Extension
It Starts With Us
Securing Financial Stability for our community to build a better community
Securing Financial Security and Management
Heimgartner ANR, Tramble FCS, Barnes 4-H
Communications and Expressive Arts
Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Financial Education - General
21st Century Skills (Career & Workplace Development)
Crittenden County is a very rural community with not a lot of professional job opportunities available and a low median income. The median household income is $41,114 which is almost $5,500 less than the state average and $16,500 lower than the national average. The Poverty level is 3% higher than the national average. 2019 data of people age 25 years and older shoes that 83 % graduated high school or obtained a GED and 17 % had no schooling or dropped our before graduating; 13% of the population had a bachelor degree or higher.
Due to the need for both parents to work in today's economy the number of stay at home parents has decreased and many parents have had to rely on schools teaching life skills to their children. With societal changes and cuts in school budgets, many schools have decreased or even eliminated FCS instruction.
Life choices are often based more on personal desires rather than factual information and people often turn to the internet which may not be researched based or factual resulting in poor decision making in the home.
4-H offers projects in FCS which assist youth in becoming responsible and contributing members of the family and contributing members of Kentucky communities. At the same time, these life skills prepare youth for the families they will establish as adults.
In 2017, Crittenden County had 575 farm operations on 157946 acres, which represented 72.6% of total county land. Market value of Ag products sold was $39,266,000 for the county with $11,846,000 in animal sales and $27,420,000 in crop sales. The average farm size is 275 acres with an overwhelming 89% of farms 499 acres and below.
-Increase farm economic sustainability
-Increased new crop marketing opportunities
-Maximize or extend resources to maintain or increase financial stability
-Be responsible and contributing individuals and family members
-Gain and maintain employment through life skill development
-Contribute to a safe, pleasant and productive home and family
-Gain skills to make wise financial decisions
-Agriculture producers will research new crop opportunities by utilizing marketing tools and decision making resources
-Examine personal and financial stability on a regular basis (at least annually)
-Utilize and practice life skills in projects and life situations
-Project a positive image and self-confidence
-Practice responsible consumer and financial decision-making
-Make choices that lead to responsible and beneficial results
-Adopt habits and skills that contribute toward employ-ability in the future
-Producers will have access to up to date information for production agriculture decision making
-Participants will identify short, medium and long term personal goals and objectives related to maintaining and improving their financial stability
-Gain knowledge and develop skills in Family & Consumer Sciences projects
and programs
-Understand the decision-making process
-Gain skills in setting a goal and developing a plan of action
-Learn to read and follow instructions
Initial Outcome: Utilization of marketing and financial planning tools
Indicator: increase in clients utilizing resources
Method: personal visits and consultation
Timeline: 2022
Intermediate Outcome: increase in new crop opportunities
Indicator: increase in different farm products being marketed
Method: observation
Timeline: continuously 2022 and beyond
Long-term Outcome: Increase farm economic sustainability
Indicator: increase in amount of farms that are economically stable
Method: observation
Timeline: 2022 and beyond
Initial Outcome: Youth will learn skills that they can use for career choices to help supplement their income and will have a better understanding how much it costs to live after high school/college graduation
Indicator: pre/post evaluation, number of youth participating in school enrichment programs
Method: School Enrichment, curriculum
Timeline: 2022-2025
Intermediate Outcome: Improve employ-ability through practical living skills and continued education practices
Indicator: pre/post evaluation, number of youth participating in school enrichment programs
Method: School Enrichment, curriculum
Timeline: 2022-2025
Long-term Outcome: Students are better prepared for college and the workforce when graduating
Indicator: High School drop out rate, student GPA, evaluation,
Method: School Enrichment, curriculum
Timeline: 2022-2025
Initial Outcome: clients would learn basic life skills that will allow them to become helpful community members
Indicator: number of people attending the program
Method: educational programs
Timeline: 2022-2025
Intermediate Outcome: audience will put things they learned in the program to use. Such as making a spending plan, budget, and money management
Indicator: continued attendance of program
Method: survey, pre/post test
Timeline: 2022-2025
Long-term Outcome: evaluate and make changes in their daily routine when in regards to finance
Indicator: clients can see their behavior change
Method: survey
Timeline: 2022-2025
Audience: Agriculture Producers
Project or Activity: niche marketing workshops
Content or Curriculum: Extension publications
Inputs: agents, specialists, agriculture groups
Date: 2022
Audience: limited resource audiences, young adults, adults
Project or Activity: Basic Life Skills, including money management
Content or Curriculum: educational programs
Inputs: agents, specialists
Date: 2022-2025
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Reality Store, A.P.E.S., YELP, Entrepreneurship Clubs, County and State Fair Projects
Content or Curriculum: School Enrichment, 4-H Curriculum, Moneywise, Be the E, Building Your Future
Inputs: Agents, volunteers, school system, local businesses, Chamber of Commerce, City Hall, Marion Tourism, Festivals
Date: 2022-2025
Author: Dee Heimgartner
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
During the 2020 legislative session the KY General Assembly passed a bill that would change the process for obtaining agriculture tax exemptions for farm use. The Crittenden County ANR Agent Dee Heimgartner saw that this change could have an impact on a broad range of clients, farmers, land owners and even small businesses in the community. Heimgartner set out to educate the public on these changes. The change would require farmers to fill out a new form to obtain an agriculture exemption number
Author: Nola Janeen Tramble
Major Program: Financial Education - General
Financial education programs often highlight financial literacy skills such as budgeting and managing credit card debt; however, these skills do not tap into the emotional and practical issues that cause people to react irrationally with money. Financial decisions are most often motivated by emotional need as opposed to logical knowledge. To address this concern, the Crittenden County Cooperative Extension Service utilized the Money Habitudes program to emphasize the importance of developing a h
Author: Dee Heimgartner
Major Program: Forages
Fertilizer prices have increased drastically over the past year. This increase has caused several producers to question whether they should cut fertilizer rates on their hay fields. One Crittenden County hay producer called ANR Agent Dee Heimgartner to ask her advice on what type of nitrogen fertilizer should be used. The producer knew that his hay supply would be short for the number of cows he has if he didn't do at least a little fertilizer so he made the decision to add 50 pounds of nitr
Author: Dee Heimgartner
Major Program: Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development
Crittenden County Conservation District administered the first ever County Ag Investment Program (CAIP) for Crittenden County. Agriculture and Natural Resources agent Dee Heimgartner worked closely with program administrator, County Ag Development Board and producers to advertise and provide educational opportunities for this program. The CAIP was a 50% cost share for participating producers. Over $25,000 of agriculture development funds was invested back into Crittenden County with 23 producers
