SITUATION:

Kentucky is home to 85,500 farms, tied with Oklahoma as the 4th ranking state in the number of farms (National Agriculture Statistics Service, 2012). The average farm size in Kentucky 164 acres, compared to the national average of 421 acres (National Agriculture Statistics Services, 2012.) Between 2000 and 2012, the Bluegrass State had a 6.7% decrease in the number of acres of farmland, which is the greatest percentage decrease of any state in the country (Census of Agriculture, 2012). A farm is defined by the United States Government as any place that produced and sold, or normally would produce and sell, $1,000 or more of agriculture products during the census year. While KY population is increasing, the number of people living on farms is decreasing. Therefore, the need exists to educate people, particularly youth, about the impact that it makes on our daily lives, as well as the importance of agriculture to the Commonwealth. The top agriculture products produced on Kentucky farms are changing. In 2012, the top 10 agriculture products were: broilers, corn, horses and mules, soybeans, cattle and calves, tobacco, dairy products and milk, wheat, hay and chicken eggs (USDA-KY, 2012).

In order to provide agricultural education to youth, counties will either plan and conduct an Ag Day Program, designed to educate participants on the value of agriculture to Kentucky’s economy and the impact that agriculture has on their daily lives or teach Ag in the Classroom to elementary school students.

INITIAL OUTCOMES:

• Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant

Sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.

• Youth will gain an understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems.

• Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, record- keeping, leadership and service.

 LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES:

Audience: Youth 9 to 19 years of age

Project or Activity: Ag Day

Content or Curriculum: 4-H Ag Curriculum

Inputs: UK and KSU Agents, volunteers, Specialists

Date: Year 'round

For many years, McCracken County Extension agents worked with McCracken County Schools to host an Ag Day event designed to help increase Ag awareness in youth. At one of the planning meetings, one of our 4-H Agents asked if we could one day create an Ag Day for the area Paducah City Schools. She pointed out that youth in the city are more likely to need education about agriculture than county youth. She also expressed a desire for the event to be on our site instead of the fairgrounds. All other Agents agreed of the need and sought to make this happen. 

In winter of 2019, McCracken County Extension Agents began planning the October 2019 event.  Initial goals included INITIAL OUTCOMES:

• Youth will gain knowledge and skills in the production of food and fiber in the areas of plant sciences, horticulture and animal sciences.

• Youth will gain an understanding of healthy and sustainable food systems.

• Youth will develop valuable life-skills, including decision-making, communications, record- keeping, leadership and service.

Agents worked with area businesses: NRCS, Hutson Farm Equipment, EFNEP assistant, Celebration Events and Tents, Lane Company, Learning Railroad, Barnyard Animals, James Sanders Nursery, Southern Spread (Britanny Crim), Jackson Purchase Electric, and Ballard Tack Company to secure sites for educational stops along the rotation of school students. Area Agents also helped. Specialists from KSU Forrest Wynne, Aquatic Specialist and UK Dr Raul Villanueva, Entomologist, provided tools and information to the Agents who conducted the talks to the students.Area Extension Agents and Staff Support who worked totaled 11. 

On 3 Oct 2019, 286 students attended. Helping create the day were 46 adults. Adults included 2 volunteers from Extension District Board, 4 Master Food Volunteers,8 Master Gardeners,12 Speakers/Vendors. Lunch was provided. (Students left the site for their lunches.) An information tent held a First-Aid Station where a registered nurse was present. 

Statistics collected from the students: 

Healthy Food: SNAP Activity: Cornbread Sampling: (Youth Ground Shelled Corn) 236 total tried the cornbread 180 YES 80 NO 26 Maybe 

Barnyard Animals: Have you ever touched a cow? 100% said NO. 

After the event was over, one of the schools called to thank us for such a fantastic Ag Day.  They asked if we can do it again next year.  The answer is, “Yes, we already have it on the calendar.”