Author: Gill Finley
Major Program: Disaster Preparedness
The State of Kentucky faces many disasters that are mostly weather related; from winter storms, heavy winds, tornadoes, lightning, and flooding. In addition to these natural disasters that call for emergency preparedness, Kentucky recorded 1,330 overdose deaths in 2016. With so many challenges revolving drug overdoses to multiple gun shootings as well as natural disasters, preparing the youths on how to respond became a necessity. Therefore, the Youth Emergency Preparedness (YEP) event of Ke
Author: Joanne Bankston
Major Program: Kentucky Extension Leadership Development (KELD)
The Coordinator of Family and Consumer Sciences at Kentucky State University (Dr. Joanne Bankston) has served as the Vice President of the Council of Administrators in Family and Consumer Sciences (CAFCS) and planned the 2018 conference along with the president, Dr. Esther Duvall, and former president, Dr. Michael Newman. CAFCS is a national organization of individuals who hold administrative roles in Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) at colleges and universities across the country.  
Author: Laura Rogers
Major Program: KSU Small Farm Program
Through the Kentucky State University Small Farm Project and Beginning Farmer Grant and a collaborative program with the University of Kentucky Extension limited resource farmers learn how to produce honeybees upon their farm.For some people honeybees are a hobby. However for others honeybees are a means of supporting their family. Tony Schering, of Pulaski County, wanted to raise queen and produce nucs in order to sell the bees for extra income. Beekeepers have long known honeybees’
Through the Kentucky State University Small Farm Project and Beginning Farmer Grant and a collaborative program with the University of Kentucky Extension limited resource farmers learn information about honeybees. These classes were taught once a month through the Russell County Bee Club at the Russell County Extension Office.The club over the past 5 years averages now 18 people in attendance at each meeting including several young adults. I instruct beekeepers in topics such as “Bee
Through the Kentucky State University Small Farm Project and Beginning Farmer Grant and a collaborative program with the University of Kentucky Extension limited resource farmers learn the process of grape production and grape value added products.During the 20th century in Kentucky there was a great migration of people from family farms to areas of industry for economical reasons. At one time the knowledge of tending to and preserving grapes was commonplace of the family farm but over time this
Through the Kentucky State University Small Farm Project and Beginning Farmer Grant and a collaborative program with the University of Kentucky Extension limited resource farmers Beginning Beekeeping was taught to inmates in the prison system.Upon the request of several correctional facilities for honeybee classes, 64 inmates in Kentucky now understand basic beekeeping. Three different basic beekeeping series were completed each with 5 different classes. These Classes covered “Sustainabili
Author: William Rogers
In today’s world there is a movement of people that are wanting to leave the urban communities, move to a rural environment and make a living from the land. The people doing this are buying small parcels of land on which to build their farms. They want to produce enough food to provide for their families and have more to sell to the community. Many of these people have never farmed before and want help to get started. This transition to farming is the most common issue I deal wit
Author: Lawrence Caudle
Major Program: Communications and Expressive Arts 4-H Core Curriculum
The communications program in Kentucky 4-H is based around the concept of helping youth to explore, develop, and define their communication abilities in regards to such areas as public speaking, personal expression, interaction with others, and professional correspondence. The communication programs presented take a variety of approaches and techniques to improving youth skills, including but not limited to project books that involved personal evaluation and reflection of skills, competitive spe
Major Program: Bees/Beekeeping
Beekeeping is a great way to further diversify the farm, or homestead. Bees can be used to make a variety of products including honey, wax, and a variety of value added products such as soaps, lotions, and many others. These products can supply additional revenue streams to small farms or homesteads. Bees are also important for their role in pollinating various crops such as vegetables, flowers, fruit trees, and others. Several research studies have also indicated that pollinator insects, includ
Major Program: Master Gardener
The Kentucky Master Gardener Program is a program that trains volunteers to assist County Extension Agents with educational programming. There are multiple Master Gardener Volunteers across the state of Kentucky, but there were no active Master Gardeners in Powell County. After advertising the Master Gardener Program in the Powell County newspaper for a number of weeks, Linda Swango, a resident of Powell County entered the 12 week program. Linda Swango attended each class which was centered on m
Author: Linda Brown-Price
Major Program: Embracing Life as We Age (general)
A three part series “Brain Matters” was held in Kenton County in the spring of 2017 that addressed the effects of brain stimulation on the health of the brain. Mental exercise was stressed to stimulate and enhance brain connection, increase blood flow, and provide new challenges that exercise cognitive functions. A follow-up survey was mailed to participants in the winter of 2018. 94% of the respondents indicated they had increased their mental exercise. Participants indicated increa
It’s always a good idea to keep important papers in a safe place such as a safe-deposit box or in a fireproof, waterproof, and burglar-proof home safe. This is even more important during emergencies when you need information in a hurry. Sometimes, though, such papers are lost, stolen, or destroyed. . A class on Emergency Preparedness in Recordkeeping was taught to older residents in Kenton County by the Kentucky State Area Specialist for Family and Consumer Sciences. Topics covered include
Major Program: Securing Financial Stability (general)
As the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age and begins preparing to retire early or face retirement, most face critical financial struggles and need to make life-altering decisions regarding their financial future. Questions arise concerning estate planning, when to begin social security benefits, and investment issues. The Kenton County Extension Office, Kentucky State Area Specialist, collaborated with subject matter experts to present up-to-date information on these topics.Sixty-thre
Author: Laykin Smith
Major Program: Accessing Nutritious Foods (general)
A garden was started at a rehabilitation/therapy facility in our area. Participants have mild to moderate mental disabilities or handicaps, after successful completion of the Healthy Choices for Every Body series a garden was planted by the group. Many participants grew up on a farm or worked on one, this was a great way to bring back wonderful memories while providing nourishment for their bodies. Participants have worked very hard to plant and maintain their garden, knowing they will soon reap
In today's society young adults lack the necessary cooking skills needed to prepare meals and feed their families. I discovered this when visiting a local adult education center. A young mother was unaware of how to properly use a knife and peel a potato or any other fruit and vegetable. After a lesson of cooking terms and techniques including hands on experience class was dismissed. A month or so later I saw the young mother in the grocery store, her cart contained apples and potatoes, she
Author: Jennifer Hubbard-Sanchez
Major Program: Environmental Sustainability & Responsibility
According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, over the last fifty years, the per person average of solid waste generated each day in the United States increased from 2.7 lbs. to 4.4 pounds. In Franklin County, Kentucky, we send an average of over 7,000 tons annually to the landfill. The county currently maintains a 22% landfill diversion rate, or the amount of the total waste stream that is recycled or composted rather than landfilled, with a goal of reaching 50% in the coming yea
Author: Andrea Munoz
Rookie Cooking Camp (RCC) is a signature program of the Kentucky State University Nutrition Program that the SNAP-Ed Program Assistant has used successfully in Whitley County.The Program targets middle and high school students. Most of these kids are not familiar with preparing food and what it means to plan a balanced meal. RCC encourages students to learn about healthy eating, improved cooking skills, meal planning, as well as to share a meal with family members and the community. The program
Author: Jacob Vincent
KSU mobile autoclave sterilizes beehives for Washington Co. beekeepers Honey bees are a critical component in the agricultural industry in the United States. Honey bees produce hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of honey and the pollination services they provide are worth hundreds of millions as well. The almond industry is completely reliant on the pollination provided by honey bees. Sadly, managed bee colonies have
