Extension
It Starts With Us
McCracken County Horticulture Education Outreach
Horticulture Education
Alsip, Anderson, Bell, Dodson, Osborne, Hank
Master Gardener
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Local Food Systems
Chemical Management
Cooperative Extension Service (CES) Horticulture Agent is regularly asked about issues encountered in the landscape and garden.
Extension Master Gardeners (EMG) are needed as community volunteers to help with horticulture education due knowledge gained through training and experiences in the EMG program.
There are needs and demands for locally-grown food.
4. CES is responding to the needs to prevent the misuse of pesticides to protect the environment and the health of the applicators.
Individuals participating in McCracken County CES will apply knowledge gained to benefit themselves, families, and environment. This will have a direct impact on the community.
An increased number of McCracken County residents participate in Cooperative Extension Service programs and services.
Youth and Adults recognize the services offered by McCracken CES.
Long-term Outcome:
Indicator: The number of individuals and families and individuals with Commercial Pesticide Licenses (CPA) report that they have implemented what they have learned from McCracken CES outreach.
Method: Surveys, personal interviews, virtual interaction, reports
Timeline: July to June
Intermediate Outcome:
Indicator: The number of residents and workers with CPA licenses, including active volunteers who participate in or gain information from McCracken CES programs increases.
Method: Personal interviews, interviews of and meetings with volunteers
Timeline: July to June
Initial Outcome:
Indicator: The number of residents, CPA license holders, and schools that contact McCracken County Cooperative Extension for programming needs and education increase.
Method: Call log records, calendars, record of office visits, record of virtual interaction
Timeline: Ongoing
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Consumer questions and answers
Content or Curriculum: Agent training, UK/KSU publications
Inputs: All agents, volunteers and UK Specialists, virtual trainings and meetings
Date: July to June
Audience: McCracken County residents, Paducah/McCracken County Schools (non-commercial), commercial horticulture producers
Project or Activity: Soil-sampling coupons as described by Extension District Board
Content or Curriculum: Soil sampling coupons for McCracken County residents to get up to 7 free basic soil tests with an assigned value limited to $50.00 per resident, soil sample analysis, UK/KSU publications.
Inputs: Agents, UK/KSU Specialists, virtual trainings and meetings
Date: Ongoing
Audience: Adults and Youth
Project or Activity: Educational Programs, including but not limited to: Toolbox Series, Virtual Flower Show
Content or Curriculum: Agent training, UK/KSU publications
Inputs: UK and KSU Agents, volunteers and UK /KSU Specialists
Date: July to June
Audience: Adults
Project or Activity: Training of EMG of 12 sessions of approximately 2 hours in length. Sessions taught by Agents, Specialists or local experts, EMG
Curriculum:•Cooperative Extension/ Volunteerism •Basic Botany. •Soils and Fertility. •Plant Pathology. •Entomology•Pesticides, IPM and Pesticide safety.
Additional Topics defined by the McCracken County Agent
•Annual & Perennial Flowers
•Woody Plants•Fruits
•Vegetables
•Landscape Design•Interior Plants
•Organic Gardening
•Water Quality
•Turfgrass
•Others; Hands-on activities
•Plant Identification
•Insect and Disease identification
•Field trips as appropriate
Content or Curriculum: County Offices and Ky Cooperative Extension
Inputs: •Staff time – Extension Agents, Specialists
•Extension Master Gardener Volunteers
•Funding – Fees from training and other courses; local grants and in-kind support
•Training materials—KY EMG Training Manual; PowerPoint Presentations; purchased books and resources; Extension publications; Tests and quizzes shared by county agents
•Internet access through eXtension and potential access and use of eXtension’s Ask an Expert
•Social media tools including blogs, Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr, Google Maps; State, regional and national EMG conferences and tour opportunities
Date: Ongoing
Author: Mary Dossett
Major Program: Master Gardener
In March 2021, Mary Hank started as the Horticulture Assistant under the Horticulture Agent, Kathy Wimberley. Mary and Kathy put together several raised beds with the help of the maintenance man at the time. Fast forward to August 2, 2022, Mary Hank taught a class at the Extension Office called Toolbox: Wicking Raised Beds. There was about thirty people in attendance included several Master Gardeners. The program was also recorded and added to a YouTube page for a larger audience rea
Author: Mary Dossett
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
On October 12th, 2022, Horticulture Agent, Mary Hank, taught a class for kindergarten and first graders at Lone Oak Elementary School. Mary Hank started out the program by asking the children if they knew what horticulture meant. Several guessed teaching and Mary Hank informed them it meant she works with plants and gardening. Mary Hank showed the students different types of seeds and how they are different shapes and colors. Each sample container of seeds had a picture on the top so the student
Author: Mary Dossett
Major Program: Master Gardener
During Fall 2022, The horticulture agent taught the Master Gardener training to willing participants. Mrs. Hines, who completed the training, reached out to the Horticulture Agent about volunteer hour requirements. Th agent told her of possible ways to earn her hours. Mrs. Hines then informed the agent how the training class encouraged her to start up a community garden at the a local high school in town. Her daughter had attended the high school. She is also involved in a garden club in town an
Author: Mary Dossett
Major Program: Community Gardens and Horticulture Therapy
Troop 7 Horticulture Merit Badge Class On Friday March 10th, the horticulture agent instructed Troop 7 boy scouts on how to obtain their Horticulture merit badge. The class consisted of 10 boy scouts and six adults present. The horticulture agent started the class with a presentation on gardening basics such as how to start a garden, gardening glossary, how to maintain your garden, gardening risks, and how to start a compost bin. The merit badge requires the boy s
