Food security is an important topic that spans an entire community, and thus all areas of the Cooperative Extension Service.  The United States Department of Agriculture defines food security as access to enough food by all people, at all times, for an active, healthy life.  “Feeding America,” an organization that focuses on domestic hunger relief and food banks, defines food insecurity as the lack of access, at times, to enough food.  According to Feeding America’s Map the Meal Gap 2017 report, 16% (1,820 people) of Carroll County’s population is considered food insecure.  Several programs exist in Carroll County to aid this need, including the Carroll County Food Pantry, free lunch for all students in the Carroll County School District, WIC and Senior Farmer’s Market Nutrition Programs. However, just as it is important to have access to foods, it is important to know how to prepare these foods.  With the reduction of teaching life skills in the school curriculum, the need to help develop life skills for youth in the community is a crucial area for the Cooperative Extension Service to focus on. In response, the Carroll County Cooperative Extension Agents collaborated to implement Recipes for Life in March 2018.

The Carroll County Extension Agents, with the assistance of 20 volunteers (nine of which were new volunteers to Extension) conducted a three hour, hands-on program for 102 fifth graders (9 Black, 13 Hispanic, 54 Females, 48 Males). Funding for the program was provided through a grant received from SNAP-Ed. 

Students were divided into small groups, led by volunteers, where they learned food and kitchen safety, kitchen and cooking organization, food preparation, how to read a recipe, MyPlate planning, hand washing, meal planning and presentation, and math and science enhancement by doing hands-on activities.   Each student received tools to take home to help them continue practicing what they learned, including an apron, measuring tools, cutting boards, pot holder, and recipe book. Parents and school personnel both commented how good the program is and the importance of continuing it in the school curriculum.

Another way to help combat food insecurity is by Food Preservation. Being a rural county, many families have the opportunity to raise gardens or shop at the local farmers market. In conjunction with the University of Kentucky, two Extension Specialist came to the Carroll County Extension office to teach a three day Food Preservation Workshop. Thirteen participants were reached through the program including two male, one Hispanic, one Portuguese, one African-American and one youth.

Participants learned the importance of the quality of food you choose to preserve, the need for safe food handling and how to prevent food spoilage. Through hands on participation, each participant was able to process green beans, make salsa, freeze corn, dry apples and make freezer jam. The local Farmers Market donated some of the supplies. Participants learned the difference between low acid and high acid foods and the proper canning techniques for each. Their confidence level increased when using food preservation skills and also felt more comfortable handling food preservation equipment. After completing this program, all of the participants were able to demonstrated recommended food preservation practices and said they have a better understanding of skills in home food preservation methods. 

Upon completing the program participants reported canning 241 pints of fruits and vegetables using the water bath canning process, 319 pints of fruits and vegetables using a pressure canner, freezing 186 pints of fruits and vegetables, and drying 16 pints of fruit.