The problem

No doubt that one positive result of the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown was an increase interest in gardening and home food production.  Many home owners planted fruit trees in an attempt to produce some high quality fresh fruit at home.  West 8 Agriculture Agents have been getting requests for more programming on fruit tree care and pruning.  

The educational program response

In February 2024 a fruit tree pruning workshop was held on the farm of the Dennison family.  The Dennison family are long time fruit producers and users of Extension services.  Daniel Becker, UK Extension Associate was the featured presenter and demonstrator.  The workshop began with a classroom season held in the farm shop.  Participants were served locally sourced milk from Legacy Farms, and choice of apple or peach fried pies prepared by R&S Bakery in Hart Co.  SNAP approved recipes were make available that used peaches and apples.

The participants/target audience

The initial target was home owners, however there was a significant response from commercial producers as well

Other partners

Allen, Barren Hart, Metcalfe, & Monroe Counties were the partnering agents

Legacy Farms Dairy—Barren County

R&S Bakery—Hart County

Kentucky State University Ag Technology Agent

Kentucky State University Regional 4H Agent

Dennison’s Roadside Market

Program impact or participant response

A total of thirty-three (33) participants attended the workshop, of which 18 completed evaluations.   Six (6) of the attendant indicated that this was their first Extension program.  Most of the respondents indicated they had between 6-20 fruit trees.   Follow up conversations with some in attendance indicated that coupling the classroom instruction with the actual demonstration in the field was very useful.  Follow up conversations also yielded comments of the great timing of the program and that after attending they felt confident to prune their own trees.   One gentleman stated that he had already pruned his trees, but after this he was going to go back and prune them some more.