Youth Agriculture EducationPlan of Work

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Bracken County CES

Title:
Youth Agriculture Education
MAP:
Agriculture
Agents Involved:
4-H, FCS, ANR
MAJOR PROGRAM 1:
Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum
MAJOR PROGRAM 2:
Making Healthy Lifestyle Choices (general)
Situation:
Kentucky is home to 85,500 farms, tied with Oklahoma as the 4th ranking state in the number of farms (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012). The average farm size in Kentucky is 164 acres, compared to the national average of 421 (National Agricultural Statistics Service, 2012). Between 2007 and 2012, the Bluegrass State had a 6.7% decrease in the number of acres of farmland, which is the greatest percentage decrease any state in the country (Census of Agriculture, 2012). A farm is defined by the United States government as “any place that produced and sold, or normally would produce and sell, $1,000 or more of agricultural products during the census year.” While Kentucky’s population is increasing, the number of people living on farms is decreasing. Therefore, the need exists to educate people, particularly youth, about the impact that it makes on their daily lives, as well as the importance of agriculture to the commonwealth. The top agricultural products produced on Kentucky farms are changing. In 2012, the Top 10 agriculture products in Kentucky were: Broilers, Corn, Horses & Mules, Soybeans, Cattle & Calves, Tobacco, Dairy Products & Milk, Wheat, Hay and Chicken Eggs (United States Department of Agriculture – Kentucky, 2012).
Long-Term Outcomes:
Youth will engage in entrepreneurial enterprise.
Youth will gain and maintain employment resulting from life skill development through 4-H.
Youth will be advocates for agriculture and healthy and sustainable food systems.
Intermediate Outcomes:
Youth will practice and apply skills and knowledge in the production of food and fiber in the areas
of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
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 influence the purchase of Kentucky Proud products.
Youth can practice entrepreneurship skills related to agriculture and food systems.
Initial Outcomes:
Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant
sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.
Youth will gain an understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems.
Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, record-
keeping, leadership and service.
Evaluation:

Initial Outcome:The number of youth who demonstrate a skill that was learned and improved by participating in a 4-H ANR project, program, event or activity.

Indicator: participation, project books, evaluation, 6 hrs. of education completed

Method: completion of above, observation, and youth/volunteer evaluations

Timeline: 2017/2018


Intermediate Outcome: The number of youth that keep production, performance or financial records on their 4-H agriculture projects.

Indicator: record books, evaluation,

Method: observation, completion and continuation of projects,

Timeline: 2017-2018


Long-term Outcome: Number of youth who understands the role of agriculture in the production of food and fiber.

Indicator: records, evaluation, project outcomes, roles in agriculture production

Method: record books, completion of 6hrs. observation,

Timeline: throughout the course of the project 2017-2018

Learning Opportunities:

Audience: 4-H Livestock members

Project or Activity: Monthly meetings

Content or Curriculum: Livestock Cert. materials

Inputs: agent, volunteers, teen leaders

Date: monthly meetings October 2016-June 2017


Audience: 4-H members

Project or Activity: Skill-a-thon (Local Only)

Content or Curriculum: state sponsored materials

Inputs: agent, coaches, volunteers, contests, State Contest

Date: July 2017


Audience: 1st graders in Bracken Co.

Project or Activity: Farm to Table

Content or Curriculum: Farm to School, My Plate materials, Professor Popcorn

Inputs: 4-H/FCS agents, teachers,

Date: 2018


Audience: Elementary Students

Project or Activity:  Raised Bed Gardens

Content or Curriculum:  Just Grow It

Inputs:  4-H, FCS, ANR, Teachers, Farm Bureau

Date:  2017-2018


Audience: Youth

Project or Activity: Biggest watermelon/pumpkin 

Content or Curriculum: UK Resources

Inputs: 4-H, ANR, agents

Date:2017-2018



Success Stories

Youth and Field Research

Author: David Appelman

Major Program: Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum

The Bracken County Extension Service hosted a field day for all of the Bracken County High School Ag Classes to get hands on experience evaluating the Grain Crop at the industrial park.  In order to make the grain project more than just a fund raiser, the host farm store wanted the kids to gain knowledge about growing grain.  Each class was divided up into teams to evaluate the following items, including yield estimate, disease identification and evaluation, weed identification, and in

Full Story

Expanding the Impact of Tobacco Cost Share Funds

Author: David Appelman

Major Program: Sustainable Agriculture

Expanding the Impact of Tobacco Cost Share FundsBracken County has greatly benefitted from the Phase I Cost Share Programs over the last 16 years.Bracken County, due to our tobacco dependency, has received higher payments which producers have invested in various programs at the maximum level for the past 16 year.  With a reduction in overall funds the state received, Bracken County faced a drastic scenario that would affect the number of producers that could receive funds unless change

Full Story

Expanding the Impact of Tobacco Cost Share Funds

Author: Molly Jordan

Major Program: Agriculture 4-H Core Curriculum

Bracken County has greatly benefitted from the Phase I Cost Share Programs over the last 16 years.Bracken County, due to our tobacco dependency, has received higher payments which producers have invested in various programs at the maximum level for the past 16 year.  With a reduction in overall funds the state received, Bracken County faced a drastic scenario that would affect the number of producers that could receive funds unless changes were made. The Bracken County Agriculture

Full Story
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