Author: Delia Scott
Planning Unit: Horticulture
Major Program: Horticulture, Consumer and Home
Outcome: Initial Outcome
The Tree Fruit Grafting In-service for Agents was developed to introduce the new Extension Fruit Specialist, Dr. Brent Arnoldussen, to agents throughout the state as well as to train agents on safe and effective tree fruit grafting techniques. Three in-services were held on three dates in February, including in Lexington at the UK Horticulture Research Farm on February 14; in London at the Laurel Co. Extension Office on February 21; and in Owensboro at the Daviess Co. Extension Office on February 28. I developed, coordinated, and moderated the three workshops, including sending out all communications to agents, listing the in-service in KERS, ordering/purchasing supplies and lunches, coordinating funding, putting together grafting kits, and answering follow-up questions/emails. Dr. Craig Wood provided the funding for the agent workshops, which included grafting kits for agents to take home, along with 3 different grafted trees, and lunch. Funds were also used to purchase different grafting types of grafting knives, bands, parafilm, wax, and rootstocks. Thirty-eight agents were trained over the three workshops.