Simple Steps to Stewardship Landowner Program

By Dr. Amanda Gumbert and Billy Thomas

University of Kentucky Extension specialists in Agriculture and Natural Resources Extension and Forestry and Natural Resources partnered with KY Woodland Owners Association, KY Department of Fish & Wildlife Resources, KY Division of Forestry, and Bullitt County Conservation District to offer a landowner workshop focused on introducing land stewardship practices. The workshop was targeted to new landowners or landowners just getting started in management activities. These new landowners often do not have land management experience or awareness of the many organizations and programs available to support conservation practices. As these audiences are hard to reach through traditional Extension program promotion, public radio and online advertising were used as a means to promote the workshop.

Presenters explored the "why" of conservation practice implementation by connecting water quality in KY to the health of the Mississippi River & Gulf of Mexico; shared landowner programs related to pollinator conservation practices; promoted educational programs and opportunities for landowners to learn more about long-term forest management; and encouraged landowners to utilize government agencies and resources to support implementation of conservation practices on traditional agriculture and forested lands. A forest landowner shared his personal experiences with conservation practice implementation and encouraged others to utilize the resources presented.

Thirty-one landowners impacting 2,364 acres attended the program (average acreage = 82; median acreage = 70). A post-event survey indicated that all respondents gained confidence on utilizing agencies and programs to help implement a forestry/conservation practice on their land; 93% agreed or strongly agreed that hearing directly from a landowner was helpful on their conservation journey; and 85% agreed or strongly agreed that attending the event helped them connect with people who are implementing conservation or can advise them about conservation practices.