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

Research Translation Partnership

Author: Amanda Gumbert

Major Program: Community Engagement

Specialists from the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources’ Soil and Water Extension Team partnered with UK Innovate on a National Science Foundation-funded project to mentor faculty and staff from George Mason University (GMU) on research translation and community outreach strategies. The project included periodic virtual exchanges and the first year culminated in a site visit to UK’s campus in June 2024 to tour research and outreach facilities and engage with additional facu

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Conferences and Building Awareness of Digital Literacy Pilot Program

Author: Richard Sellnow

Major Program: Community Engagement

The Digital Literacy pilot program is a new initiative in the state of Kentucky hoping to demonstrate need across its initial northern KY footprint so that it can eventually spread across the central region and the entire state.Early in the planning phases of the Digital Literacy Program plans were made to speak to the State Homemakers at KEHA and some time after that a connection was made with leadership at UK focused on gerontology which led to an opportunity to speak at the Next Best Years Co

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Understanding AI Initiative

Author: Richard Sellnow

Major Program: Community Engagement

Early in the winter of 2025, community members in Campbell County reached out to the Campbell FCS agent with a list of ideas for potential digital literacy classes. When speaking with the community member and FCS Agent we determined that classes explaining the fundamentals of what Artificial Intelligence are would help assuage fears some community members were having about the new technology.As a result of this, the Digital Literacy Agent designed a basic presentation series on the Past, Present

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HealthWise Collaboration with Grace James Academy – Preparing Future Healthcare Leaders

Author: Jessica Marquez

Major Program: Community Engagement

Describe the Issue or Situation.Many youth lack early exposure to college admissions processes, career pathways, and essential soft skills needed to succeed in higher education and the workforce. KSU's Cooperative Extension in Jefferson County was asked to help students build critical thinking, explore career options, and understand the value of human capital, particularly for those interested in healthcare professions.Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if a

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Farm City Field Day

Author: Keenan Bishop

Major Program: Community Engagement

The Jone’s family hosted the 2024 Farm City Field Day on their diversified multi generational farm. Vegetable production and Agritourism are their main farm enterprises supported by beef cattle, forages and some row crops. They also have other satellite agricultural enterprises to supplement the three generations that farm today.This year’s Field Day was fairly unique as it focused solely on large scale vegetable production, highlighting the roughly seven acres in production. Stops i

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Trigg County Ag Appreciation Dinner

Author: John Fourqurean

Major Program: Community Engagement

The Trigg County Ag Appreciation Dinner sponsored by the Trigg County Cooperative Extension Service and The Trigg County Ag Committee proved to be an evening of celebration, inspiration, and generosity, drawing a full house of community members who gathered to honor local agriculture and those who support it.The highlight of the evening was keynote speaker Greg Peterson, widely known as “Machinery Pete.” With his signature mix of humor, wisdom, and experience, Peterson shared insight

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Building Bridges: Strengthening Community Ties Through Strategic Outreach

Author: Amanda Dame

Major Program: Community Engagement

In Hopkins County, Extension programs provide vital education and services across health, family, agriculture, youth development, and community leadership. However, as new programs developed post-COVID and staffing expanded, there was a need to increase visibility, strengthen community partnerships, and reach new audiences who were unaware of the full scope of Extension services.To address this need, Hopkins County Extension agents implemented a comprehensive outreach strategy that included:-Hos

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Home, Farm and Garden Expo

Author: Amanda Sears

Major Program: Community Engagement

“Extension is the best kept secret in the county.” This is a common statement heard after helping clients. The Madison County Extension Council wanted to provide a program that would help the community know more about the programs offered at the Madison County Extension Office.After brainstorming, the Council decided to host a Home, Farm and Garden Expo. The Extension Council and Agents decided to not partner or accept sponsorships from outside groups. They hoped to instead on just E

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2024 Farm City Banquet

Author: Amanda Sears

Major Program: Community Engagement

2024 Farm City Banquet

The face of Kentucky is changing. In the last 20 years the state has lost 17,000 farms and 1.4 million acres of farmland. The population of Madison County, Kentucky in 2022 was 95,187, 14% up from the 83,471 who lived there in 2010. Over time, there is more and more of a disconnect with agriculture. The annual Farm City Banquet held at the Madison County Extension office is a way to unite the increasingly more urban and agricultural communities. The Madison County H

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Agricultural Appreciation Dinner

Author: Meredith Hall

Major Program: Community Engagement

Boyd County has approximately 187 farms. Of these farms only 87% have internet access.This contributes to the issue of people who are involved in agriculture often feeling isolated with few events to come together with each other and other community leaders and members.  The Ag Appreciation dinner directly combats the problem of poor mental health due to isolation. This dinner offered an education speaker who presented on insect borne diseases of livestock. However the main focus was to bri

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Native & Heirloom Plant Fest

Author: Bethany Wilson

Major Program: Community Engagement

Gardening has many proven health and well-being benefits to humans including reducing stress, increasing physical activity and strength, and providing a sense of well-being. Only 6.3% of adults meet the daily vegetable intake recommendations and only 8% meet the daily fruit recommendations (CDC). Children and adults alike are more likely to eat the vegetables that they grow or help harvest themselves. According to the 2024 State of the Industry Report from Garden Center Magazine, the averag

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Licking River Area Skills Day

Author: Alexandra Sallie

Major Program: Community Engagement

The Licking River Area extension agents for Family and Consumer Sciences, partnered with local businesses and Licking River Area Homemakers to host an annual Skills Days.  The FCS Agents come together at a hosting county extension office once a year, to promote different homemaking skills to local community members. We partner with local businesses and/or artist to come in to teach a new craft that participants can then take home or share the project with others. Everyone comes ready to be

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Meals on Wheels Partnership and Programming

Author: Richard Sellnow

Major Program: Community Engagement

Through the ad hoc Northern Kentucky Digital Literacy Advisory Council in tandem with the Northern Kentucky Area Development District, the Extension Digital Literacy Agent was made aware of Meals on Wheels Digital Connect of Northern Kentucky's desire to provide basic technology skills and digital literacy lessons to seniors in their shared service area.Meals on Wheels Digital Connect earned a grant allowing them to distribute up to 100 Samsung Tablets to seniors on fixed / limited incomes a

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Spring Into Green – Promoting Sustainable Living in Western Kentucky

Author: Debra Hixon

Major Program: Community Engagement

Describe the Issue or Situation.  Each year, Family and Consumer Science (FCS) Agents from eight counties in western Kentucky come together to host a regional seminar designed to bring informal, research-based education to our communities. This year’s theme, Spring Into Green – Sustainable Living, focused on environmental stewardship and practical ways individuals can reduce their ecological footprint at home. Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and

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Books in the Barnyard

Author: Linda McClanahan

Major Program: Community Engagement

The Mercer County Public Library identified need to provide some agricultural programming for their clientele. The Mercer County ANR Agent partnered with the public library and Mercer County Farm Bureau Federation to develop the Books in the Barnyard program. The program was promoted through the Extension Office facebook page, Extension Office newsletters, MCPL Facebook and MCFBF facebook pages. The MCPL and MCFBF each provided 25 accurate agriculture books so the first 50 families that came to

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Giant Pumpkin Contest and Teal Pumpkin Project Trunk or Treat

Author: Jessica Hopkins

Major Program: Community Engagement

Giant Pumpkin Contest and Teal Pumpkin Project Trunk or Treat

Describe the Issue or SituationCynthiana and Harrison County, Kentucky, are well-known for their fall festivities, earning the title of the #1 Fall Destination in the state. To enhance community engagement during the fall season, the Harrison County Extension Office sought new ways to participate in local traditions. After discussions with the Tourism Director, the idea of hosting a Giant Pumpkin Contest emerged, which evolved in its second year to include a Teal Pumpkin Trunk or Treat event for

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Giant Pumpkin Contest and Teal Pumpkin Project Trunk or Treat

Author: Shelley Meyer

Major Program: Community Engagement

Giant Pumpkin Contest and Teal Pumpkin Project Trunk or Treat

Describe the Issue or SituationCynthiana and Harrison County, Kentucky, are well-known for their fall festivities, earning the title of the #1 Fall Destination in the state. To enhance community engagement during the fall season, the Harrison County Extension Office sought new ways to participate in local traditions. After discussions with the Tourism Director, the idea of hosting a Giant Pumpkin Contest emerged, which evolved in its second year to include a Teal Pumpkin Trunk or Treat event for

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Pendleton Senior Center - Digital Literacy Program

Author: Richard Sellnow

Major Program: Community Engagement

In 2024 CES identified a need for Digital Literacy focused programming in northern Kentucky (C7/C8). This led to the hiring of a Digital Literacy Agent to serve the 8 counties of Northern Kentucky in late September 2024.In October 2024 the Digital Literacy Agent began reaching out to various community partners as well as extension networks to establish awareness of the new initiative across the C7/C8 Area. In one such county, Pendleton, the Digital Literacy Agent was able to build off of the ext

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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