Success StoryAgents and Extension Associate Form New Turfgrass Collaboration



Agents and Extension Associate Form New Turfgrass Collaboration

Author: Kenneth Clayton

Planning Unit: Plant and Soil Sciences

Major Program: Horticulture, Commercial

Outcome: Initial Outcome

The loss of two faculty in turfgrass and the setbacks of the covid time period led to some creativity in the forming of a new model of turfgrass extension at the University of Kentucky. Dr. Rebecca McCulley, Dr. Craig Wood, and Dr. Laura Stephenson were pivotal in the formation of a new model for turfgrass extension, a model that has proven a helpful path to providing outreach to stakeholders during this time period.  I was hired in June of 2022 as an Extension Associate Senior and simultaneously three existing agents were given overload to work on turfgrass extension. Andy Rideout (Hort.) of Henderson County, Beth Wilson (Hort.) of Pulaski County, Jason Vaughn (ANR) of Powell County and myself formed the new turfgrass working group.   This group allowed for a very helpful connection between agents across the state who already knew these existing agents and myself as a new hire.  Between the four of us we were able to meet the needs of professional turfgrass managers and assist agents from east to west quite smoothly.  We were able to help agents install demonstration turfgrass plots for their counties in three counties, publish four new extension publications, give a multiple seminars, and host a turfgrass conference over three days with over 550 attendees. This new model of turfgrass extension at the University of Kentucky has proven efficient and effective during the first year.






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