Author: Benjamin Prewitt
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership - ANR
On Saturday, July 9th, 2022 the Whitley County Cooperative Extension Service hosted a community Farmer Appreciation Dinner at our Extension Office in Goldbug. This project was held in conjunction with Whitley County Farm Bureau, Whitley County Cattleman's Association and Whitley County Small Farms Club. Our goal for this event was to create a welcoming environment to draw people to into our office as well as show our appreciation to all of our agriculturists and farmers i
Author: Adam Huber
In December of 2021, many lives across Kentucky were changed forever. As a fierce tornado ripped across the Midwest and through the entire state of Kentucky, it left many homes damaged or completely destroyed, businesses leveled to the ground, people young and old fighting for their lives in hospitals and even many that did not survive. This was a day, December 10th 2021 that we as Kentuckians, will never forget. This ferocious EF4 tornado crashed through the UK Princeton research station leavin
Author: Matthew Chadwick
The Monday morning following the Dec. 10th Tornado the Cattlemen’s group from Daviess County KY brought supplies and their equipment down and cooked and prepared lunches for distribution to tornado victims and workers. I coordinated local volunteers from a variety of our programs, local churches and Murray State University to assist with distribution of the meals. We were unable to set-up in the disaster area because of the lack of electricity, water, and the general concern for safety. Th
Author: Ricky Arnett
A little over five years ago, the Green County Cooperative Extension Service put together a program for its community leaders over the struggles of our small town. This program gave statistics and brought truth to our leaders about the ageing population of Green County, the minimum amount of jobs, our low tax base, and our low income families. No one wants to talk about these issues, but they are real concerns for Green County. Shortly after this meeting, the Green County Cooperative Extens
Author: Trevor Claiborn
Title: KSU Area Extension Agent Assistant Conducts Gardening workshop at National Convention Issue: Since 1925 when black farmers in the U.S. represented 15% of the Ag population to the present where this same group represents a little over 1.4% in the Ag primary operator category, recent national and local events have triggered a greater interest in Ag within this group from a wider range of individuals looking to either get started growing gardens, identify market
Trevor Claiborn Small Farms County Agent Assistant 11008654 Success Story -6/2022Kentucky State University, Area Small Farm Assistant Provides council and assists in coordinating the design and construction of a Community Garden in Food desert in Fayette County KentuckyThe Kentucky State University (KSU) Small Farm Program is an Extension program designed to help farm families with decision-making skills to solve farm and home problems. It includes educational programs that emph
Author: Tad Campbell
With a prolonged worldwide pandemic many facets of day-to-day operations have been changed. Since the winter of 2021, the Mason County Extension Service has been able to hold more in-person programming to meet the needs of local clientele. The agriculture program has offered or worked with local groups to offer over twenty education programs that were held in-person. Some of the topics were Tobacco GAP, BQCA, private pesticide certification, pasture weeds, soil fertili
Author: Jonathan Oakes
The Russell County landscape is home to an assortment of terrains. The county is home to large amounts of farmland, woodlands, streams, rivers and a large lake. Russell County Extension Office held its annual Progressive Farm Safety Day in conjunction with the Progressive Ag Foundation and hosted approximately 2200, 3rd grade students from the county. The farm safety day was also attended by approximately 40 teachers, and community volunteers to help make the day a success.This
Author: Evan Tate
Agricultural Education material is hard for county school systems to afford. Each year budgets get tighter and don’t allow for such specific subject matter to be utilized in classrooms.The Hancock County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with the Hancock County Farm Bureau, Teach Kentucky Ag and the Hancock County Public School System in install an agricultural based curriculum that meets all of Kentucky’s STEM education requirements. Teachers receive at no cost the materials f
Author: Andy Mills
After 2 years of planning and delays because of the pandemic. The 7,500 square feet new addition to the Extension Service is complete. This ANR agent helped evaluate the needs assessment, the design and layout, as well as supervised during the whole development and construction process. All three agents were heavily involved with the whole process - forming a building committee, designing, and decision making during the process. Forty-three building committee and District Board meetings were hel
Author: Douglas Shepherd
Local Farm-City Day event had the planning committee revamped, as well as overall program design. In prior years, the event was hosted on a rotating basis been Extension (rural segment), and the Chamber of Commerce (urban segment). Whoever was hosting, planned the event and tours highlighting their segment of the economy. Since the event was cancelled the previous year due to weather and Covid, the Extension leadership group felt it was a good time to make a change in this 60+
Exercise and Activity for residents of assisted living centers is a necessity for good health. Residents often enjoy have day to day task and these routines can be apart of an exercise regiment that promotes mobility and wards off obesity. Additionally, assisted living centers often operate on tight budgets and are constantly looking for sources of healthy food at an affordable price.The Hancock County Cooperative Extension Service, Audubon Area Community Services and local businesses all
The Buffalo Trace Area Extension Services and Maysville Community and Technical College (MCTC) partnered to host the community event, Farm Family Night. Following the event in 2020, the state made restrictions for gatherings and other protocols due to the COVID pandemic outbreak that lasted well past the 2021 host time for Farm Family Night. Move forward to March of 2022, both groups were eager to host the popular event once again. With many people being very selective to att
Author: Lindie Huffman
“There is no power for change greater than a community discovering what it cares about," according to best-selling leadership author Margaret J. Wheatley. One could argue that one must know oneself and understand their "why" before engaging in their community. Cultivating and growing community through leadership development is a key aspect of being a county extension agent.The Pendleton County Seeds of Change professional development seminar was developed by the Pendleton Co
Author: Lindsay Arthur
Our mission, to make a difference in the lives of Kentucky citizens through research-based education, is fulfilled daily at the Bourbon County Cooperative Extension office by each of our programmatic areas comprised of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Horticulture, Family and Consumer Science, 4-H Youth Development and SNAP Ed. These programs by themselves provide impactful education to their corresponding clientele and reach further horizons when combined. A group effort was achieved as we we
Our first Master Gardener class in Calloway County was in 2015, one of the class participants was a recently retired nurse who claimed to have a "Brown Thumb". Mrs. Betty as she came to be known has developed into one of my most loyal volunteers, however she never felt comfortable teaching or leading a class. This year she decided to give it a try, overcoming her fear of public speaking she lead our hands on pruning sessions. The class has met in 5 different sub groups to do the hands
Author: Tyler Miller
Christmas has always had a very special place in my heart. I have loved the Christmas season for many reasons and one of them being the added people that i get to see and hear from. Christmas of 2021 was no different. While on my week off I had several phone conversations from producers within Lincoln County. They wanted to call me and wish me and my family a very Merry Christmas and that meant the world to me! In the hustle and bustle of Extension you can lose focus on the impact that you are m
Author: Victor Williams
Our western Kentucky farming neighbors suffered devastating losses from the recent tornadoes. Having experienced tornado damages in our own community, we know how difficult it is to pick up the pieces and continue farming operations. It was particularly difficult for Laurel County farmers with livestock because large portions of fencing were destroyed by wind, trees, and debris. Reconstructing fences takes time so containing the livestock was a big problem.Western Kentucky producers suffer
