Author: Adam Thomas
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership - ANR
The gap between the average consumer and their connection to production agriculture has grown to three to four generations removed from the farm. In recent years production agriculture has become under scrutiny for common practices and its environmental impact. As a result the need to advocate for agriculture has become a focus for many commodity organizations at the local, state, and national level. LaRue county has become a high growth area due to economic development with in
Author: Stacy White
With a full staff, the Whitley County Extension office needed more space for meetings and storage. An adjoining 10 acre property with a brick house and two large metal buildings became available. Due in part to the relationship between the ANR agent and the property owner, an opportunity to purchase the property was presented to the Whitley County Extension District Board. An agreement was reached and the deal closed. The Whitley County Extension office gained three meeti
Author: Lindie Huffman
### Success Story: The Impact of the Pendleton County Farm Tour in Its Second YearIn its inaugural year, the Pendleton County Farm Tour welcomed 167 curious visitors who embarked on a journey through the heart of our agricultural community. The success and enthusiasm generated by that first tour laid a strong foundation, which only grew in its second year, attracting 178 individuals eager to experience the diversity and richness of Pendleton County's farming landscape.The slight increase in
Author: Jason Vaughn
The problem: Children need hands-on activities in Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math (STEAM) to reinforce classroom lessons. The educational program response- A series of hands-on activities were focused on the science of tools and automation. Employees from Toyota presented an exhibit focused on Karakuri, a Japanese term for mechanic devices to assist with tasks with limited or no electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic power sources. Also the students used a hand crank
Author: Regina Utz
On March 7th, 2024, Regina Utz hosted the first Celebrating Women in Agriculture at the Trimble County Extension Office. The purpose of this event was to help encourage, educate, and introduce women throughout the county and surrounding areas. There are a lot of women getting more and more involved in agriculture. During this program, we had two speakers that talked about their journeys in agriculture. They spoke of hardships, goals, and how they overcome challenges to make themselves better.The
Author: Beau Neal
The public's connection to agriculture is being lost more and more each year. The younger generation isn't as "tied" to the land as they once were, and their knowledge of agriculture and our food/fiber supply will continue to regress if we don't educate them. For this reason, we planned a Farm Day for the Young Leadership group from Woodford County High School. Partnering with teachers at WCHS, we planned a farm day consisting of two educational farm stops in the comm
Author: Joseph Ray
To help the Cooperative Extension Service reach new audiences, the ANR Agent developed a hands-on educational workshop for Sausage Making after receiving many inquiries about meat and processing. The Boyle County ANR Agent spoke on many topics before the workshop such as food safety, types of sausages, and the functions of ingredients, along with the recipe for the workshop. Participants made pork breakfast sausage using equipment and methods suitable for the home while actively following food s
Author: Garrard Coffey
The Rockcastle Cooperative Extension partnered with the Conservation District, Farm Bureau, Rockcastle Cattleman’s, and the Rockcastle County School Board to provide an Agriculture awareness lunch for school board employees. Members form each organization help to cook and serve the lunches and raise awareness of local farmers and agriculture organizations.Six hundred meals are served this day and each individual is exposed to agriculture in our community. Kentucky Cattle
Author: Robert Kirby
According to the University of Kentucky Community Needs Assessment Survey results, strengthening/supporting the local food and agriculture industry is listed as a top priority indicator. To address this need, Knox County community members were educated of the importance and development of local food/local grown products/markets and the agriculture industry, the agriculture agent and FCS agent provided 3 educational opportunities with transportation provided to visit a local dairy farm, app
Author: Chelsea Sapp
Marion House Adult Daycare Agriculture DayMay 31,2024 The problemThe Marion House Adult Daycare is lacking funds to have meaningful and impactful educational programs for its participants. The educational program responseThey requested more agriculture programming and nutrition programming. Our office NEP assistant and I have collaborated to deliver both agriculture programming and nutritional programming at their adult daycare location in Lebanon. The participants/target au
Author: Jason Phillips
According to the latest census of agriculture only 2% of Americans feed the other 98% of the population. It becomes increasingly important to educate the public about local foods systems, agritourism and generally increase awareness about agriculture. Therefore, the Simpson County Ag Advisory Council identified the need to host a farm tour focusing on education for Simpson County residents. The farm tour took place on a Saturday to accommodate the majority of resident's wor
Author: Benjamin Rudy
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: Evan Tate
Small farms who raise niche crops and small scale produce are often at a disadvantage when marketing their products on a regional scale. Additionally, small operations often do not have the facilities to further process crops toward a market ready value added convenience item to further drive sales and profitability.The Hancock Co Cooperative Extension Service has invested significant time in gathering resources for small farm operations so that these entities could move further toward sustainab
Author: Jonathan Oakes
In the heart of rural Russell County, Kentucky, lies a community deeply rooted in agriculture. With fields stretching as far as the eye can see and families relying on farming for their livelihoods, safety in this environment is paramount. Recognizing the importance of educating the next generation on farm safety practices, Russell County hosts an annual Farm Safety Day. This event brings together 250 eager students and 50 dedicated adult volunteers to learn, share, and cultivate a culture of sa
Author: Gregory Drake
A community cannot thrive without good leadership. The Butler County Extension Service offered a leadership development workshop for leaders and potential leaders who wanted to increase their knowledge of parliamentary procedure, the duties of the secretary, and taking secretary minutes. Leadership development programming continues to be an area extension leadership identifies as an important need for our community. A presentation about Robert’s Rules of Orde
Author: Tad Campbell
The Buffalo Trace Area Extension Services and Maysville Community and Technical College partnered to host the annual community event, Farm Family Night. The event is geared to offer educational programs to all facets of the farm family while providing an environment for the entire family. With many topics providing research-based information from the University of Kentucky, local educators offering specialized expertise, vendor network development, and youth educational events partic
Introduction: Sheep farming has been an integral part of Kentucky's agricultural landscape for centuries. These woolly creatures not only contribute to the state's economy but also play a significant role in its cultural heritage. However, the methods of sheep confinement raise important questions regarding animal welfare, environmental impact, and sustainable agricultural practices. This essay aims to explore the various aspects of sheep confinement in Kentucky, shedding light on the ch
Author: Lindsay Arthur
In the middle of National Heart Health Month, amidst the bustling atmosphere of an annual farm machinery auction at the fairgrounds, a unique initiative took place aiming to improve the wellbeing of farmers. Cardiovascular disease is a group of health conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels. According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 1 in 3 deaths that happen in the U.S. every year is due to cardiovascular disease—that's one cardiovascular-re
