In Lawrence County we’re growing ideas that make a difference in your life, your family, and your community. We have a dedicated staff of trained professionals delivering educational programs in agriculture and natural resources, family and consumer sciences, 4-H youth development, and community and economic development. The Lawrence County Cooperative Extension Office is your connection to the University of Kentucky and the world. You’ll see some key numbers in this report. But the numbers don’t show you the people or the impact of our work. So the rest of this report shows the faces behind some of the numbers.

IN LAWRENCE COUNTY

November 2012

Leadership

A sizable amount of youth are no longer making it to their graduation day, According to statistics provid-ed by the Lawrence County Board of Education, the graduation rate for the most recent graduating class (Class of 2011) was 57%, not a favorable amount for students moving on beyond high school. When asked to serve on the Key Community Partnerships Council with the Adult Education Center, the 4-H Agent and other community partners were asked to identify what was allowing such a small number of youth to complete high school. Youth development came into the forefront, and 4-H was asked to develop a pro-gram, along with the school system, to keep our youth enrolled in our public schools from 9th -12th grades. The program was called BRIDGE Days and we targeted our 8th grade classes because of the number of smaller schools that feed into our single high school. Upon surveying all high school freshmen to find their weakest moments of beginning their high school days as well as all 8th graders across the county to see what areas they felt were pressing to students before entering high school, we established programming for four BRIDGE Days meetings throughout the school year. The mission of BRIDGE Days was to empower 8th grade youth through inten-tional and positive relationships, purposeful interac-tions, and leadership skills while promoting excellence and identity as the class of 2016. Through extension programming, the school system, community part-ners, parents, and students, BRIDGE Days was quick-ly taken as a valuable and beneficial program. With each meeting, students became more comfortable with each other in varying groups and teachers re-

marked on the differences they were seeing at school and in public set-tings. The 4-H Agent has been asked to carry this program on in the years to come with high hopes of increasing the graduation rate steadily in our public school system.

Reaching Out to Lawrence County Educational Programs Programs presented 415 Total participants 14,905 Educational Contacts Clientele visits 1,430 Telephone consultations 13,110 Newsletters distributed 27,655 Volunteer Development Volunteers 360 Volunteer hours 6,415

Master Cattlemen

The Master Cattleman Program was offered in 6 counties (Boyd, Carter, Floyd, Johnson, Law-rence, and Magoffin). Between those 6 counties there are approximately 23, 590 head of cattle ac-cording to the 2007 agricultural census. In Law-rence County, cattle sales top the list of agricultur-al cash receipts. At the request of cow/calf produc-ers looking to capitalize on a strong cattle market and improve herd management, the Master Cattle-man program was offered. This 10 week program included 3 hours educational session on manage-ment, reproduction, nutrition, forages, facilities, genetics, environment, herd health, end product and marketing to help producers increase the prof-itability on the farm. A total of 53 individuals par-ticipated in the Master Cattleman program. At the conclusion of the program, participants were sur-veyed informally on how the program had affected their farm practices and decisions. Results indicat-ed that: a) producers had changed practices asso-ciated with increased attention to herd health, b) producers had plans to improve their record keep-ing, c) producers plan to utilize EPD information when purchasing new bulls, and d) producers gained knowledge in forage management and utili-zation, the importance of safe and user friendly handling facilities, and the changing nutritional needs of cows and calves. At the request for more information from the graduates of Master Cattle-man, the Advanced Master Cattleman Program will be offered.

Heritage Harvest Tour

Agriculture in Lawrence County continues to be an important means of income for many families. In addition, the current economic situation is lead-ing many folks to stay closer to home for fun. To capitalize on the this new concept of ‘staycations,’ (day trips closer to home), a small group of farmers and community leaders part-nered with the Lawrence County Extension Office

and Lawrence County Tourism to develop the Her-itage Harvest Tour. This event is a one day driving tour that travels along Rural Route 3. The Heritage Harvest Tour, held in late September helps pro-mote local agritourism. This past year, there were eight (8) stops on the driving tour, including five (5) farms and three (3) churches (each of which is over 100 years old). These stops offered partici-pants a look into the heritage of Appalachia and taste of the present agricultural production practic-es here in Lawrence County. This one day driving tour brought in over $20,000 to Lawrence County farmers and church groups and over 600 people participated in the driving tour from four (4) states and several counties in Kentucky. Plans continue to be made for improvements to this annual event each year.

Health and Wellness

Lawrence County Extension Service partners with the newly formed Health Action Team (HAT) to address major health needs and issues of our community, such as diabetes, tobacco use, cancer, nutrition and lack of physical activity. Partners of HAT included medical and health professionals from the Lawrence County Health Department and Three Rivers Medical Center. Extension is involved in HAT projects and events, such as the Annual Health & Wellness Expo, Healthy Women Expo, Healthy Living with Diabetes support group, and the tobacco-free schools policy. HAT also endorsed UK Extension's program, "Truth and Consequenc-es" which was presented to approximately 196 8th grade students.

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Food, Nutrition & Health Education

Lawrence County has both EFNEP (Expanded Foods & Nutrition Education Program and SNAP-Ed (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) nutrition assistants who enroll families into the Nutrition Educa-tion Program (NEP). A total of 98 families graduated from either EFNEP or SNAP-Ed nutrition programs. 97% reported at least one positive change in diet quali-ty/nutrition. Twenty-four (24) youth groups involving 950 children/youth were taught food, nutrition, and health education. The Literacy, Eating, Activity for Pri-mary (LEAP) program was taught to 154 students in twelve (12) classrooms in three schools. NEP assis-tants taught seven (7) lessons which focused on healthy eating habits and daily physical activity. The GROW (Gardening Relationships Opportunities & Well-ness) series involved County FCS and ANR agents, plus SNAP-Ed and EFNEP Nutrition assistants teaching life-skills & nutrition education to 37 residents at Karen’s Place, a residential recovery facility for women over-coming substance abuse. A portion of the GROW se-ries includes participants enrolling in one of the Nutri-tion Education Programs, SNAP-Ed or EFNEP. Partici-pants were taught gardening skills (planting, soil, care, and harvesting); green cleaning products; clothing re-pairs; outdoor nature; nutrition, health and food prepa-ration skills.

Egg Incubation Brings Agriculture to the Front of the Class!

The 4-H Incubation and Embryology Project has been implemented in public schools throughout Lawrence County to provide students a hands-on learning experience where they can learn basic life science skills and a basic knowledge of the growth and development of a chick embryo in the egg. They also develop basic animal husbandry skills as they help

take of the incubator, maintaining proper temperature and humidity, and the proper care and feeding of the baby chicks after they hatch. The Lawrence County Ex-tension Office, in partnership with Lawrence County Farm Bureau and Lawrence County Conservation dis-trict have provided materials, including incubators, fer-tile chicken eggs and educational resources for the im-plementation of the Incubation and Embryology Project in classrooms throughout Lawrence County. Embryolo-

gy lessons were taught in a team effort between the ANR Agent and 4-H Agent to over 300 students from 5 schools.

Family Home Garden Series As the economic situation continues to be sluggish across the state and more citi-zens less expendable income, it becomes more and more finan-cially straining for fam-ilies to afford their recommended servings of fruits and vegetables. Lawrence ANR Agent partnered with Dis-trict 1 ANR/HORT/FCS Agents University of Kentucky Specialist and FCS Agents to host a Home Garden Se-ries. The group developed an educational program se-ries to provide participants with the tools necessary to grow their own fruits and vegetables. During the seven (7) sessions all aspects of a home garden from start to finish including: 1)Making Preparations for Your Gar-den, 2) Planting and Growing More In Less Space, 3)The Three Gardening Seasons and Extending the Grow-ing Season, 4) Caring for Your Vegetables during the Growing Season, 5) Garden Disease Control, 6) Time of Harvest and Storing Vegetables, and 7) Canning and Freezing Your Vegetables. The program accommodated 538 participants dur-ing the seven sessions. As a result of the Family Home Garden Series participants reported that they gained knowledge and skills that will allow them to improve their ability to grow their own produce. In particular, several participants reported the importance of identi-fying the pests before treating. Skills have been demonstrated through follow up conversations and vis-its with participants across the district. In addition to the program improving gardening skills for participants, the Family Home Garden Series saved time and money for UK specialists, agents and participants through the use of Adobe Connect, an in-teractive internet program. The Family Home Garden Series was available to all counties in District 1 simulta-neously that chose to participate. Participants were able to ask real time questions to speakers from re-mote locations during the sessions while speakers pro-jected from their home or office. In addition, partici-pants did not have time and money associated with traveling to various site locations for the presentation.

Agricultural Commissioner, James Comer, visits LEES to see chicks hatch.

Extension Staff and Volunteers work in raised bed gardens.

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Extension Homemakers Partner in Local Outreach Activities

Lawrence County's breast cancer death rate is 32.7% compared to KY's 27% overall. Lawrence County Extension Homemaker members partnered with the Lawrence County Cancer Coalition and County Health Department to bring awareness of the importance of breast cancer screenings. Exten-sion homemakers assisted with a local charitable bikers' ride to raise awareness and funds for the KY Women's Cancer Screening Program (KWCSP). Twelve (12) Extension homemaker volunteers also received training for the "Make It Your Business” campaign in which members visited local businesses and shared information about early detection of breast cancer and local services available. A total of 61 businesses were reached, which exceeded the target goal of 50. Since many of these local busi-nesses do not furnish or offer health insurance, the packet of information shared with each business in-cluded information about available services in the area and cost-free breast cancer screenings availa-ble through KWCSP. Lawrence County Extension Homemaker volunteers also support and promote the UK Ovarian Cancer Research Screening Project; 2nd Sunday; a physical activity/family event; Health & Wellness Expo; and the Build Your Nest/Baby Pro-ject.

Lawrence County Farm and Home Field Day Lawrence County Extension Office in partnership with various community organizations, such as Law-rence County Farm Bureau, Lawrence County Con-servation District, local banks, schools, and other businesses provide educational opportunities during annual Farm and Home Field Day. Jay and Sara Sexton of Webbville, Kentucky were the host family.

In 2012, over 300 participants registered for the event. We look forward to continuing this Extension tradition. Stephanie Derifield Lawrence CEA for Family & Consumer Science Julia Rollins Lawrence CEA for Agriculture/Natural Resources Caryn McCreary Lawrence CEA for 4-H Youth Development

The Lawrence County Cooperative Extension Service We deliver information, education, solutions. For more information, contact us at: 249 Industrial Park Road Louisa, Kentucky 41230 (606) 673-9495 Fax: (606) 673-9498

Members of the Lawrence County Extension Homemakers Organization.

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