Success StoryUK Sustainability and Challenge Grant



UK Sustainability and Challenge Grant

Author: Edwin Ritchey

Planning Unit: Plant and Soil Sciences

Major Program: Soils

Outcome: Initial Outcome

ZenaidaViloria and others from the UK Research and Education Center in Princeton, KYwere awarded a grant to instruct 4th and 5th graders fromCaldwell County and Lyon County on sustainable agronomic practices they can usein their daily lives. Approximately 130 students from Lyon County and 220students from Caldwell County participated in the program and met three times,twice at UKREC and once at their school. UKREC participation included staff andspecialist representing Horticulture, Entomology, Regulatory Services, and SoilSciences disciplines. The trainings were hands-on and students and learnedabout carbon cycles, pollinator species and protection, horticulture plantidentification, composting, and soil formation and erosion. All this culminatedin them planting a vegetable garden is a raised bed system. Each school had araise bed system at UKREC and one at their home school to monitor over thecourse of the summer. This program had good reviews from students and theprogram made the local newspaper. At my daughter’s 5th grade graduation,they played a slide show highlighting activities and interactions the studentshad during the year. Many of the students were pictured at the UKRECHorticulture program. I am proud to say I was a part of this program and thatwe provided appropriate information to improve their knowledge of sustainablepractices they can do in their everyday lives.






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