Author: Phillip Long
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Since we use these stories as a resource for multiple requests, don’t restrict Success Stories only to traditional Extension appointments and activities. Any accomplishments and efforts that are noteworthy may be included.The Ag Agent in Jefferson County recently received a call from a greenhouse manager regarding vegetable plants that appeared to have some type of herbicide damage. The manager informed me that there haven’t been any herbicide applications applied to any of thei
Author: Carol Hinton
The Farmers Market began like most years, but the struggles of finding good source of products to be sold, has led to an increase in interest to sell at the market in 2023.The market accepts WIC and Senior Food Instruments or in 2022 SoliMarket produce cards for the first time as well as $2,000 in Kentucky Double Dollars to be handed out to eligible recipients.After a successful 2022, the Extension Service was asked to conduct the delivery of the 2023 Senior Food Instrument distribution. I
Author: Jonathan Larson
I was a part of the high tunnel Extension team that led this two-part opportunity for Kentucky growers. We offered new farmers the chance to join us initially through webinars to learn about the basics of high tunnel agriculture. I specifically taught on integrated pest management inside of high tunnels, covering pest prevention, monitoring, and management tips. Farmers were then invited to join us in person at one of three in person field days spread across the state (Morgan, Franklin, and Muhl
Author: Regina Utz
Start of Trimble County Farmers’ MarketIn January, County Judge Executive John Ogburn contacted Regina Utz, Trimble County Agriculture and Natural Resources agent about starting a farmers’ market. Regina had already been in the works of planning a farmers' market after talking with the Agriculture Advisory council about some needs in the county. Trimble County has had two other farmers’ market attempts in the past. From the beginning she knew that there needed to be a
Raising the Steaks and ChopsEducating local livestock producers is a high priority in Trimble, Shelby, Henry, and Oldham Counties. According to the 2017 Census of Agriculture, total beef, swine, sheep and goat animal sales yearly in the combined counties totals more than $32 million, emphasizing the need for livestock producers to take herd management and marketing decisions seriously. Increasing consumer demand for locally sourced protein and the participating counties’ proximi
Author: Jason Phillips
The Extension Service along with the Agriculture Advisory Council in Simpson County work hard to promote local food systems. Local foods are very nutritious and taste better due to freshness. People can make personal relationships with the farmers that produce these products and learn more about the overall food production process. Also, buying local makes a positive impact on the local economy. Many studies have shown that those local food dollars are often spent again l
Author: Sarah Geurkink
Sarah Geurkink led a 2-part virtual coffee chat series about the University of Kentucky’s (UK) Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Voucher Program, in May and June: Part 1 on May 22 featured Richard Amos (UK Chief Benefits Officer). Richard shared about the considerations that went into his decision to fund UK's CSA Voucher program, including how the program fits into the larger objectives of a good benefits package (recruiting and retaining employees); how it advances UK&r
Author: Lynn Blankenship
While Metcalfe County has several Dollar Stores and one IGA, the produce variety available is very limited, of poor quality, and is very expensive. The Metcalfe County Cooperative Extension Agents for FCS and ANR, started the Metcalfe County Farmers Market (MCFM) in 2008, as a community and economic development activity to develop a local foods system, with a May - September market season. A secondary goal was for MCFM to serve as an outlet for nutrition education programs, where par
Author: M. Elizabeth Coots
The local food movement continues to grow throughout the Commonwealth, especially those starting or expanding upon their business. Possibly the most important aspect of selling food is the safety of handling and preparing it before selling to ensure customers receive a safe product. The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service is well aligned to provide support and training for those operative value-added businesses, especially for small business owners. The Shelb
Author: Sharon Flynt
Research shows that people who garden are likely to improve both physical and mental health, as well as are more apt to eat more fruit, vegetables, and herbs when they grow them themselves. To encourage more home-prepared meals and grow your own gardening, the Scott County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences and Agent Horticulture worked together to host the workshop Savor the Flavor: Cooking with Oils, Herbs, and Spices.The Horticulture agent focused on successful
The Metcalfe County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences Education, conducted a spring 2022 Program Advisory Council meeting with ten program stakeholder representatives, in anticipation of hiring a new Nutrition Education Program Assistant. This organizational meeting resulted in a NEP program partner contact list, potential programs and events for partnering in 2022/23, and a tentative schedule for program partner site visits that occurred with this Agent and new program assi
Author: Leann Martin
Covid-19 was a huge eye-opener for so many people when it came to the availability of food, especially when quality and safety of the food available was in question. Educating families on the fresh food available to them locally, while encouraging family engagement, has been a driving force in the development of Logan County Extension Services’ Sweet Summer Time at The Farmers’ Market program. It is a community event, held at the Logan County Extension Complex in conjunction with the
Author: Lorilee Kunze
There is a growing interest in our community to cultivate your own food and become more sustainable. There is also an interest by many, in mushrooms in particular. People want to know how to identify mushrooms and how to forage for them safely. We receive a lot of questions, as agents, about how to grow your own mushrooms at home. With the increased interest in mushrooms over the last year, the Agriculture and Horticulture programs decided it would be an excellent opportu
Author: Linda Hieneman
Jim and Brenda Fields representing Sweet Bee Gardens The Greenup County Farmers Market was established in 2005 with farmer vendors only. As the market grew and became more established in the community, some local artisans became interested in participating as vendors. At first, there was some hesitation on the part of farmers about expanding the focus of agricultural economy into the creative economy. Because of the leadership, encouragement, and modeling of team work from the Ag Agent, FCS
Author: Amy Aldenderfer
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program provides eligible low-income seniors with redeemable vouchers for fresh, unprocessed local fruits, vegetables, honey, and herbs at approved Farmer’s Markets. This program helps improve nutrition for low-income seniors, by providing access to fresh fruits and vegetables. The program also increases local farm sales and encourages individuals to shop at the local Farmers Market. The voucher sys
The nine-year collaboration continues between the Hardin County Farmers’ Market, the Hardin County Cooperative Extension Service and the Lincoln Trail Area Master Gardeners.The Master Gardeners provide samples, recipes and information to the shoppers at the Hardin County Farmer’s Market once a month through the growing/selling season. The Master Gardeners prepare two recipes from the Kentucky Proud Plate It Up! Series. Then, pass out samples to the patrons of the Market, encouraging
Author: Chadwick Conway
The majority of families in Knott County rely heavily on raising gardens in order to supplement their food needs throughout the year. The rest, who are unable to garden, depend on the farmers market. Both use the produce, consisting of fruits and vegetables, to preserve and supply food for their families enjoyment and nourishment. During the catastrophic July flood, the extension office received numerous calls about families losing their gardens. Each call was a request to discover if finan
Author: Shane Bogle
The many supply chain issues during the Covid 19 pandemic made many normally reliable food products unavailable or in limited quantities for months. The increase in interest in more local based food products was realized at the Caldwell County Extension Office. Small beef operations in Kentucky have always struggled with staying profitable while at the mercy of livestock auction prices only. For the past few years, several members of Caldwell/Lyon Cattlemen’s Association have w
