Describe the Issue or Situation.

LaRue County is home to several large acreage row crop operations most of which are multigenerational with future generations coming back to the operations after high school or college graduation.  The ANR agent in cooperation with the high school agricultural instructors selected and trained a team of students to compete at the UK Crop Scout Competition.  This opportunity gave these students a hands on opportunity to explore protentional careers within the agriculture field.  

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

As stated before the ANR agent reached out to partner with the local high school agricultural instructors to recruit students interested in the field.  Many local operations opened their farms for the students to collect samples and walk fields to gain real world exposure.  Also extension specialists at the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center in Princeton, KY hosted the competition and provided insight to the students who competed.

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

A total of 7 high school aged students ages 15-18 were involved in the program.  Adult volunteers from instructors, to farmers, and inductry representatives totaled 11.  Along with 9 extension specialist and numerous extension agents and volunteers.

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.

The goal of this program was to provide the opportunity and to expose the the students that competed hands on training and the emphasize the need for highly trained and skilled workforce to return to the farming operations.  Five of the seven youth participants competed at the state competition.  Feedback of the program was held to high regard with four youth stating they will use the knowledge to help on their families farming operations and one youth stating that his major focus area in college is grain production.  The ANR agent also received feedback from one operator that since the competition was completed his "son now tells him all the problems in his fields".