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

Concept of Mastery taught through the 4-H Feeder Calf Project

Author: Stacey Potts

Major Program: Agriculture

 “In order to develop self-confidence, youth need to feel and believe they are capable, and they must experience success at solving problems and meeting challenges.  By exploring 4-H projects and activities, youth master skills to make positive career and life choices.  Additionally, youth need to have a safe environment for making mistakes and getting feedback, not just through competition, but also as an ongoing element of participation.  Finally, youth need the bread

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4-H Windowsill Garden Project

Author: Joshua Turner

Major Program: Agriculture

In Harlan County, KY, many students in grades K-4 through 6th face challenges related to food insecurity and limited access to fresh, nutritious food. Additionally, there is a disconnect between students and nature, with limited opportunities for hands-on learning about agriculture, sustainability, and healthy eating. These issues highlight the need for educational programs that engage young people in learning about food production and healthy lifestyles, while also fostering environmental stewa

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Farm Day 2025

Author: Mary Anne Garnett

Major Program: Agriculture

“My grandfather used to say that once in your life, you need a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, and a preacher—but every day, three times a day, you need a farmer.” — Brenda SchoeppIn Christian County, 69% of the population resides in urban areas (Kentucky State Data Center, 2010), meaning many youth have little to no experience with agriculture. Most first-grade students in the county have never visited a farm or interacted with farm animals, leaving a gap in their un

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Agriculture Awareness during National Agriculture Week

Author: Owen Prim

Major Program: Agriculture

Agriculture Awareness during National Agriculture Week

National Agriculture Week is celebrated in March to recognize the contributions of farmers, ranchers and agricultural workers.  The week aims to increase public awareness of agriculture's role in providing food, fiber and fuel.  In Campbell County the majority of our youth are getting more urbanized and removed from the farm and farming.   A new, fun "Together We Grow Youth Art Contest"  was started this year.  This statewide contest was a wonderful opportu

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Kimper Junior Master Gardener

Author: Emily Chaney

Major Program: Agriculture

Kimper Junior Master Gardener

For years, the science teacher at Kimper Elementary School had expressed a desire to incorporate a school garden into the curriculum to provide hands-on learning opportunities for students. However, the school lacked the resources and infrastructure to bring this vision to life. There was a clear need for experiential learning tools to enhance science education and promote agricultural literacy among middle school students.In response, I created the Kimper Junior Master Gardener Program&nbs

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From Farms and Fields: Discovering the Roots of Everyday Products

Author: Audrey Wright

Major Program: Agriculture

Issue: Recognizing the need for agricultural knowledge among youth in Mason County, a series of interactive lessons was delivered to 4th-grade students at Mason County Intermediate School. Many students were unaware of where everyday products come from, making this program a priority to help them understand the role of agriculture in their daily lives.Program Description: The program featured lessons that traced the origins of everyday items like clothing, food, and electronics back to

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Churnin’ Up Dairy Fun: Youth Learn & Laugh with Ice Cream in a Bag!"

Author: Audrey Wright

Major Program: Agriculture

Issue: In Mason County, there is a growing disconnect between youth and the agricultural roots that support their daily lives, especially when it comes to understanding where food comes from. Many young people are unfamiliar with the dairy industry, the role of dairy cows, or how common dairy products are made. This gap in knowledge presents a need for fun, hands-on education that builds agricultural literacy and strengthens appreciation for local farmers and food systems.Program Descriptio

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Curing Country Hams

Author: Cathy Toole

Major Program: Agriculture

The 4-H Country Ham project has become a staple of the Henry County 4-H program.  The project has been a multi-generational project for over 20 years.   The project allows adults and families to purchase hams as well as 4-H aged youth.  There are as many as three generations working alongside one another preparing the raw hams to be hung in the ham house.  It always seems to be the coldest January day of the year when the hams are brought to the local extension office.  

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All in for Agriculture Education Week

Author: Carrie Derossett

Major Program: Agriculture

Kentucky 4-H partnered with Kentucky's Lt. Governor, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and Kentucky Department of Education for All in for Ag Education Week March 17-21, 2025.Agriculture has a nearly $50 billion impact on Kentucky. There are nearly 70,000 farms in Kentucky (seventh most in the United States) that compose more than 12.4 million acres of land, making up nearly 50 percent of Kentucky’s total acreage. (Kentucky Department of Agriculture)The “All in For Ag Education

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Menifee County has established its first Livestock Judging Team.

Author: Mary McCarty

Major Program: Agriculture

Competitive livestock judging involves more than just sorting livestock. Menifee County 4-H members are stepping onto local farms and livestock arenas to showcase their critical thinking, animal science knowledge, and ability to make tough decisions, along with the confidence and communication skills needed to support their judgments.Youth from throughout Kentucky gathered in Lexington on May 31 to put their animal evaluation skills to the test at the state 4-H Livestock Judging Contest.  M

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Youth Gardening Initiative

Author: Mollie Tichenor

Major Program: Agriculture

Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, interest in home gardening has surged across Spencer County and throughout Kentucky, with families turning to gardening as a source of food security, stress relief, and educational enrichment. In response, the Spencer County Cooperative Extension Service continued its youth gardening initiative, designed to cultivate both gardens and young minds.Over the past year, Extension agents partnered with local schools and the Spencer County Early Learning Center

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Taylor County Fair 4-H Horticulture Enteries

Author: Kara Back-Campbell

Major Program: Agriculture

The Taylor County Horticulture Agent held three county fair project days for 4-Hers to create horticulture projects for the county fair. These projects consisted of hanging basket, annual container, vegetable container, herb garden, dish garden, house plant, and terrarium. In addition to these projects two day were set aside for leaf projects. Forty-one 4-Hers participated in these project days and as a result fifty-two projects were entered into the county fair in the horticulutre / natura

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Members Engage in Animal Agriculture

Author: Janet Turley

Major Program: Agriculture

The average American is at least three generations removed from the farm. Many do not know where their food comes from, nor do they know how livestock thrive on family farms. The Warren County 4-H Livestock Club has been established for 29 years and has taught many 4-H members about animal agriculture and how to engage in livestock projects.? In recent years, two programs, Livestock Skillathon and YAIP (Youth Agriculture Incentives Program) have elevated the kn

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Down on the Farm: Cloverbud Camp Brings Agriculture to Life for Young Learners

Author: Maelyn Dotson

Major Program: Agriculture

Lawrence County 4-H hosted a two-day “Down on the Farm” themed Cloverbud Camp, offering 36 youth ages 5–8 an engaging introduction to agriculture through hands-on activities. Campers explored the world of farming by participating in fun, educational experiences including a cow milking simulator, planting their own seeds, creating pool noodle stick horses, & churning homemade butter. One exciting highlight was a live observation beehive, where campers learned about the impor

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2nd Annual Youth Field Day Celebrates Agriculture, Education, and the Legacy of Philip Konopka

Author: Kennedy Cannon

Major Program: Agriculture

In Lewis County, KY the need for early education in agriculture, heath and farm safety continues to grow as fewer students have direct connections to farming. In April 2025, the 2nd Annual Youth Field Day in Memory of Philip Konopka took place. Over 153 third-grade students gathered for a fun and educational day designed to honor the late Philip Konopka, beloved Lewis County Agriculture Agent and advocate for youth in agriculture. This program offered a diverse array of stations including: Dairy

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Elliott County 4-H Livestock pavilion Addition

Author: Jacob Ison

Major Program: Agriculture

Elliott County 4-H Livestock has long been a great program for the youth in our county with around 20 youth showing rabbits, chickens, sheep, goats, hogs, and cattle.  The livestock program teaches participants how to successfully and responsibly raise a marketable livestock product and the hard work and dedication it takes to do so. The Elliott County Livestock Club is not just about show day. Each youth participating must attend and complete 6 educational credit hours throughout

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Working the Garden

Author: Joyce Doyle

Major Program: Agriculture

Working the Garden

The garden club started 3 years ago with little success as far as production.  The members learned many things, mostly where a lot of planning is done, but very little goes as planned.  They also learned where food comes from and how to grow their own food.  The weather did not cooperate at all.  Every time we would get the garden ready, it would rain for days.  When we could plant, the garden was not ready to plant.  Some success was seen, but very little produce.

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Reviving Area-Wide 4-H Horse Judging in West Kentucky

Author: Paula Jerrell

Major Program: Agriculture

Reviving Area-Wide 4-H Horse Judging in West Kentucky

Describe the Issue or Situation.Before the pandemic, West Kentucky had a vibrant network of horse clubs that were regularly engaged in regional and state 4-H Horse activities. However, since COVID-19, these connections and opportunities had diminished. As restrictions eased, local horse clubs began to grow again, and the need to reconnect and support the increasing involvement of 4-H youth in state-level horse activities became clear. West Kentucky had not hosted any area-wide programming since

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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