Success StorySummer Sausage & Charcuterie Board Education



Summer Sausage & Charcuterie Board Education

Author: Lindsay Arthur

Planning Unit: Bourbon County CES

Major Program: Local Food Systems

Plan of Work: Agriculture Education, Marketing, Production and Natural Resources

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

Art and healthy eating come together through innovative charcuterie boards which have become very popular across the state. Discovering the history of smoking summer sausage while applying traditional techniques with present day technology has piqued interests from community residents. Harrison and Bourbon County, KY Ag & Natural Resource and Family & Consumer Sciences agents have partnered together on multiple occasions to share this exciting, collaborative workshop for hands-on experience which reinforces educational teachings. This 2-part workshop allows participants to gain an understanding of charcuterie board components followed by implementation of creating their own board with food and supplies. Next, participants learn how to smoke sausage and then make summer sausage from scratch, utilizing numerous ingredients. The sausage is smoked a couple days after the workshop and participants are notified to pick up their finished product.  

Ninety-six percent of survey respondents reported that they felt very confident in their ability to put together a charcuterie board after attending the workshop. Seventy-five percent indicated they plan or strongly plan to make summer sausage on their own. With additional sausage stuffing equipment to make this happen, those numbers are remarkable. Comments reported on surveys included, loved the hands-on learning, learned many new skills with displaying food such as making a rose out of pepperonis and decoratively slicing up strawberries. Additional comments include enjoying both (charcuterie and summer sausage) sessions of the program, great presentation by agents, and we want more! Several participants have asked for repeat or advanced sessions to expand their knowledge and indulge their interests in the art of charcuterie boards and excitement with summer sausage making. Future plans are to continue these workshops and expand with new ideas annually. 






Stories by Lindsay Arthur


Central Region ANR Agents aid in West KY Tornado Relief

Central Region ANR Agents aid in West KY Tornado Relief

about 2 years ago by Lindsay Arthur

The severe damage caused by the December 2021 tornado outbreaks affected many in our state. Devastat... Read More


2021 Elite Bred Heifer Sale

2021 Elite Bred Heifer Sale

about 2 years ago by Lindsay Arthur

The Bourbon County Livestock Improvement Association Elite Heifer Sale was started in 1991 to help s... Read More


Stories by Bourbon County CES


Peter Rabbit Teaches Nutrition

Peter Rabbit Teaches Nutrition

about 1 years ago by Karen Denniston

According to kentuckyhealthfacts.org, only 10% of Kentuckians eat the recommended amounts of fruits ... Read More


Charcuterie Board & Summer Sausage

Charcuterie Board & Summer Sausage

about 1 years ago by Karen Denniston

Charcuterie Board Art and Summer SausageArt and healthy eating come together through innovative char... Read More


Stories by Local Food Systems


Reinvigorating the Riverview Farmers' Market

Reinvigorating the Riverview Farmers' Market

about 1 years ago by Thomas Mann

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Riverview Farmers Market was busy and productive, with many memb... Read More


Farm to Table Story Walk and Field Day

Farm to Table Story Walk and Field Day

about 1 years ago by Ruth Chowning

There are only 486 farms in Bullitt County according to the 2017 USDA Ag Census, a number that shrin... Read More