Success Stories - Kentucky Extension Reporting System

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Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Cooperative Extension Service

Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Impacts

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Fiscal Year: 2025

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Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025

Success StoriesKentucky Extension Reporting System

Money Matters for 4-Hers

Author: Regina Browning

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

According to 2024 Experian data, the average American holds a debt balance of $105,056.  Young people will pick up and emulate the relationship with money and spending habits of the adults in their lives. This may set them up for lifelong financial struggles.   A 2017 T. Rowe Price Survey stated that 69% of parents admit they are reluctant about broaching the topic of finances with their children.  To help set kids on the right path, Shelby County 4-H provided

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Dollars and Sense

Author: Victoria Riehemann

Major Program: Family and Consumer Science

In 2024, the poverty rate for Bullitt County was 10.6%, and although this poverty rate is lower than the national average for poverty (12.5%), the community wants our youth to be prepared with financial skills to fight poverty. According to the 2023 Community Assessment for Bullitt County, 12.6% of stakeholders wanted to see increases in youth career readiness and in youth life skills training, which included money management and life decision making.Bullitt County 4-H partnered with the Family

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Family Lifestyles TV – Disaster Preparedness series

Author: Lynn Blankenship

Major Program: Emergency Disaster Preparedness

Western Kentucky is situated near the New Madrid Seismic Zone and is therefore likely to experience earthquakes.  Kentucky weather often results in tornadic ground track activity, damaging straight line winds, flooding, and ice storms.The Metcalfe County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences Education attended the Extension Disaster Preparedness Academy March 4 – 8 2024, at which I connected with Mrs. Janarae Conway the Disaster Preparedness and Response Coordinator for the

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Move Your Way MCA Homemaker Summer 2024 Leader training

Author: Lynn Blankenship

Major Program: Kentucky Extension Homemaker Association

Being physically active is an important component to overall health and contributes significantly to individuals’ physical and mental wellbeing.  There is a continued need to promote physical activity among Kentucky families.  According to the CDC, 29.7% of Kentucky’s adults reported that during the past month, they had not participated in any physical activity, and only 21.4% of Kentucky children and teens were physically active for at least 60 minutes per day on each of t

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Sew WHAT?!

Author: Sarah Congleton

Major Program: Master Clothing Volunteer

Sew WHAT?!, a transformative sewing program, has blossomed into a beacon of community empowerment, providing a space where diverse individuals come together to learn, create, and build valuable life skills. Under the dedicated guidance of three experienced master clothing volunteers, the program has expanded its reach and impact, enriching the lives of participants from all walks of life.At its core, Sew WHAT?! is a program designed to teach the art of sewing, fostering creativity and self-expre

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Etiquette Dinners/Workshops

Author: Maranda Brooks

Major Program: First Impressions

Etiquette Dinners/Workshops

Research conducted by Harvard University, the Carnegie Foundation, and Stanford Research Center indicates that 85 percent of job success comes from having well-developed soft and people skills, and only 15 percent of job success comes from technical skills and knowledge (hard skills). Employers are often prepared to teach technical job skills; however, the intangible skills of being a team player, time management, and positive attitude are difficult to teach on-site but are critical to success.

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Sowing Knowledge: 4-H and FFA Collaborate to Teach First Graders About Farming Roles

Author: Molly Jordan

Major Program: Agriculture

Sowing Knowledge: 4-H and FFA Collaborate to Teach First Graders About Farming Roles

Through a collaborative effort, the local 4-H agent partnered with FFA students to teach first graders about the diverse roles of farmers in agriculture. Using an interactive lesson titled "How Many Hats Does a Farmer Wear?", FFA members engaged young learners in hands-on activities that showcased the many skills farmers need, including veterinarian, mechanic, scientist, and businessperson.This partnership not only increased agricultural literacy among first graders but also empowered

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Enhancing Beef Production

Author: Patrick Hardesty

Major Program: Beef

With approximately 12,000 beef cows, beef cattle income ranks second in the county.  To improve profits and sustainability, beef educational meetings were conducted in cooperation with the Taylor County Cattlemen’s Association. To promote beef in the county, the Association cooked at the C & S Mission Store customer appreciation, Murakami employee appreciation, Bluegrass Stockyards customer appreciation, Chamber of Commerce luncheon, American Dairy Association District Meetin

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Leadership Development

Author: Patrick Hardesty

Major Program: Agriculture and Extension Leadership Development

Extension programs that thrive have one thing in common . . . great leaders!  Extension Council members are trained so they may understand their responsibilities as leaders of an umbrella group guiding Extension programming.  To help promote local producers, the Extension Council developed approximately 1000 Taylor County Direct Sales brochures promoting local goods.  To help understand the community, the Extension Council on-the-move has been implemented where each year different

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Forages

Author: Patrick Hardesty

Major Program: Forages

As a follow-up to the Hayfield Walk in the fall of 2024, a Pasture and Hayfield Management Meeting was developed in conjunction with the Taylor County Cattlemen’s Association. With approximately 100 in attendance, forage producers learned how to control weeds by cultural, mechanical and chemical methods. New herbicides were highlighted at this meeting.  Following the meeting, over one pallet of new herbicide that doesn’t kill clover was ordered. Producers are understanding the i

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New to the Herd? Check out Madison County 4-H's Livestock Programming

Author: Julia Reid

Major Program: Agriculture

Madison County 4-H has a bustling agriculture industry, despite a very heavy urban influence in the county. In Madison County 4-H, we like to think of our urban, suburban, rural and farm diversity more as an opportunity than a problem. With our two colleges, Eastern Kentucky University and Berea College both having farms, that just makes 4-H Livestock Field Trips easier to organize! When we started revitalizing our Livestock Club at the end of 2020, we had about 3 consistent members and we

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2025 Logan & Warren County Annie's Project

Author: Leann Martin

Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy

Women in agriculture play a vital role in farm operations, yet they often face unique challenges. The Agriculture & Natural Resources Extension Agents in Logan and Warren County, along with the Horticulture Extension Agent in Warren County, partnered together to design, coordinate, and implement the 2025 Logan/Warren County Annie’s Project. This program served as a beacon of empowerment for women in agriculture, aiming to enhance their understanding of financial, human, legal, producti

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Cookie School

Author: Keller

Major Program: Super Star Chef

Extension Agents (FCS and 4H) worked together with the Gifted and Talent program for the Tri-County area (Carlisle, Fulton, and Hickman Counties) to host Cookie School, a program focusing on team building, baking chemistry, recipe development, kitchen and general food safety, business development, and public speaking skills.  30 fourth grade students researched recipes for ideas, developed their own cookie recipe as a group, developed a marketing campaign, and developed important kitchen an

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Cooking After School

Author: Megan Gullett

Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General

Teaching an after-school cooking class to eight middle school students in Russell County, Kentucky, proved to be a rewarding and impactful experience. Over four sessions, the students learned essential kitchen skills, focusing on MyPlate nutrition, kitchen and knife safety, measuring, and reading recipes. Each class provided hands-on opportunities to prepare food, reinforcing their understanding of healthy eating and proper cooking techniques. This initiative was particularly significant given t

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Madison County FCS Free Book Project

Author: Jessica Hunley

Major Program: Child Development General

In the summer of 2024, Madison County FCS Extension was presented with an opportunity to attain free children's books for programming from Rand McNally Publishers. The FCS Agent confirmed a shipment and delivery for the books requested, but soon realized a typo error just created a new challenge and opportunity outside of the plan. The intended delivery was about 10 times bigger than the original plan, and so with the help of county extension teammates, several more pallets made their way ho

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Wildcat Leadership Council Explores Art with University of Kentucky

Author: Amber Dotson

Major Program: Communications & Expressive Arts

According to the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Community Needs Assessment, Bath Countians see "Youth life skill training opportunities (e.g., leadership and communication skill building opportunities)" as the third most important priority issue in their communities. This data is supported by Bath County Cooperative Extension Service Agents regularly observing community members of all ages claiming that there are limited resources for youth to engage in healthy, productiv

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5th Grade Public Speaking - Needs UPdate

Author: Sue Ann McCandless

Major Program: Communications & Expressive Arts

Describe the Issue or Situation.Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience.Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach.

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Kentucky State University 26th Annual Kentucky Small, Limited-Resource, Minority Farmers Conference 2024

Author: Edwin Chavous

Major Program: Small Farm Diversification

Describe the Issue or Situation.Kentucky State University’s Cooperative Extension Program hosted its 26th annual Small, Limited-Resource, Minority Farmers Conference. This year theme was Connecting Our Farmers, and Communities, located at the Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm on Nov. 21-23, 2024.Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).The purpose of the Small, Limited-Resource, Minority Farmers Conference is fourfold.First, the con

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Acting Associate Dean & Director — Craig Wood, Ph.D.
S107 Ag. Science Center North
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
+1 (859) 257-4302

© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment