Access to fresh produce and knowledge about home gardening remains limited for many households in Montgomery County. Additionally, while the Cooperative Extension Service offers a variety of resources, public awareness of these programs is still growing. Ag Week provided an opportunity to address both challenges by engaging the community in a meaningful and accessible way. From this the ag week seed giveaway project was born.

To celebrate Ag Week, the Montgomery County Cooperative Extension Office hosted a Seed Giveaway event aimed at encouraging home gardening and increasing visibility of Extension programs specifically in horticulture and agriculture. Free seed packets were distributed along with educational flyers and publications covering basic gardening practices, crop selection, how to read a seed packet, and what to do with the produce after it was harvested. This outreach effort served as a low-barrier entry point for families new to gardening and unfamiliar with Extension resources. The event also served as a platform for collecting community input, as attendees offered suggestions for future educational programs. I also would like to thank Powell County ANR agent Jason Vaughn for sharing some of the seeds that were used in the giveaway.

The event reached approximately 30 community members, with a strong turnout from families with children, seniors, and individuals from lower-income households. Many participants reported that this was their first time receiving services or educational materials from Extension. Several had never gardened before but expressed a desire to start growing their own food as a cost-saving and health-conscious initiative.

Post-event feedback and follow-up evaluation of the participants has not been conducted at this time. A number of first-time gardeners will be planting vegetable gardens using the seeds and publications provided. All participants were given my business card to reach out to me afterward for continued support and education relative to their gardens. The event also led to new program requests, including workshops on composting, food preservation, and pest management. As a result, Extension increased its visibility and engagement in underserved segments of the community, laying the groundwork for continued outreach and impact.