Success Stories - Kentucky Extension Reporting System

Fiscal Year: 2026

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Jul 1, 2025 - Jun 30, 2026

Success StoriesKentucky Extension Reporting System

Expanding Nutrition Education Through Strategic Hiring in SNAP-Ed and EFNEP Programs

Author: Paul Adkins

Major Program: Administrative Functions

1. Situation and PrioritiesIn response to rising food insecurity and poor nutrition outcomes among limited-resource families and SNAP-eligible individuals, a critical need was identified across several counties to expand access to nutrition education. Many of these communities—rural, suburban, and urban alike—face challenges such as limited access to healthy foods, lack of knowledge about meal planning on a budget, and unsafe food handling practices. These issues are especially press

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Campfire Chef

Author: Katie Mills

Major Program: Food Safety, Quality, and Access

The Issue:Many youth today lack basic cooking skills and confidence in the kitchen due to limited exposure to hands-on food preparation at home or school. This gap not only affects their independence but also their understanding of nutrition, food safety, and healthy eating habits. In our community, it became evident that children were eager to learn but needed structured, engaging opportunities to do so. Educational Program Response:To address this need, a 4-H “Campfire Chef” c

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Greenup County Youth Build Lifelong Skills through Superstar Chef Camp

Author: Presley Grubb

Major Program: Food Safety, Quality, and Access

This summer, the Greenup County Family and Consumer Sciences Extension Agent partnered with the Greenup County 4-H Youth Development Agent to offer the Superstar Chef Camp program to 15 local students. The program provided hands-on education in cooking, nutrition, and healthy living. Participants ranged in age from students who had completed 2nd grade to those who had completed 5th grade.With the support of two trained volunteers, students engaged in interactive lessons focused on food safety, k

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Beef Excellence Program

Author: Owen Watkins

Major Program: Animal Production and Management

Anderson County, like much of Kentucky is rich with small parcels of active and historically productive farmland. There is a tradition and a culture in this community that is centered around agriculture being something that nearly everyone participates in. In the past this was a largely communal effort, in the way that neighbors and family helped neighbors and family in the busy seasons to ensure that the work was done. In those times of shared toil there was space and expectation for the sharin

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Farmer Appreciation Night

Author: Owen Watkins

Major Program: Health and Wellbeing

A farmer in the county who had experienced a farm related accident that lead to the death of his father came to me hoping to have some programing that would lead to some light being shone on farm safety, leading into the busy spring season. Because of the abnormally high number of farm related injuries within the county over the last 30 years, I wanted to reach as wide of an audience as possible. We decided to have a farmer appreciation event. We brought in representatives from the county health

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Teen Conference 2025

Author: Victoria Riehemann

Major Program: Family and Youth Development

The 2025 Kentucky 4-H Teen Conference was held at the University of Kentucky from June 10th to 13th, continuing its long-standing tradition of empowering youth through leadership, education, and service. This year’s conference welcomed a total of 528 participants, including 365 youth delegates, 35 State Teen Council members, 24 State Board members from SET, NRESci, and SSTAB, 80 4-H Agents, 9 4-H Program Assistants, 7 4-H Interns, and 8 volunteers. Bullitt County 4-H brought 4 youth and 1

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Homesteading 2025

Author: Audrey Wright

Major Program: Small Farm Development

Issue:Residents in the Buffalo Trace area showed strong interest in sustainable living and self-reliance but lacked hands-on skills. Rising food costs, food security concerns, and a desire to reconnect with agriculture created a clear need for education in gardening, food preservation, and small-scale meat processing.Program Description:The Buffalo Trace Homesteading Series was a hands-on educational program promoting self-sufficiency and environmental stewardship. Sessions covered gardening, fo

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Soybean research

Author: Colby Guffey

Major Program: Plant Production and Management

Soybean producers have struggled for the past 3-5 years with slug damage to early planted soybeans.  In some instances, soybean fields have been replanted three times before an adequate stand was achieved.  In response to a field that was being damaged by slugs an on-farm research trial was set up with UK Extension Entomologists from the Princeton Research Station. Replicated plots were used to determine the effectiveness of various molluscicides or insecticides on a local cooperating

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4-H Art Kit: Creativity, Healing, and Hope After the Storm

Author: Elizabeth Easley

Major Program: Connected & Resilient Communities

4-H Art Kit: Creativity, Healing, and Hope After the Storm

On May 16, 2025, an EF4 tornado devastated Laurel County, including a direct hit to the southern side of London. More than 800 homes were damaged, 280 destroyed, and 17 lives lost. This disaster left countless families and children facing significant emotional distress, displacement, and uncertainty about their futures.In a crisis like this, emotional healing is just as important as food and shelter. A 2024 study from the National Institutes of Health reviewed 85 research studies and found that

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Updated Land lease Publication

Author: Colby Guffey

Major Program: Sustainability, Natural Resources and Wildlife Management, and Environment

Describe the Issue or Situation.  Agricultural landowners, farmers, Extension Agents for Agriculture and Natural Resources, and other interested persons are in need of a reliable source of information for determining the value of agricultural land and cash rental rates for agricultural land.  Landowners often call the Extension office asking about current agricultural land lease rates/values thus the need was high for an updated land lease rate publication. Describe the Outreach o

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Beef Cattle Chute Side Pregnancy Testing

Author: Colby Guffey

Major Program: Animal Production and Management

Beef cattle producers often struggle to find veterinarians to perform pregnancy diagnosis on the cow herd.   In recent years technology has become available for producers to do their own pregnancy determinations on the cow herd using whole blood or blood serum samples.  Few producers know of the availability of the chute side blood pregnancy test kits.  Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).A demonstration was set up at a local co

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College Resources

Contact Information

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

College Resources

Contact Information

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

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