According to the University of Kentucky Community Needs Assessment Survey results, strengthening/supporting the local food and agriculture industry is listed as a top priority indicator.  

To address this need, Knox County community members were educated of the importance and development of local food/local grown products/markets and the agriculture industry, the agriculture agent and FCS agent provided 3 educational opportunities with transportation provided to visit a local dairy farm, apple orchard & local coffeehouse.

The Knox County Cooperative Extension Service partnered with Wildcat Mountain Cheese, Creech’s Apple Orchard and Folktale Coffee & Bakehouse to offer education and leadership for this need.  The USDA and local soil conservation office partnered to support this program and provide information on resources available to Knox County farmers.   

While visiting the dairy farm, 25 participants were able to tour the facility and learned the process of cheese making. At the apple orchard, participants were educated on the history of the honey crisp apple that grows at the top of black mountain in Harlan, KY.  While visiting the coffee house, 20 participants learned how they incorporate local products into making their business successful and gained step by step instructions on how to bake sourdough bread.  

As a result of this program,

100% learned more about local agriculture industry and the importance of buying local

50% of participants purchased local items from these industries

50% of participants used knowledge gained from the program in their home, like baking sourdough bread, etc.