Clay County CES

Title:

Sustaining Our Natural Resources

MAP:

Promoting Healthy Homes and Communities

Agents Involved:

Alissa Ackerman, Will Bowling, Emily Boggs

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Horticulture, Consumer and Home

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Integrated Pest Management

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Natural Resources

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Water and Soil Quality and Conservation

Situation:

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.

Long-Term Outcomes:

-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.

Intermediate Outcomes:

-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.

Initial Outcomes:

-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.

Evaluation:

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

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: Agricultural Producers
Project or Activity: Private Pesticide Applicator Program
Content or Curriculum: UK Curriculum 

Inputs: Agricultural Agent
Date: Fall 2022, Spring 2023

Audience: Youth / adults
Project or Activity: Forestry Field Day / Environmental Day Camp
Content or Curriculum: Volunteers, Field Experts, Agents 

Inputs: 4-H Agent, Agriculture Agent, leaders
Date: Fall 2022

Audience: Youth
Project or Activity: 4-H NRESci Academy
Content or Curriculum: Agents, Field Experts, 4-H State Specialist 

Inputs: 4-H Agent
Date: 2022 - 2023

Success Stories