Author: Michelle Simon
Planning Unit: Campbell County CES
Major Program: Farm Management
Plan of Work: Beef Cattle Production
Outcome: Initial Outcome
The Boone County Nature Center is one of Boone County’s treasures- this property and facility is used by many Boone County Extension programs and promotes a variety of educational opportunities for the community. The Nature Center is home to a large demonstration garden and orchard in addition to an abundant wildlife population; this combination can be detrimental to the garden and orchard. In response to this situation, a fence needed to be constructed to prevent wildlife from entering the garden and orchard. Boone County ANR and Horticulture Agents partnered to use this as an educational opportunity for the Boone County community to learn fence designs to meet the function and purpose of what they need, the proper technique of constructing high tensile fencing, what tools and equipment are needed, setting brace posts, and understanding Kentucky fence laws. Agents also partnered with a local sheep producer and County Council member to provide visual aids such as a spinning jenny, a variety of fence insulators, tools used for ratchets and wire and high tensile wire to enhance the “hands-on” learning experience for participants. This Fencing School was geared for agriculture and horticulture producers with livestock to contain or fruits and vegetables needing protection from wildlife. Ten producers attended the training, 100% of the participants owned livestock and/ or horses and raised a horticultural crop that was susceptible to wildlife damage and needed solid fencing. These participants learned what tools were needed to construct a high tensile fence and brace post and reported an increase in knowledge about Kentucky fence laws pertaining to ownership and responsibility. One couple reported a change in their farm management as a result of learning the legal aspect of fencing during the Hands-On Fencing School.
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