Youth Agriculture outreach in the community Plan of Work

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Elliott County CES

Title:
Youth Agriculture outreach in the community
MAP:
Agriculture and Natural Resources
Agents Involved:
Center
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Local Food Systems
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development
Situation:

During the 2009-2010 academic calendar year Vocational Agriculture Education was removed from the Elliott County School system. During the 2015-2016 school year one vocational agriculture course was offered to Elliott County High School student's grades 9-10. Over the past three years the program has grown to include over 120 students grades 9-12 enrolled in a vocational agriculture course at the Elliott County High School. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture there is 54,996 acres of farmland in Elliott County involved in some type of agriculture practice. Therefore, the CEC, Ag Council, Farmer's Market Council, Soil Conservation Board, Elliott County Board of Education, Eastern Foothills Cattlemen's Association, and Kentucky Farm Bureau Board felt that Agriculture in the school system was extremely important. 

Long-Term Outcomes:

-Student's academic performance will improve because of their exposure to hands on Ag in the classroom activities.

-Students will participate in county, district, regional and state contest through FFA, KDA and 4-H.  

-Students will begin raising fruits and vegetables and other agriculture commodities. 

-Students will begin raising market animals.

-Student's will begin selling produce/meat through the Elliott County Farmers Market. 

-Students will begin a community/educational garden where educational programs will be offered by the Elliott County Extension Office

Intermediate Outcomes:

-Student's will engage with one another and their peers and link the Ag in the classroom lessons with what the teacher has been teaching during lectures and throughout the school year. 

-Students will begin marketing their produce to the community through the Elliott County Farmers Market and Elliott County High School Mini Farm  

-Students will partner will Extension, KFB, EFCA, and Soil Conservation and other entities to host educational programs. activities and events to the citizens of Elliott and surrounding counties  

Initial Outcomes:

-Student's enrolled in a vocational agriculture course will increase their knowledge on basic agriculture concepts. 

-Students will lead educational workshops in partnership with UK ANR agent, Elliott County Ag Council, Elliott County Farmers Market and FFA advisor

-Students will participate in county, district, regional and state contest through FFA, KDA and 4H 

-Student's will participate in educational field trips set up by ANR agent and FFA advisor  

Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge on basic agriculture concepts 

Indicator: Students academic performance will increase and will join agriculture clubs 

Method: Grade Point average will increase 

Timeline: Academic calendar year

Intermediate Outcome: Students will engage with peers and will link Ag in the classroom lessons with there school curriculum 

Indicator: Students academic performance will increase, students will be more involved in school clubs and after school clubs and will join Agriculture clubs

Method: Grade point average will increase and will do pre and post test evaluations and use extension evaluations as test questions for students exams 

Timeline: Academic calendar year 


Long-term Outcome: Student's academic performance will improve because of Extension Ag in the classroom programming 

Indicator: Students grade point average will increase, they will be members of agriculture and other school clubs, students will apply for scholarships and begin applying to universities and vocational schools and seeking employment opportunities after high school graduation.

Method:Grade point average will increase, ACT scores will increase, professionalism will increase, Resume and cover letter will become more professional with added school clubs and community involvement, pre and post test scores will increase with added knowledge and test taking skills will improve. Students being accepted to college as well as vocational schools will increase. 

Timeline: Academic calendar year 

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 9-12 grade high school students enrolled in a vocational agriculture course at Elliott County High School

Project or Activity: Where your food comes from (Meat Science) 

Content or Curriculum: KFB and University of Kentucky 4-H Livestock Kit

Inputs: UK Extension Specialist, UK Animal Scientist, Ag agent, vocational agriculture instructor and Field Trips

Date: August thru December and January thru March


Audience: 9-12 grade high school students enrolled in a vocational agriculture course at Elliott County High School 

Project or Activity: FFA Gardens/compost barns/greenhouses/orchard/shiitake mushrooms 

Content or Curriculum: Gardening/Junior Master Gardner 

Inputs: Ag agent, Farmer's Market vendors, UK Extension Specialist, and vocational agriculture instructor 

Date: April-October 


Audience: 9-12 grade high school students enrolled in a vocational agriculture course at Elliott County High School 

Project or Activity: Animal Science (Genetics, Livestock Production)

Content or Curriculum: Oklahoma Ag in the classroom, UK 4-H Livestock Kit, demonstrations and lectures 

Inputs: Ag agent, UK Extension Specialist, vocational agriculture instructor, Field Trip to Kentucky State Fair, North American International Livestock Expo and National Farm Machinery Show 

Date: October-February 


Audience: 9-12 grade high school students enrolled in a vocational agriculture course at Elliott County High School

Project or Activity: Elliott County Farmer's Market

Content or Curriculum: KDA Farmers Market Manual/Elliott County Farmers Market

Inputs: Ag agent, vocational agriculture instructor, Farmers Market Vendors, KDA, Gateway Health Department and UK Extension Specialist

Date: June-October  



Success Stories

Farm-2-School Lesson Bring Awareness to Local Produce and Farmers Market

Author: Morgan Murphy

Major Program: Agriculture

Engaging youth in agricultural education was identified as a priority by our county stakeholders considering the strong agricultural history of the county. I responded to this need by doing 3 Farm-2-School lessons with 7 classes at Elliott County High school. The lessons focused on the benefits of local produce and where to find it in our county, a lesson on MyPlate talking about portion sizes of each food group (each student got 1 serving of fruit from the apples), and a scenario lesson that ha

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Chick Incubation Project Reaches All Schools in Elliott County

Author: Morgan Murphy

Major Program: Agriculture

On April 16th, 2022 6 classrooms received an incubator, fertilized eggs, and all other materials needed to hatch out chicks in the classroom. Along with the chick hatching materials, I was able to provide worksheets for teachers to go along with the project that I received from going to a 4-H poultry training. Each teacher was provided with all materials and detailed instructions on how to successfully hatch chicks. I made sure to let them know I was available to stop by and help troubleshoot du

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Country Ham Program Overflows in Elliott County

Author: Morgan Murphy

Major Program: Agriculture

Last year, I had 1 youth and 10 adults learn about how to cure country hams and complete the process in our ham house. This year, I have 8 youth participating in the country ham project and 17 adults. I worked to advertise the country ham program to both youth and adults throughout the county. This included printing flyers and delivering to schools and the library, putting country ham project information in the paper along with a written article by myself, and putting a radio add on the air. I h

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