Author: Dayna Fentress
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
UK FCS Extension worked with the Hardin County Fairboard, Central Hardin FFA, Farm Credit Mid-America, and a committee of volunteers to plan the fifth annual Farm to Table dinner at the Hardin County Fair.In 2023, 370 individuals gathered at the Hardin County Fair for the 5th Farm to Table dinner. The dinner showcased Kentucky Proud produce and meats, while supporting a local charity. We were able to give $4,000 to yet another charity in our community: JTs Way. A non-profit focused on helping be
In Hardin County, what started as a conversation between the Family and Consumer Sciences agent and the Farmers’ Market board president became a population kids activity that saw over 600 children over the course of the first summer. The "Power of Produce (POP) Club" was an interactive taste kitchen and activity center aimed to bring more youth and their parents to the market. With help from the UK School of Human Environmental sciences FCS mini-grant, POP Club was born. POP
Author: Jessica Hunley
Children in Madison County are not consuming an adequate amount of fresh fruits and vegetables, which is true for most families in the area as well. Due to cooking time constraints, busy schedules, parents with limited palate preferences or poor nutritional education, convenience, and rising costs of fresh nutritious foods, many children are not being introduced to a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables at home. Studies show that what we eat at and early age can define how and what
Author: Melinda McCulley
RelevanceEating a nutrient-rich diet that includes a variety of fruits and vegetables is an essential component of healthy development. However, an analysis of the National Survey of Children’s Health from 2021 revealed that nationwide approximately 30% of young children, aged one through five, consumed fruit less than daily and approximately 50% of young children consumed vegetables less than daily during the preceding week. The proportion of young children in Kentucky who consumed f
Author: Sandra Bastin
The problemThere is a growing trend of using edible flowers both to enrich the plate appearance and as nutritional value in the diet.Program responseThe local Friends and Flowers Club are dedicated to fostering a love for gardening and beautifying the local community. Most knew little to nothing about edible flowers and were pleasantly surprised to find there were many flowers that could be used safely that were edible and added value to the appearance of their meals. Using the Edible Flowers pu
The problemToday, the big question is? Are counties maxing out on the number of people they can reach through in-person nutrition/food preparation/food safety workshops? Is there an audience that is available during lunch or dinner that would attend virtual cooking demonstrations or cook-alongs? The educational program responsePeople who say they don’t like to cook, have various reasons why, but it is usually that they have not been trained to use a knife correctly, or they don’
Author: Lindie Huffman
Kentucky Hunters for the Hungry (KHFH) is a charitable volunteer run organization comprised of responsible hunters and conservationist who encourage hunters to harvest and donate deer each season. KHFH is a statewide hunger relief program dedicated to providing a healthy source of protein to needy Kentuckians. The mission is to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in Kentucky by paying for the processing and distributing donated venison to those in need, to provide an outlet for hunters to help the
Author: Marla Stillwell
With an overall food insecurity rate of 12.9% in LaRue County, the percentage of food insecurities among children in LaRue County rose to 13.9% according to the latest Cooperative Extension Community Needs Assessment. In addition, when asked to what extent practical education/assistance is in ensuring individuals and families have access to affordable nutritious food needed in LaRue County, survey participants rated this a 4.2 out of 5 which translates to a "very high need."There
Author: Allison Bowen
“I can’t cook, so I opt for fast food”, a statement you may hear way too often. It is sad to say that cooking is not a skill that everyone gets the opportunity to learn. With that in mind, the University of Kentucky’s Nutrition Education Program (NEP) strives to make a difference. With the vision of improving health and wellness, diet quality, and household food security they have created the Healthy Choices for Every Body program. To initi
Author: Angela Baldauff
HEALTHY HABITS GROWResearch has shown that high consumption of fruits and vegetables is associated with a reduced risk of chronic diseases. To increase knowledge and consumption of fruits and vegetables in children, the Nutrition Education Program (NEP) Senior Assistant from the Kenton County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with the after-school coordinator at Howell Elementary School to teach Professor Popcorn. The NEP Senior Assistant met with two groups (one group of K-2nd grade
Author: Susan Riggs
In LaRue County, 460 students received specially designed academic and social/emotional instruction, both in the regular classroom and separate classrooms during the 2023-24 school year. LaRue County Schools rose to provide the need for these services including but not limited to speech therapy, physical therapy, occupational therapy, orientation and mobility therapy, braille, sign language, job/life skills instruction and community based work transition program and instruction. Through a
Author: Anita Boyd
In a community-focused initiative aimed at enhancing the well-being of children and youth, significant strides have been made in improving diet quality, food safety practices, and physical activity. This success story highlights the transformative impact of dedicated efforts and collaborative partnerships in nurturing healthier habits among the younger generation.he problemImproving Diet Quality:Through structured educational programs like LEAP, Professor Popcorn and Super Star Chef and practica
TheTwenty-four men embarked on a transformative journey through the Healthy Choices for Your Recovering Body (HCYRB) program. This initiative aimed not only to educate but to empower its participants toward healthier lifestyles and enhanced recovery from substance use. problemFrom the very start, the impact of HCYRB was palpable. Nearly all participants, an impressive 97.1%, expressed newfound intentions to elevate their dietary habits. They eagerly committed to consuming more servings of fruits
Author: Gregory Comer
Increasing cost of food and access to a consistent supply of nutritious foods has become a challenge across the U.S and Kentucky. To support Ohio County’s limited resource citizens in attaining nutritious vegetables, the ANR agent again provided garden kits, to the Hartford & Fordsville Food Banks, but also assisted the Senior Citizens Program in Ohio Co. with their raised bed garden, by expanding the number of beds available for produce. Garden Kits:The garden kits contained
Nutritious food is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle for children. With children in need of specific nutrients to support their growth and development, 1 in 3 (32.1%) children did not eat a daily fruit and nearly half (49.1%) did not eat a daily vegetable, according to a 2023 Center for Disease Control report. To address this issue, the Ohio County Extension Service collaborated with the Beaver Dam Community Famers Market and Ohio County Health Care to host “Kids Day
Author: Tracey Turner
.According to the Center for Disease Control, the state indicator report on fruit and vegetable consumption for the state of Kentucky reveals that 50 % of adolescents only ate on average one fruit or vegetable per day. During the school year, various nutrition curriculum were taught through the Owsley County Extension Service, in conjunction with the Owsley County School System. Professor Popcorn was the curriculum taught in 1st and 2nd grades as well as LEAP to Kinderga
Author: Debra Hixon
July canning class The problem: On April 20, 2023, the Calloway County Cooperative Extension Council met to discuss emerging county needs in the Family and Consumer Science area. Since Calloway County has not had a FCS agent for almost 3 years, there were many needs, one being food preservation and safe food storage. A series of food preservation lessons were conducted, first on the "science" of food preservation. A total of 31 people attended this po
The problem In a recent event held in Western Kentucky, community members gathered to enhance their knowledge on food safety, the importance of pollinators, and the utilization of public spaces for horticulture and exercise. This event, aimed at educating citizens, proved to be a remarkable success with impactful outcomes.The educational program responseSpring into Green: Pride of Kentucky was hosted by the Purchase Area Family and Consumer Science agents at the McCracken County Extension
