S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091
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Author: Rosa Smith
Major Program: Active Living and Health Promotions General
Describe the Issue or Situation.Falls are a leading cause of injury and loss of independence among older adults. In rural communities, factors such as limited access to preventive health programs, chronic illness, and social isolation further increase fall risk. Many older adults and their families are unaware of the simple steps that can be taken to reduce the likelihood of falls through education, exercise, and home modifications.Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partn
Author: Laura-Grace Vincent
Major Program: Family and Consumer Science
The "Adulting 101" course concept is gaining traction, highlighting the need for practical life skills training. Research indicates many young adults lack essential skills, such as financial literacy and basic household management. A study found 87% of teens don't understand financial management, and many struggle with other real-world skills. An "Adulting 101 curriculum" aims to equip young adults with the practical life skills and knowledge necessary to navigate the cha
According to the Kentucky Department of Public Health, diabetes prevalence has doubled from 2000 to 2018 from 6.5% of adults to 13.7% of Kentucky adults. This rate is also higher than the national average (10.5%), with Kentucky exhibiting the 4th highest mortality rate from diabetes in the U.S. Certain parts of Kentucky experience higher adult rates of diabetes. For example, Appalachian Kentucky counties exhibit a diagnosed diabetes rate of 17% compared to 12% in non-Appalachian Kentucky countie
Author: Jeremy Williams
Major Program: Emergency Disaster Preparedness
Being prepared for life's disasters is crucial for navigating many storms. Learning preparedness skills as a youth can have a lifelong impact, equipping individuals to face emergencies with confidence and resilience.The Harlan County Youth Preparedness Program was facilitated by the Harlan County Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent, Kentucky Emergency Management, and Harlan County Public Schools. This program aimed to educate and prepare students for disaster situations through an 18-ses
Major Program: Quality Arts Engagement & Experiences
Art projects are crucial for special needs students, offering opportunities for creative expression, sensory integration, skill development, and emotional well-being. They can help students build confidence, explore their unique strengths, and engage in meaningful learning experiences. I have been going into this classroom several times throughout the school year to provide educational enrichment activities for these students who otherwise have not been serviced by our office. On this day,
Author: Jessica James
Major Program: Nutrition and Food Systems General
4-H has had the country ham contest for many years and Union and Henderson County thought that it would be a good idea to see if adults would be interested in participating in curing a ham also. With the help of Meacham Ham House in Sturgis, Ky we decided to give this a try. There was a lot of interest immediately and the spots filled up. This is the second year we have had the Adult Country Ham program because of how well it went the first year and participants showed interest in coming back ag
Author: Christy Stearns
Major Program: Child Development General
The 2024 Kids Count County Data Dashboard revealed that 20.9% of expectant Clinton County mothers report smoking during pregnancy; 7.1% of pregnancies result in low birthweight babies; and the community has a 24.2% teen birth rate. The Clinton County Cooperative Extension Service sponsored a Community Baby Shower for 47 pregnant women and parents of infants up to age three months. The goal of the Community Baby Shower was to provide information to families on child health and developmental
Major Program: Integrated Pest Management
I had my private applicator training, which I host every year. This training is for individuals that need to become re certified in order to purchase chemicals to spray on the farm. This year, I decided to do this differently by inviting Dr. Legleiter to conduct a hands on training along with other training videos that were shown. There were many farmers that attended this meeting. There were 35 participants overall. Evaluations were not given out for this but the overall goal of this prog
Author: Gary Druin
Major Program: Science, Engineering, and Technology
The Challenge: Across Kentucky, concern about science performance continues to grow. As Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher stated, “We need to see improvement in our science scores across all grade levels.” Kentucky Academic Standards for Science Focus Standard: 4-PS3-4 – Apply scientific ideas to design, test, and refine a device that converts energy from one form to another. At local elementary schools, teachers observed a key issue: while 4th grade stude
Author: Peggy Jones
Major Program: Food Preparation and Preservation
2025 Youth learn to make/preserve Apple ButterThe USDA and Department of Health and Human Services, consumption of total fruit are expected to grow roughly 4% respectively in the next 5 years. With the increase on the rise of consuming fruits the Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent provides food preservation classes at the local high school to freshman, sophomore, juniors and seniors in Rowan County. A popular food item such apple butter was picked to demonstrate how quick and easy
Major Program: Substance Use Recovery - CED
2025 Truth and Consequences ProgramIn a remarkable effort to address substance abuse and promote healthy choices among youth, Rowan County Cooperative Extension recently hosted the Truth and Consequences program at the Rowan County Judicial Center. This impactful event was a collaborative initiative involving St. Claire Regional Medical Center, Rowan County Senior High School, and ten dedicated community partners.The program engaged 41 high school students in a series of interactive activities d
Author: Anna Morgan
The "Spring into Green: Sustainable Living" seminar held on March 17, 2025, proved to be a resounding success, fostering a deeper understanding of sustainability among its participants and inspiring tangible actions towards a greener lifestyle.Participant Engagement and Knowledge Gains:The seminar attracted a diverse audience, with a significant portion (47) being individuals aged 65 and over, demonstrating the program's appeal across generations. Notably, for many attendees (29),
Author: Ted Johnson
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Describe the Issue or Situation. Lee County citizens has a issue with not being able to access nutritious health foods and food insecurities. Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable). The Lee County Extension Staff developed a program where we addressed food insecurities with a hands on country ham curing program. we had over 25 participants directly and over 50 more indirectly. 15 of the participants had never preserved any food of any source.Prov
Author: Lynnette Allen
Major Program: Community Vitality and Leadership -FCS
Early childhood learning opportunities are limited in Breckinridge County with only two private daycares and public head start classrooms. There is only 1 child care provider slot for every four children. School readiness can be challenging for all families and especially those with limited resources and knowledge relating to this important developmental milestone. The Breckinridge County FCS Extension staff recognize this need and partner with the local Early Childhood Counci
Author: Macey Stewart
Major Program: Family Development General
Getting children involved with cooking supports their development in many ways. But changes in culture, family structure, and food costs have led to changes in cooking at home. With fewer chances to learn and practice cooking, there are concerns that cooking skills will be lost in younger generations. The Johnson County Extension Office hosted Leader Lessons for 15 people with a session called Inspiring Children to Become Grand Cooks. This program highlighted the important role older adults
Research shows that people who prepare and cook meals at home are more likely to eat the recommended fruits, vegetables, lean meats, and whole grains needed in a balanced diet. Often, cooks find themselves in a mealtime rut and feel overwhelmed with making decisions around meals and snacks for themselves and their family. Building skills and cooking knowledge as well as adding variety and creativity into meal preparation increases the likelihood that people choose to prepare homecooked meals.To
Major Program: Mental Health and Well-being - FCS
Suicide is a public concern and one of the most preventable causes of death. Every eleven minutes someone dies by suicide in the U.S., however, in Kentucky people die by suicide more frequently. In the U.S. and Kentucky, males die by suicide more often than females while individuals between 10 and 34 years old are at the highest risk for suicide. There are many risks for suicide including age, sex, stress, job hazards and health conditions, but it is important to note suicide can affect any
Describe the Issue or Situation.According to the Community Needs Assessment dashboard, two pressing issues in Johnson County for Individual and Family Development Needs is "ensuring individuals and families have access to affordable nutritious food." and "stronger parenting and relationship-building skills." Taking this data into consideration, a program was taught at the Johnson County Public Library focused on the importance of eating meals together as a family. I
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