Describe the Issue or Situation.

Most families and adults in Hardin County have little to no experience or opportunity to learn more about the local food system or careers in Agriculture. A recent community needs assessment reported that 75% of community members who responded feel that youth in Hardin County need life skills training opportunities. Overall, over 74% of respondents identified the 3 top needs of Hardin County as agricultural based including sustainability of family farms, preserving/managing agricultural land, and ensuring individuals and families have access to affordable nutritious foods. Through the collabortive efforts of UK,. community farmers, and 4-H and Ag teachers, we are able to address all of these needs through the Food, Farming, and Community curriculum that is tailored to middle school aged youth. 

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).

Hardin County 4-H Agent, Jocelyn Kemp, with support from North Middle School in Hardin County, delivered Food, Farming, and Community (FFC), an evidence-based curriculum, to a group of 6th and 7th graders. FFC teaches diverse youth audiences the skills needed to make informed decisions about where their food comes from, their role in a food system, and the opportunities available to them to hold careers in agriculture despite any biases they think exist. Program activities occurred over 6 weeks (one full trimester in the classroom) and included SNAP recipes, an esports opportunity to experience virtual farming, a visit from a local farmer and his heifer, and hands-on experience visiting a local farm on a field trip.

Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience.

Ninety (90) North Middle School students in both 6th and 7th grade completed the program. The program also involved 2 local farming operations/farmers.

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach.

Program evaluation results showed gains in participants’ knowledge of local food systems, how to plan for and prepare nutritious foods, and career opportunities in agriculture. Specifically, 92% of participants increased their knowledge of how to write a monthly budget and 95% improved in their understanding of credit card interest rates and fees.