I partnered with the Rowan County Painted Hills Gardening Club and Dr. Amanda Skidmore of Morehead State University to plan and implement the first ever Heart and Soil Festival in Rowan County. This festival was geared towards those in the county who hope to learn about horticulture and home gardening. Planning for this festival had been happening since the fall of 2022 and the festival took place in April of 2023. This festival was advertised through several different outlets, including radio and magazines. The day of the festival, approximately 70 people attended to hear presentations from students through Morehead State, The Conservation Office, and Rowan County Cooperative Extension Office. 

A booth was set up for the Rowan County Extension Office that included publications, handouts, and horticulture fact sheets that could be handed out to those who attended the festival. This allowed me to reach out to different members of the community and hear about some programming and information they would like to see available through The Cooperative Extension Office. I spoke to leaders in the community and many home gardeners about the benefits of Extension. I have been contacted by several of these community members to provide even more information regarding programming and possible partnerships since the festival.