Morgan County Extension volunteer leaders and extension agents recognized the need for a partnership to address access to locally grown fruits and vegetables to improve the health and wellness of Morgan Countians and supplement income for local farmers/gardeners.   Local partnerships of the Morgan County Diabetes Coalition, Morgan County Farmers Market and team work of ANR agent and FCS agent have successfully established strong collaborations.  Grant writing to fund the Diabetes Coalition projects including:  Veggie Bucks for Youth, Fun on the Farm, Field Days, Food Preservation Programs, "Cooking Through the Calendar" and numerous other activities and events, the Extension Service continues to provide valuable organizational, educational, agronomic and family and consumer sciences support to these groups.  
     Agent led trainings include: Home-Based Micro-processing and Sampling certifications, 4-5 veggie bucks demonstrations, youth and adult food preparation courses, along with "hands on" food preservation sessions.  Publications featuring gardening, Plate-It-Up or Kentucky Proud recipes, and health/nutrition/food safety are also distributed. “Veggie Buck” days also provide youth and families an opportunity to sample vegetables – many for the first time while increasing income for the growers and health and nutrition for families.  Results of these efforts include:
1.  95% increase in purchase & preparation of locally grown fruits & vegetables for families.    
2.  A 30% increase in income derived from farming, especially noted for women farmers;
3. Eight home based micro-processing certifications
4. An increase in WIC and Senior Farmers Market voucher redemption rates;
5. Increase in participation in Food Preservation workshops (including intergenerational)
6. Increase in number of youth "sampling" vegetables and asking parents to make the dishes sampled for them
7. Leadership developing and organizing new facility plans, plus events to attract new visitors; and
8. Growth in the number of new customers indicating community recognition of where to find healthy, locally grown, fresh produce.
9.  Recognition of selection, preparation and sampling of locally grown foods through the "Plate it Up - KY Proud" promotion of locally grown produce - "producing a win-win for farmers and families alike" - better nutrition - better health - healthier incomes.