Strengthening Agriculture Production, Management, and Marketing SkillsPlan of Work

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Oldham County CES

Title:
Strengthening Agriculture Production, Management, and Marketing Skills
MAP:
Strengthening Agriculture Production, Management, and Marketing Skills
Agents Involved:
Agriculture/ Natural Resources Agent, Kelly Woods
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Beef
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Equine
MAJOR PROGRAM 3:
Forages
MAJOR PROGRAM 4:
Agriculture
Situation:

Farms make up a little less than half of the land in Oldham County. Farms here include a wide variety of enterprises, including grain crops, livestock, horses, hay and pasture, nurseries, greenhouses, poultry, fish and shellfish. With growth of Farmers Markets and Community Supported Agriculture locations, there has also been growth in vegetable, sheep and poultry production over the last 10 years, according to the 2017 Ag Census. Data gathered in the 2019 Oldham County Assessment shows that county residents are concerned with the need for more farm-related jobs, more market opportunities for farmers and better sustainability of family farms. Residents also believe that there needs to be more awareness and support for agriculture and agribusinesses.

The Oldham County Extension Council and Ag Advisory Councils reviewed county needs and identified Agriculture Production, Business Management and Marketing as top priorities in educational programming. These skills are necessary for producers to be financially viable individually, and to support the county's economy. Production programs also meet the needs of many residents who desire to produce their own food.


Long-Term Outcomes:

Participants will experience long-term viability in farming.

Participants will reduce expenses and/or increase profits of farm operations.

Youth will become agriculturally literate.

Intermediate Outcomes:

Participants will implement recommended production practices to successfully produce food and agriculture products.

Participants will implement recommended forage management practices to increase utilization of forages and reduce dependency on purchased feeds and hay.

Participants will use information about local market opportunities to sell products.

Youth will utilize and practice life skills in agricultural projects, clubs, and life situations.


Initial Outcomes:

Participants will indicate understanding of research-based production practices.

Participants will recognize the importance of forage management practices.

Participants will have increased awareness of innovative marketing opportunities.

Youth will develop valuable life skills, including decision making, critical thinking, and wise use of resources relating to agriculture.


Evaluation:

Initial Outcome: Youth will develop valuable life skills, including decision making, critical thinking, and wise use of resources relating to agriculture.

Indicator:  Youth participate in an agriculture related project.
Method: 4-H Common Measure Experience Survey
Timeline:  Following completion of programs

 

Initial Outcome:   Participants will indicate understanding of research-based production practices.  Participants will recognize the importance of forage management practices.   Participants will have increased awareness of new marketing opportunities.

Indicator:   Participants self-reporting

Method:  Post-program evaluations (use UK provided evaluations when applicable)

Timeline:  Following completion of programs


Intermediate Outcome: Youth will utilize and practice life skills in agricultural projects, clubs and life situations.

Indicator:  Youth complete agriculture related project.
Method: 4-H Common Measure Experience Survey
 Timeline: June 2024


Intermediate Outcome:   Participants will implement recommended production practices to successfully produce food and agriculture products.   Participants will implement recommended forage management practices to increase utilization of forages and reduce dependency on purchased feeds and hay.  Participants will use information about local market opportunities to sell products.

Indicator:  Producers self-reporting

Method:  Post-program evaluations (use UK provided evaluations when applicable)

Timeline:  3 – 9 months post-program



 Long-term Outcome: Youth will become agriculturally literate.

Indicator: Youth plan and implement an agricultural related project.
Method: 4-H Common Measure Experience Survey
 Timeline:  June 2024


Long-term Outcome:   Producer participants will experience long-term viability in farming.  Participants will reduce expenses and/or increase profits of farm operations.

Indicator:  Producers self-reporting

Method:  Post-program evaluations (use UK provided evaluations when applicable)

Timeline:  3 – 12 months post-program

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 4-H Members age 9 to 18

Project or Activity: Horse Club Educational sessions

Content or Curriculum: Horse Educational Kit, Content identified by 4-H Club

Inputs: 4-H Staff, 4-H Certified Volunteers

Date: July 2024- June 2025

 

Audience: 4-H Members age 9 to 18

Project or Activity: Dog Club Educational sessions

Content or Curriculum: Dog Educational Kit, Content identified by 4-H Club

Inputs: 4-H Staff, 4-H Certified Volunteers

Date: July 2024- June 2025

 

Audience: 4-H Members age 9 to 18

Project or Activity: Poultry Club Educational sessions

Content or Curriculum: Poultry Educational Kit, Content identified by 4-H Club

Inputs: 4-H Staff, 4-H Volunteers

Date: July 2024- June 2025

 

Audience: 4-H Members Fourth Grade

Project or Activity: Chick Incubation

Content or Curriculum: Poultry Educational Kit

Inputs: 4-H Staff, Oldham County Schools

Date: July 2024- June 2025


Audience: New/Beginning Farmers

Project or Activity: Tractor & Equipment Maintenance Workshops

Content or Curriculum: UK Extension information; Equipment Dealers’ Materials

Inputs: UK Ag Engineering Specialists; Agriculture Agent, Local Farm or Business Shop

Date: November 2024 - January 2025


Audience:  Cattle Producers

Project or Activity:  Master Cattleman

Content or Curriculum:  UK Extension Master Cattleman Program

Inputs:  UK Extension Specialists, Local ANR Agents

Date:  Fall 2024 - Spring 2025

 

Audience:  Producers and Consumers; Beginning Farmers

Project or Activity:  Oldham County Ag Connection (Agriculture Education for producers and consumers; concentration on local food, plus all Oldham County Agriculture Activity)

Content or Curriculum:  UK/KSU Extension materials; Producer Stories; Ag Census Data; KY Department of Agriculture resources

Inputs:  Agriculture Agent, Local Producers, Local Experts/Guest Speakers

Date:  Quarterly meetings beginning Fall 2024 (Pastures, Equine Industry, Taxes, Agency Resources)

 

Audience: Cattle Producers

Project or Activity: Oldham County Cattlemen's Association meetings - all meetings include educational speaker

Content or curriculum: UK Extension and other related agency information

Inputs: Agriculture Agents, UK Specialists, Farm Hosts, Other local experts

Date:  Meets Quarterly 2024-2025

 

Audience: Cattle Producers

Project or Activity: Beef Quality & Care Assurance Certification/Cattle Handling and Care Certification

Content or curriculum: UK Extension materials and videos

Inputs: Agriculture Agent

Date:  November 2024

 

Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Private Pesticide Applicator Training/Certification

Content or curriculum: UK Extension materials

Inputs: Agriculture Agent

Date: January 2025, February 2025, March 2025

 

Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Produce Best Practices Training

Content or curriculum: UK Extension materials

Inputs: Agriculture Agent

Date: March 2025

 

Audience: Farmers

Project or Activity: Farmers Market Scale Certification

Content or curriculum: KY Dept of Agriculture Farmers Market Manual

Inputs: Agriculture Agent, KDA Scale Inspector

Date: March 2025


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