Extension
It Starts With Us
Protecting the Environment
Natural Resources and the Environment
Jessica Barnes, Jessica Sayre, Shannon Farrell, Shelley Meyer
Water and Soil Quality and Conservation
Natural Resources
Residents are concerned about safety of local water supply from Licking River. County still has a few wells and cisterns that need better maintenance. Building and construction add to soil erosion. Land covered with concrete and black top create further run off. Citizens are becoming more aware of the "Green Conception”. Since 90% of all water humans consume is from ground water, our water must be protected. Most fresh water available to us is ground water (not from rivers and lake sources), therefore Harrison County needs to improve environmental quality by implementation of sound environmental practices.
- Improve landowner management of natural resources.
- Reduction of public health hazards related to use of agricultural pesticides. - Encourage the use of new and developing agriculture methods including the use of GPS - global positioning systems.
- Families are encouraged to recycle, reuse, and reduce, to improve the environment.
Improve environmental quality by use of sound environmental practices resulting in less soil erosion, improved quantity and quality of water.
- Properly dispose of unused farm pesticide, household chemicals and containers.
- Utilize personal safety equipment when using pesticides.
- Promote establishment of riparian buffer zones to reduce soil erosion and reduce flooding damage.
- Increase number of dead livestock pickup to protect air, surface water and ground water sources.
- Youth education opportunities for soils and water conservation protection, natural resources and environmental awareness.
- Practice recycling.
- Demonstrate to the public the possible hazards of pesticides, and other chemicals or compounds to water resources, human health, livestock, wildlife, and pets.
Initial Outcome: Youth display knowledge of proper conservation methods and environmental awareness.
Indicator: Youth apply conservation measures and environment practices in everyday lives
Method: involvement in camps, judging and 4-H projects
Timeline: All Year
Intermediate Outcome: Number of animals picked up by dead animal programs.
Indicator: New and returning participants, practices adopted
Method: Yearly report of number of dead animals picked up
Timeline: Year Round
Intermediate Outcome: Number of producers receiving pesticide certification
Indicator: New and returning participants
Method: Number of participants attending certification classes
Timeline: Year Round
Long-term Outcome: Number of people participating in recycling practices and projects
Indicator: New and returning participants, practices adopted.
Method: Observation, oral and written evaluations, adoption of practices, used oil collected, and pesticide containers returned.
Timeline: July and September
Audience: Cynthiana/Harrison County community members
Project or Activity: Promoting city/county recycling program
Content or Curriculum: Reduce waste, recycle, reuse waste, used tire disposal, pesticide container disposal
Inputs: extension staff, Cynthiana city departments
Date: Year Round
Audience: Community members
Project or Activity: Extension Homemaker Environment & Safety Programs, FCS and Ag Newsletters
Content or Curriculum: recycling, timely educational materials
Inputs: FCS Homemaker Environment and Safety committee, Agents
Date: 8 times a year
Audience: 4-H members, community members
Project or Activity: Water Quality and Natural Resources Awareness
Content or Curriculum: Protect ground and surface water, 4-H Curriculum, Project Wet, Project Wild, Ground Water Model, promote water conservation
Inputs: Agents, UK Extension Specialists, volunteers
Date: Year Round
Audience: community members, Homemakers, 4-H members
Project or Activity: Go Green Education
Content or Curriculum: Reduce, Recycle, Reuse, use of cloth carryout bags at point of purchase, and green cleaning. Use of environmentally friendly products in home construction and home furnishings.
Inputs: Extension agents, specialists, chamber of commerce
Date: Year round
Audience: Farmers, producers, homeowners
Project or Activity: Pesticide Certification Training, Agricultural and paint container collection
Content or Curriculum: Environmental protection training
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, Partner with local pesticide dealers
Date: Year Round
Audience: Local farmers
Project or Activity: Dead Animal Disposal
Content or Curriculum: Sanitation, protect water resources, promote on-farm composting, cooperation with the county
Inputs: Countryside Industries
Date: Year Round
Audience: Land owners
Project or Activity: Wildlife Management and Control
Content or Curriculum: Personal and environmental protection. Reduced property and crop damage. Reduced interactions between population and unwanted wild animals, buzzards, coyotes, snakes and insects.
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, Agents, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife
Date: Year Round
Audience: 4-H members
Project or Activity: UK 4-H/Harrison County Soil Conservation District Soils judging
Content or Curriculum: 4-H Soils Judging Project
Inputs: UK Extension Specialists, Harrison County Conservation District, volunteers
Date: April-Aug
Audience: 4-H members
Project or Activity: Summer 4-H Camps, 4-H Shooting Sports, 4-H Horse Camps, Environmental Camps and Cloverbud Camp
Content or Curriculum: Safety, Environmental Resource Source, Recreation,. KY State Parks and Recreation, KY 4-H Specialists
Inputs: 4-H volunteers, paid staff
Date: July - June
Author: Shannon Farrell
Major Program: Natural Resources
Many requests for overnight 4-H environmental camp were made by 4-Hers and teachers in the months following Covid-19 restrictions. Starting the 2022-23 program year, the Harrison County 4-H Public Relations Officers accompanied 4-H Agent to the school board meeting for a presentation on 4-H Environmental Camp and request for approval to offer the overnight option once again to classes. Following the round of applause and granted approval, the Superintendent concluded our item with “have a
Author: Jessica Barnes
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Hinkston Creek has been identified as a high nutrient-yielding watershed by Kentucky’s 2021 Nutrient Reduction Strategy. Many farmers in the watershed are part-time operators with limited time and resources, and some are new to utilizing conservation practices. University of Kentucky Extension specialists partnered with the Harrison County Extension ANR agent and Bluegrass Greensource to deliver a farmer-led watershed leadership training to promote farmer engagement in the watershed. The T
