Warren County CES

Title:

Youth in Agriculture & Natural Resources 2023

MAP:

Agriculture

Agents Involved:

Janet Turley & Julie Brown

MAJOR PROGRAM 1:

Agriculture

MAJOR PROGRAM 2:

Natural Resources

MAJOR PROGRAM 3:

Camping

MAJOR PROGRAM 4:

Science, Engineering, and Technology

Situation:

Wendell Berry (1990), Kentucky novelist, poet, environmentalist, and farmer, stated that “…eating is an agricultural act” (p.1). Unfortunately, for many, there is a disconnect between the food we eat and where that food comes from. Today’s society lacks understanding regarding agricultural production and processing (Spielmaker and Leising, 2013). The Kentucky 4-H Youth Development Program strives to increase agricultural literacy among youth in Kentucky. The Agricultural Education in Secondary Schools Committee established by the National Research Council (1988) described an agriculturally literate person as one who’s “…understanding of the food and fiber system would include its history and its current economic, social, and environmental significance to all” (p. 8). The National Agriculture Literacy Logic Model defines an agriculturally literate person as one “…who understands and can communicate the source and value of agriculture as it affects our quality of life” (Spielmaker et al., 2014, p. 2). One of the key initiatives in Kentucky 4-H is to increase a young person’s awareness of the impact agriculture has on his/her daily life.

Long-Term Outcomes:

• Youth will engage in entrepreneurial enterprise.
• Youth will gain and maintain employment through life skill development.
• You will be advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems.
• Youth will choose a career path in science, engineering or technology subject matter.
• Youth will use scientific techniques, responsible practices and innovative technologies that will positively sustain the agriculture and natural resources in the home, community and world.
• Youth will engage in community projects related to natural resource conservation.

Intermediate Outcomes:

• Youth will adopt practices to conserve and protect the environment in their home and community that will positively impact natural resources.
• Youth will use problem solving and logical reasoning skills and apply them to environmental issues.
• Youth will demonstrate and share new abilities in agriculture and science, engineering and technology with others.
• Teens will mentor younger 4-H’ers.
• 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.
• Youth will adopt and practice skills that contribute to employability.
• Youth can explain the role of agriculture in daily life to others.
• Youth will set a goal and accomplish it.
• Youth can practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems.

Initial Outcomes:

• Youth will develop an interest in environmental science and sustainable practices and technologies.
• Youth will identify the natural resources that are used within their home and community.
• Youth will be introduced to careers in SET and agriculture
• Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant science, horticulture and animal science.
• Youth will gain and understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems.
• Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision- making, communications, record-keeping, leadership and service.

Evaluation:

Outcome: Youth plan and implement an agriculture/natural resource/science, engineering, & technology project

Indicator: Youth complete an agriculture/natural resource/science, engineering, & technology project

Method: 

4-H Common Measures Experience Survey

Program Indicators

• Number of youth who demonstrated a skill that was learned or improved by participating in 4-H agriculture/natural resource/science, engineering, & technology programming (PRACTICE)        
• Number of youth who gained an understanding of the role of agriculture in the production of food, fiber, and wood products (KOSA)  
• Number of youth who participated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #6 “Is 4-H A place where you get to figure out things for yourself?” (SEEC)
• Number of youth who indicated “yes or usually” to the Common Measures Experience Survey Question #13 “Is 4-H a place where you have a chance to be a leader?” (SEEC)

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 4-H Poultry Project Members

Project or Activity: Poultry Club

Content or Curriculum: Avian Bowl, Poultry Judging, Poultry Exhibition

Inputs: Volunteer time, poultry learning lab, project books, facilities

Date: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Audience: 4-H Horse Project Members

Project or Activity: Horse Club 

Content or Curriculum: Horsemanship, Hippology, Judging, Exhibition, Certified Leaders Curriculum, Showmanship, Horse Judging Manual, Award Recognition

Inputs: Agent’s Time, Judging Classes, Judging Cards, Computer Announcer, Written Tests, Ribbons, Staff Assistant’s Time, volunteer time, horse learning lab, project books, facilities

 Date: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Audience: 4-H Livestock Project Members

 Project or Activity: Livestock Club

 Content or Curriculum: Livestock Volunteer Certification, judging, skillathon, exhibition, meats judging

 Inputs: Volunteer time, livestock learning lab, project books, facilities, livestock CD, live animals

 Date: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Audience:  4-H/FFA Livestock Project Youth

Project or Activity:  SOKY Fair Small & Large Animals

Content or Curriculum: Showmanship, market animal classes

 Inputs: Coordination for each show, volunteers, registration, data entry, results, facilities

 Date: July 2022 – July 2024

Audience: School Aged Youth

Project or Activity: Forestry Field Day

Content or Curriculum: project books, compasses, Biltmore stick

Inputs: Agent’s Time, facilities

Date: Fall 2022

Audience: 4-H Campers

Project or Activity: 4-H Camp/Cloverbud Camp

Content or Curriculum: West KY 4-H Camp Resources 

Inputs:   Agent’s Time, Staff Assistant’s Time, facilities, volunteer time, copies

Date: July 2023

Audience: Elementary School Children

Project or Activity: Embryology

Content or Curriculum: Project book, Chick development chart

 Inputs: Agent’s Time, teacher’s time, incubation supplies, producers

 Date: August 2022 – May 2023

Audience: Warren County 4-H Youth

Project or Activity: 4-H Shooting Sports Club

Content or Curriculum: Shooting Sports Curriculum

Inputs: Volunteer’s time, facilities, 4-H handbook, promotion items, project book

Date: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Audience: 4-H Rabbit Project Members

Project or Activity:  Rabbit Club

Content or Curriculum: Rabbit Curriculum

Inputs:  Volunteer Time, Learning Lab, Project books, facilities, live animals

Date:  July 1, 2022 - June 30,2023

Audience: 4-H Alpaca Project Members

Project or Activity: Alpaca Clubs

Content or Curriculum: Alpaca Curriculum

Inputs: Volunteer time, learning lab, project books, facilities, live animals

Date: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Audience: 4-H Country Ham Project Members

Project or Activity: Country Ham Project

Content or Curriculum: Livestock Volunteer Certification, Country Ham Project Book

Inputs: Volunteer time, facilities

Date: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2023

Audience: 4-H Dog Project Members

Project or Activity: Dog Club

Content or Curriculum: Dog Volunteer Certification, skillathon, exhibition

Inputs: Volunteer time, learning lab, project books, facilities, live animals

Date: July 1, 2022 – June 30, 2024

Success Stories

Extension Program Connects Urban Children to the Farm via the 4-H Alpaca Project

Author: Janet Turley

Major Program: Agriculture

The average American is at least three generations removed from the farm. There is a real need to educate youth about agriculture and provide them with on-farm experiences so that they will appreciate where their food and fiber comes from.Seven years ago, the Warren County 4-H Program piloted the 4-H Alpaca Project by partnering with Alive N’ Fuzzy Alpaca Farm in Rockfield, KY. This project was unique from other 4-H projects in that it provided on-farm experiences for non-farm/urban youth.

Full Story

4-H Leaders Teach Firearm Safety

Author: Janet Turley

Major Program: Volunteer Development

The Warren County 4-H Shooting Sports Program has a long history of a strong and vibrant program with 60-80 enrolled participants and a large group of certified coaches. After the pandemic, many parents were interested in getting their children out of the house and into the great outdoors and found that the 4-H shooting sports program was a perfect fit. In 2022 enrollment in the shooting sports program jumped 43% to 103 participants and in 2023 enrollment increased to 123 participants. This incr

Full Story