Extension
It Starts With Us
Fixating the Focus on the Local Food Supply
Elevating Local Food Systems
Ammerman, Conkwright, Veach
Local Food Systems
Horticulture, Commercial
Nutrition and Food Systems General
Volunteer Development
Recent community needs assessment coupled with the global pandemic have shifted consumers focus from large chain grocery stores toward locally sourced items to fulfill their need for food staples.
Consumer demand for locally grown and processed foods continues to climb. Farmers recognize and respond to consumer demand and retaliate by matching with supply.
Farmer's look toward alternative methods of production and sales of off farm products. Farm respond quicker to consumer demands.
Farmers acquire knowledge to understand new and emerging markets. Farmer's also adjust production and marketing practices to reach new consumer populous.
Increase in farm gate revenues, More consumers purchase locally raised foods.
Audience: Cattle Owners
Project or Activity: Building Better Beef
Content or Curriculum: UK Beef IRM
Inputs: Agent and UK website
Date: monthly throughout the year
Audience: Beef Farmers
Project of Activity: Master Cattlemen
Content or Curriculum: UK Beef IRM and UK Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists
Date: Fall 2022
Audience: Goat Producers
Project of Activity: Meat Goat Updates
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications, KSU specialists
Date: March 2023
Audience: Sheep and Goat Farmers
Project of Activity: Small Ruminant Workshop
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications KSU specialists
Date: March 2023
Audience: 4H Livestock Youth
Project of Activity: 4H Youth Livestock Clubs
Content or Curriculum: Getting your Goat, Stepping Out, Showing the Way
Inputs: Dairy Goat Club members and leader
Date: All year Long
Audience: Forage Farmers
Project or Activity: Controlling Weeds in Pastures and Hayfields
Content or Curriculum: UK Agronomy
Inputs: Agent and UK website
Date: March 2023
Audience: Forage Farmers
Project or Activity: Pasture Renovation
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists
Date: Feb 2023
Audience: County Ag Investment Program Farmers
Project of Activity: Hay Storage to increase profits
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists
Date: Fall 2022
Audience: Dairy and Beef Farmers
Project of Activity: Silage Production Update
Content or Curriculum: UK Publications
Inputs: UK publications,
Date: March 2023
Audience: Grain Farmers
Project of Activity: Early Bird Grain Meeting
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists
Date: Jan 2023
Audience: Vegetable Farmers
Project of Activity: Extending the Growing Season
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists
Date: Feb - March 2023
Audience: Vegetable Farmers
Project of Activity: Producers Best Practices Training
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists
Date: Feb 2023
Audience: Farmer’s Markets
Project of Activity: SNAP-Ed, WIC and Senior Coupons
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists
Date: winter 2022 throughout the growing season
Audience: Farmer’s Markets SNAP-Ed
Project of Activity: Sampling
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists
Date: ongoing throughout the year
Audience: 6,7, & 8 Graders
Project of Activity: GCMS Garden
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists, agent and volunteers
Date: March –Sept 2023
Audience: 4-H Youth
Project of Activity: 4-H Horticulture Club
Content or Curriculum: UK/KSU Publications
Inputs: UK publications and specialists, agents and volunteers
Date: March – Oct 2023
Author: Chris Ammerman
Major Program: Local Food Systems
After a brief hiatus 2022 returned the Grant County Farm to Table, an event that showcases local farm products. Since the pandemic consumer choice has moved the needle for demand for locally grown fresh produce, meat and eggs. Supply chain scarcity has pushed consumer focus away from the grocery shelf and toward the farm stand. Local farmers markets have become the consumer’s choice to provide safe, fresh and nutritious food for communities across the state, and Gr
Author: Chris Ammerman
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
The gap that separates generations from their farm roots grows with each passing year and with that increasing gap the knowledge to grow food becomes greater. School gardens provide the opportunity to reconnect children to the knowledge possessed by their ancestors by using food as the link. The magic of agriculture, taking soil and placing seeds in it creates a feeling of accomplishment. School gardens create the opportunity for students to gain gardening knowledge, responsi
Author: Asa Conkwright
Major Program: Home-Based Microprocessor Program
The local food movement continues to grow nationwide with an increase in farmers markets as well as an increase in market vendors. Kentucky is no exception. Part of this growth can be attributed to Kentucky’s Homebased Microprocessing Program. The Homebased Microprocessing Program (HBM) is a unique collaboration with the UK Cooperative Extension Service, the Department of Agriculture, and the Department for Public Health - Food Safety Branch. The program allows Kentucky farmers to produce
Author: Chris Ammerman
Major Program: Beef
The increasing cost of cattle production has made producers take a proactive approach to cutting the costs for carrying unproductive cows for a calendar year. One effort to ensure that cows can be productive is to ensure that they are bred during the proper time of the year. Grant County cattle producers have drawn on current market conditions with the Extension Agents for Agriculture in Grant Counties developed and implemented a series of educational programs on nutrition, evaluatio
