The amount of farmland in Campbell County continues to decline each year.  87% of the citizens of Campbell County live in urban communities.   This increasing population has limited understanding or appreciation for the importance of agriculture in our daily lives.  To address this issue, the Campbell County Cooperative Extension Service developed an agriculture awareness program called “Grow It, Eat It, Wear It” that targets fifth grade students.  This week long program returned this year, September 26-29, after a two year absence due to COVID-19 pandemic.  Renewing the program presented opportunities for new topics and new collaborations.   This year the Extension Service collaborated with the Alexandria Fair board, the Campbell County Farm Bureau, FFA, the Beef Cattle Association, Bee Keepers Association, KSU Aquaculture Program, NK Horse Network and 4-H Horse and Sheep Project Leaders to carry out this program.   The Campbell County Extension District Board supported this program by granting a $6000 Special Programs request to fund the program.

Due to the increased interest in backyard poultry production, Poultry was added as a new class this year.  Other classes offered were on Beef & Dairy, Sheep and wool, Aquaculture, Growing Pizza in the Garden, Horses and Pollinating with Bees.  524 youth and 67 adults from 11 county schools attended this educational program.  Participants got to see, touch and learn about live farm animals, taste honey, watch sheep being sheared, spin wool, gain nutritional information to share at home and learn how agriculture provides them with food, clothing and shelter that we all need and depend on every day.

On written evaluations, teacher comments included:  

“Love this program.”  “My students said it was the best field trip they’ve ever been on!”,  

“Great hands on activities that increased student learning and fun!”

“My students were so excited and engaged the whole time.”

“Great science and history connections with life cycles, importance of pollination, Native American use of horses, Spanish explorers bringing horses, Pony Express and use of miniature horses in coal mines.”

“NGSS standards were met in Science, Social Studies & Economics.”

“Directly ties to and promotes Kentucky Academic Social Studies and NGSS Standards.”

“Students were very engaged and exposed to information they would not have gotten without this program!”