On May 8, 1914, the Smith-Lever Act was signed into Congress to provide practical application of research knowledge and giving instruction and practical demonstration of practices in agriculture (and other related subjects) to connect with individuals in communities as an outreach of Agriculture research. Recently Extension celebrated its 150^th anniversary as a Land Grant research college. President Lincoln signed the Morrill Act in 1862 to give land for public colleges with focus on agriculture and mechanical arts. Kentucky having 120 counties with each providing research base information to communities from both Kentucky Land Grant Colleges: University of Kentucky college and Kentucky State University college, and still after all of these years, Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, still struggles with marketing programs and services. 

To help bridge that gap, Campbell County Extension has been hosting a free annual weekend event to help market and increase awareness to local residents about The Cooperative Extension Service. This year our focus was to collaborate with local agencies that Extension partners with for programming. We wanted to highlight how our partnerships provide programs for families through our communities. Community collaborators from: Highland Heights Police Dept., Cold Springs Branch Library, Northern Kentucky University Food Pantry, The Northern KY Sanitation District provided resources and demonstrations for participants. The police department showcased how using technology using as a drone has helped solve cases and also find evidence. Detective Haigis demonstrated using the drone around Extension property while allowing a few youth and adults control the device. The library showcased their upcoming programs for families, summer reading program, and the importance of library services here in Campbell County. NKU Food Pantry partnered with Extension SNAP-ED to build awareness of the food insured students on campus and non-perishable donations were accepted at the event to stock the shelves at the pantry. SD1 showcased the importance of water quality and education and brought attention to programs for homeowners. 

We hosted our Fourth annual Community Celebration event held at our office in Highland Heights. Despite the cloudy skies, periodic down pours of rain, 250 people braved the weather to attend our event that was held on Saturday June 24, 2019. 

With much support from Extension program collaborators: horticulture, agriculture, family consumer science, nutrition ed. program, 4-H, Kentucky State University, and natural resource and environment, Campbell County homemakers association, Horticulture Master Gardener volunteers,  along with community partners from: local fire department, bee keepers association, local farmers (Neltner’s Farm, TONS Produce, Stephanie Zinc, Ridge Hill Soap Co.), beef cattle association, UK office of Diversity, NKY Dulcimers association, and 4-H youth showing their goats from livestock club and horses from 4-H horse club, this annual event continues to grow and reach new users of Extension.

Programs stemming from: cooking demonstrations, food samples, FCS storm readiness, bird house construction, native plant give a-ways to cooking demonstrations using KY Proud recipes, firehouse safety education, rain barrel and sustainable demonstration, KSU aquaculture pond demonstration, wildlife education, program displays and signups, provided a wide perspective of the resources and programs for individuals and families in Campbell County from UK and KSU Extension. As a result, 57 families brought home with them a fun Extension magnet to remind them of their fun day at our office, 15 people signed up for Extension programs, and 3 people signed up for Matter of Balance programs. 

Participants have shared that as a result of the Community Celebration, “Our family with be reaching out to the dulcimers to join and take lessons”, “We had no idea Extension was so diverse in their offerings to the community”, “We still have our tree from the first event and it’s growing well. We look forward to coming back each year to learn something new, thanks for offering this”,  

Each year Campbell County Cooperative Extension will continue to host this annual event and continue to partner with local agencies to increase awareness about provide research based information to residents. 

Sources:

https://extension.ca.uky.edu/files/smith-lever_act.pdf 

https://www.loc.gov/rr/program/bib/ourdocs/morrill.html