The Metcalfe County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences Education, conducted a spring 2022 Program Advisory Council meeting with ten program stakeholder representatives, in anticipation of hiring a new Nutrition Education Program Assistant.  This organizational meeting resulted in a NEP program partner contact list, potential programs and events for partnering in 2022/23, and a tentative schedule for program partner site visits that occurred with this Agent and new program assistant upon hire.  The new NEP program assistant successfully completed required NEP orientation training.  The NEP assistant is now actively working with a newly enrolled adult Healthy Choices group, meeting monthly at the Extension office and has partnered with this FCS Agent, and the Metcalfe County 4 - H Agent offering NEP programs.  The NEP assistant has begun monthly outreach with Bowling Park food commodities/pantry site, is offering LEAPS with FCS Agent and County program assistant with the public school kindergarten and preschool classrooms, and has monthly programs scheduled with many other program partner groups and outlets.  The NEP assistant has completed four, public NEP program outreach events.

NEP - PSE: This FCS Extension Agent manages the participating producer training for the WIC and Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Voucher programs; offered annually, through the Metcalfe County Farmers Market.  Participation in these programs, ability to accept SNAP benefits, and participation with the KY Double Dollars program insures access to the Farmers Market and the freshest produce available, for Metcalfe County's most vulnerable citizens.  The Metcalfe County Farmers Market has participated in these programs since 2009, when this FCS Agent first trained two participating producers to accept vouchers from recipient customers.  Each year this FCS Agent has trained successively larger groups of participating producers, many of whom sell at more than one local farmers market, accepting vouchers.  In 2022, twenty-five individuals were trained in Metcalfe County, to participate as producers approved to accept the WIC and Senior Farmers Market Vouchers at five different participating Kentucky Proud Farmers Markets in the south central Kentucky area.  As a part of this role, this FCS Agent conducts annual, mandatory farm visits for all newly participating producers, completing in July 2022 farm visits at six newly participating farms, with eight first - time producer vendors trained.  During this 2022 season, approximately $10,084.00 income, was returned to participating producers, from participation with these programs.