Extension
It Starts With Us
Educating the community on issues that lead to a better Fulton County.
Strengthening Leaders In the Community
Ben Rudy, Bernita Cheirs, Anna Morgan
Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Local Food Systems
Food Preparation and Preservation
Community Health Needs Assessment
Understanding how our daily choices impact our lives, home, community, and environment is vital to preserving our natural resources and lead to a healthy community for the present and future generations. These choices begin in the home. Gardening, lawn and landscape care effect family and community. By working in garden or yard physical activity improves the participant’s health, relieve stress, and can provide a healthy food source. Over time, the decrease of obesity and health concerns reduce medical bills and beautifies the community, thus encouraging business to move into the area.
According to the EPA, 100 million pounds of active ingredients from pesticides were applied in home and gardens throughout the United States. Each year, over $11 billion is spent on household and garden pest control products. Proper use of pesticides by homeowners and commercial operations is imperative and directly impact our environment including groundwater sources. The need to apply pesticides increases when plant care/selection best practices are not followed. With Fulton County’s location on the Mississippi River, the decision our homeowner’s make have an effect on the rest of the Mississippi River Communities downstream from us.
With Fulton County's unique geographical location an being remotely located from the highly populated cities in Kentucky makes the county isolated from various essential resources when and if a natural disaster happens. Recent events like the Ice Storm of 2009, Flood of 2010, the Tornado's in 2014, and the Covid-19 pandemic has made impacts on the county and it's citizens. Preparedness is key to remaining calm through on of these event that may take weeks or months to recover from. To aid in this having the essentials for basic necessities for everyday life is critical. (Food, Water, Shelter) Financial management is also key to relieve unwanted stress on individuals and families.
To improve the environmental quality in the home and landscape throughout Fulton County.
To create safe homes within environments that promote and support the physical and mental well-being of families throughout the life-cycle.
To improve the built and natural environment.
To increase active and healthy lifestyles.
Home owners will implement UK soil tests and recommendations.
Home owners will implement recommended practices while applying pesticides.
Homeowners will implement environmentally conscious decisions regarding home landscape maintenance.
Homeowners will implement environmentally conscious decision regarding home energy use and conservation practices.
Youth will practice being green by implementing one or more practice related to conservation and recycling.
Home consumers will utilize researched based information to properly apply best practices including proper plant selection, proper cultural practices.
Producers and consumers will aspire to form positive opinions about water quality and waste management.
Producers and consumers will gain knowledge on safe chemical usage pertaining to weed, disease and insect control.
Homeowners will adopt landscaping practices that can improve the health and appearance of lawn and gardens while protecting and preserving natural resources.
Youth will learn the importance of being green.
Homeowners will start their own gardens and taking care of their lawns and landscapes.
Initial Outcome: Increase knowledge of home horticulture topics
Indicator: Increase in contacts with the office regarding horticulture
Method: Office Logs
Timeline: Program Year
Initial Outcome: Increase of garden in Fulton County.
Indicator: Increase in participation in Town and County Days
Method: Agent Observations
Timeline: Program Year
Intermediate Outcome: Homeowners will adopt landscaping practices that protect and preserve our natural resources
Indicator: Participants will indicate an increased knowledge change when evaluated at the end of the program
Method: Retrospective survey; Follow-up survey, Agent Observations
Timeline: Program Year
Intermediate Outcome: Producers/home owners will utilize information gained to make good decisions regarding variety selection, chemical usage, and plant production practices.
Indicator: self-reported changes of behavior/site visit observations
Method: pre-post surveys
Timeline: Program Year
Audience: Homeowners
Activity: Landscape maintenance and gardening videos
Content or Curriculum: Supplied by agents and specialists
Inputs: facilities, staff, volunteers; county funding
Date: Program Year
Audience: Homeowners
Project or Activity: Soil Testing
Content or Curriculum: UK Soil and Manure Test Recommendations
Inputs: Agent Time
Date: Program Year
Audience: Homeowners
Project or Activity: Diagnostic Services
Content or Curriculum: UK Diagnostic Services recommendations
Inputs: Agent Time
Date: Program Year
Audience: Youth
Activity: Youth Gardening
Content or Curriculum: Gardening Series, Learn Grow Eat & Go Curriculum
Input: Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (Agents, staff, and specialists), Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Natural Resource Conservation Service, Local Volunteers
Date: Spring/Summer 2023
Audience: Fulton County Producers and Homeowners
Project or Activity: Newsletter, News Articles, Facebook, emails, etc
Content or Curriculum: UK and other resource material
Inputs: Agent Time
Date: Program Year
Audience: Fulton County Producers
Project or Activity: PAT Training
Content or Curriculum: PAT Program
Inputs: Agent Time
Date: Annually
Audience: Adults and youth
Project or Activity: Food Preservation
Content or Curriculum: Various UK Lessons
Inputs: FCS, Homemakers, 4-H
Date: Summer 2024
Audience: State and Local Agencies, Businesses, Volunteer Groups
Project or Activity: Fulton Co LEPC Meetings and Emergency Management Meetings
Content or Curriculum: UK Resources
Inputs: Agent Time
Date: Program Year
Author: Bernita Cheirs
Major Program: Substance Use and Mental Health – 4-H Youth Development
According to (NIH) the National Institute of Drug Abuse website, statistics for 2022 showed twelve percent of eighth graders, twenty-point-five percent of tenth graders, and twenty-seventy point three percent of twelfth graders reported vaping nicotine in the past year. The curriculum 4-H Health Rocks was introduced to the freshman health class in an effort to reduce tobacco, alcohol, and drug use. 4-H has worked for decades to help youth develop skills such as communicating with others, be
Author: Anna Morgan
Major Program: Community Leadership Development
On the average 76 % of all the land in the four river counties is in crop production. Three of the four counties Ballard, Carlisle, and Fulton County have over 33 million in average crop sales. Hickman County sells over 56 million in crop sales. In all four counties, there is an average of 24.75% female farm operators. Our program this year for the Women in Ag Conference was to concentrate on Women’s Leadership in Agriculture-presented by Dr. Kristie Guffey. J
Author: Benjamin Rudy
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership - ANR
The Fulton County Agricultural and Natural Resources Agent has worked with the Fulton County Long-term Recovery Committee in assisting the families of the Cayce Community in rebuilding their homes that were damaged or destroyed by the December 10th, 2021 tornado. The Fulton County Long Term Recovery Committee as work with numerous vendors, organizations, churches, and charities. Seven homes had to be completely rebuilt, 4 modular homes brought in, along with 50 house repaired. E
Author: Benjamin Rudy
Major Program: Economic Development and Workforce Preparation - ANR
One billion dollar impact and $359,967,000 worth of products sold across 960 farms- WAVE AG Day highlights agriculture in Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, and Hickman County. After catastrophic rainfall flooding fields and roads, we had to change our regular way of doing things to continue with WAVE Ag Day for 2023. The event had to be moved to the conference building at Columbus State Park. The 6th year for the event, River Counties WAVE AG Day, took place on July 21 from 7:30
Author: Anna Morgan
Major Program: Family Development General
The mission of the Governor’s Office of Early Childhood is to provide leadership and direction for the Commonwealth with the goal of maintaining a comprehensive and sustainable prenatal to age five early childhood educational system that ensures a strong foundation for all children. The Four River Counties Regional Collaborative has provided high quality early childhood education for over 20 years in Ballard, Carlisle, Fulton, and Hickman counties. The Best Start Family Event was created w
