Extension
It Starts With Us
Agriculture & Environment Education for Youth
Advancing Agriculture & Horticulture
Dana Anderson, Jessica Bessin, Linda McClanahan
Volunteer Development
Health
Agriculture
Local Food Systems
People, animals and plants are dependent on our Earth’s natural resources. Everything from the air we breathe, to the water we drink, to the soil we use for food production – these resources are vital to our existence. Therefore, it’s important that we care for and respect these resources. Understanding how our daily choices affect our environment, we can conserve natural resources and protect our environment for present and future generations.
Agriculture is Kentucky’s largest employer and accounts for the greatest amount of revenue in Kentucky’s economy. Every person in Kentucky is impacted by Agriculture every day in the foods that they eat and the fibers that are used in their clothes, homes, work places and vehicles.
Youth will:
• Engage in entrepreneurial enterprise
• Gain and maintain employment through life skill development
• Become advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems
• Use scientific techniques, responsible practices and innovative technologies to positively sustain the natural resources in the home, community and world
• Engage in community projects related to natural resource conservation
Youth will:
• Practice and apply skills and knowledge in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant science, horticulture and animal science
• Adopt and practice skills that contribute to employ-ability
• Be able to explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others
• Set a goal and accomplish it
• Influence the purchase of Kentucky Proud products
• Practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems
• Make decisions in their daily lives positively impacting natural resources
• Adopt practices to conserve and protect the environment in their home and community.
• Use problem solving and logical reasoning skills and apply them to environmental issues
Youth will:
• Develop an interest in environmental science and sustainable practices and technologies
• Gain knowledge of the interrelationship and inter-dependencies with an ecosystem
• Identify the natural resources that are used within their home and community
• Gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant science, horticulture and animal science
• Gain an understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems
• Develop valuable life-skills, including decision making, communications, record-keeping, leadership and service
Initial Outcome: The number of youth who demonstrate a skill that was learned and improved by participating in a Environmental program or 4-H ANR project.
Indicator: Number of individuals indicating change in behavior
Method: immediate evaluation and personal testimonials
Timeline: on-going
Intermediate Outcome: The number of youth that keep production, performance or financial records on their 4-H agriculture projects.
Indicator: Youth completing record books for the livestock/horse clubs
Method: records turned into club leaders
Timeline: on-going
Long-term Outcome: Number of youth who understands the role of agriculture in the production of food and fiber
Indicator: Youth acknowledge their understanding
Method: group evaluation during Ag Day
Timeline: on-going
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: UK College of Ag Round-Up
Content or Curriculum: UK Recruitment
Inputs: Extension staff, Mercer County School System, Burgin School System
Date: August-September
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Adult Country Ham Workshop
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Country Ham
Inputs: CES Staff, CES Facilities
Date: January
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Chick Incubation
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Chick Incubation
Inputs: Volunteers, Mercer County School System, Burgin School System, Extension Staff and resources
Date: Spring
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Ag Day with 3rd graders,
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Animal Science, Commodity organization materials/information
Inputs: volunteers, Mercer County School System, Burgin School System, Extension Staff and resources
Date: Fall
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: Earth Day with 5th Graders
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Environmental Resources, Commodity organization materials/information
Inputs: volunteers, Mercer County School System, Burgin School System, Extension Staff and resources
Date: Spring
Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H Animal Science Clubs (Dairy, Country Ham, Livestock, Rabbit, Horse)
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Animal Science curriculum
Inputs: Extension staff, Extension resources, certified livestock leaders, Mercer County School System, Burgin School System
Date: ongoing
Activity: Media (news articles, newsletters, videos, podcasts, social media - Facebook
Content or Curriculum: Exclusives, 4-H Agent News Releases, publications, etc.
Inputs: Extension Staff, Extension Specialist University of Kentucky Ag Communications
Date: Year-long (ongoing)
Audience: Youth
Activity: Entomology Camp
Content or Curriculum: Entomology Curriculum
Inputs: Extension Staff, Volunteers, Extension Facility
Date: Summer
Audience: Youth/Day Treatment
Activity: Beekeeping
Content or Curriculum: KY State, Ky Beekeeping Association,
Inputs: Extension Staff, Fort Harrod Beekeepers
Date: ongoing
Author: Jessica Bessin
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Insects are all around us, whether you like them or not! Insects play a major role in our lives when it comes to food production and the environment. The Mercer County Extension Agent for Horticulture started a new summer day camp called insect quest. This day camp was designed to teach youth about the importance of insects while at the same time gain the skills to properly identify insects for entomology projects for the county and state fair.The camp was two full days with a month between each
Author: Dana Anderson
Major Program: Natural Resources
In Kentucky, we have an abundant supply of natural resources that impact our daily lives. To preserve these resources, we must educate our youth on being good stewards. Over 255 fifth-grade students participated in 2022 Earth Day, sponsored by Mercer County Extension Service. The program's goal was to educate youth about environmental awareness and sound environmental practices. Students spent 20 minutes at ten different stations: Solar Energy, Horticulture, Geology, Entomology, Soil, Water,
Author: Linda McClanahan
Major Program: Dairy
The NEP Assistant partnered with the ANR agent, Southland Dairy, The Dairy Alliance, and Mercer County Elementary School to teach 586 students about the importance of dairy in their diet. Students were taught about the dairy section of MyPlate, serving sizes, and nutrition facts for various dairy products. In addition, agriculture information was shared so students could learn about where milk and other dairy products come from, how farmers take care of their cows and how milk gets from the cow
