is particularly important to Clay County citizens, because approximately 85% of the county land base is covered by forest. Despite this opportunity, many Kentucky landowners – Clay C
Author: Alissa Ackerman
Major Program: Natural Resources
Exploring Careers Through Field Day ExperienceNatural resources play a vital role in everyday life and meeting people’s needs, much like providing career opportunities plays a vital role for youth to become successful and aware of available job options. Without opportunities, it is challenging for youth to learn and become aware of the numerous career possibilities. Clay County’s graduation rate is 66% compared to that state’s average of 91%, according to the National Center fo
