Extension
It Starts With Us
Natural Resource and Environmental Education
Natural Resource and Environmental Education
Shad Baker, Crystal Smith, Nanette Banks, Lee Adams, Mitch Whitaker, ANR Assistant
Forestry Industry Education
Forestry Industry Education
Letcher County is home to a unique natural world, being graced by the presence of Pine Mountain and Lilley Cornett Woods and holding the headwaters of both the Kentucky and Cumberland Rivers. The area has been heavily impacted by human activity. This activity ranges from litter and sewer issues at private homes to timber, gas/oil and mining impacts on land and water. Sedimentation is high (outside the acceptable limits) in almost every waterway in the county. Fecal coliform surveys of the waterways show limits beyond what is considered safe by federal standards. Given the setting and the fact that residents live within narrow valleys close to those same waterways, natural resource management and environmental education are at an utmost importance. Landowners, community leaders, and youth need to be made aware of their impact on the environment and ways to manage what we have to be sustainable for the future.
As so much of the county is timbered, utilizing the natural environment for tourism, wildlife education, and timber related income is an obvious choice for Extension efforts.
Land owners, youth, and citizens practice proper environmental stewardship that will conserve natural resources and the productivity of the land while maximizing and economic and social benefits.
Land owners, youth and citizens recognize that forests and wildlife are renewable resources which can produce economic benefits and enjoyment for our community
Community leaders, landowners, youth, and citizens will gain knowledge of the use of recommended management practices and the effect of the proper use of these practices on the environment. Community leaders, land owners, youth and citizens value proper environmental stewardship practices and become aware of the impact of the decisions they make on the environment.
Initial Outcome: Community leaders, landowners, youth, and citizens will gain knowledge of the use of recommended management practices and the effect of the proper use of these practices on the environment. Community leaders, land owners, youth and citizens will value proper environmental stewardship practices and become aware of the impact of the decisions they make on the environment.
Indicator: Clientele will seek information on IPM, timber management, erosion control, safe use of pesticides, water resource management, etc.
Method: Observation, informational requests
Timeline: 2017-2020
Audience: Adults & Youth
Project or Activity: Maple Sugaring, Shiitake, Sapling, Cooking w/ Maple, Shiitake Recipes
Content or Curriculum: Classes and Demonstrations developed by ANR Agent and/or specialists
Inputs: Publications, Power-point demonstrations, Newspaper Articles, Radio and TV Shows, Program Funds and Community Resources
Date:
2017-2020
Audience: Adults & Youth
Project or Activity: Raptor Program/Falconry
Content or Curriculum: Classes and Demonstrations developed by ANR Agent and/or specialists.
Inputs: Publications, Power-point Demonstrations, Newspaper Articles, Radio and TV Shows, Program Funds and Community Resources
Date: 2017-2020
Audience: Adults & Youth
Project or Activity: Trail Programs
Content or Curriculum: Classes and Demonstrations developed by ANR Agent and/or specialists
Inputs: Publications, Power-point Demonstrations, Newspaper Articles, Radio and TV Shows, Program Funds and Community Resources
Date: 2017-2020
Audience: Adults and Youth
Project or Activity: Woodland Owner Short Course
Content or Curriculum: Classes and Demonstrations developed by ANR Agent and/or specialists
Inputs: Publications, Power-point Demonstrations, Newspaper Articles, Radio and TV Shows, Program Funds and Community Resources
Date: 2017-2020
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Adult Hiking & Adventure Club, Wellness Walk
Content or Curriculum: Health
Input: Enjoy being outdoors and want to become a healthier person. Take advantage of walking trails and promote healthy eating and weight loss.
Date: 2017-2020
Audience: General
Project or Activity: Pollinator Promotion
Content or Curriculum: Workshops & Demonstrations
Input: Agents & Assistants, Seeds
Date: 2017 - 2018
Author: Shad Baker
Major Program: Bees/Beekeeping
By now most people realize what an important role that pollinators play in our nation's food supply. While over a third of our food supply is dependent on bee pollination (estimated at $18-27 billion dollars), nearly 90% of our wild plants need them. Unfortunately, 25% of domesticated bee populations have been lost since 1990 and many wild and native bees are faring even worse. The rusty patch bumble bee was recently added to the endangered species list, and predictions are that it will not
Author: Shad Baker
Major Program: Woodland Education
Kentucky has an abundance of maple trees and the rural parts of the state are in need of new enterprises to drive economic growth. In an effort to expand the maple syrup industry and to help promote the commodity within the state and region, the Letcher County Extension Service, in partnership with local leadership and the Harlan Co. Extension Service has worked to form the Kentucky Maple Syrup Association. The association's focus is on marketing maple syrup and various maple-based, value-ad
Author: Shad Baker
Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture
The Letcher County Extension Service has been an early promoter of the maple syrup industry in Kentucky. Those efforts have paid off with multiple producers of differing scales becoming producers. This year one of our producers made significant investments in increasing the size of his operation. Along with purchasing an evaporator and doubling the amount of tubing in his woodlands, he invested in the construction of a substantial sugaring house. This was spurred along based on the information h
Author: Shad Baker
Major Program: Woodland Education
47% of Kentucky's 25 million acres are forested. Over three-quarters of those forested acres are privately owned by individuals, with a total of 423,000 private citizens owning those lands. Many landowners desire to generate income from their acreage, even in between timber harvests.Interest in medicinal herbs and natural remedies continues to grow across the US and Kentucky, home to some of the most biologically diverse woodlands in the world is primed to benefit. The Letcher County Extensi
