Report to the People 2008
| In Henry 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 Henry County Cooperative Extension Office is your connection to University of Kentucky and the world.
Many reports simply list key numbers. But the numbers don’t show you the people or the impact of our work. So this report will show you some of the faces behind some of the numbers. |
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4-H Smart Shooters took on the best in the world at the International Youth HunterEducation Challenge:
Just three short years ago this team finished fourth in the state at the Kentucky Youth Hunter Education Challenge. The team coach said that four years ago our group was in the program for the hands on learning and the experience of the challenge, now we are ready to compete with the best. This year our team took home the first place trophy from the state competition. The team is comprised of five young men who have dedicated themselves to the 4-H Shooting Sports Program and practice three to four evenings a week to hone their skills. |
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This year the group put Kentucky on the map at the national competition held in Pennsylvania. Not only has this group learned to be good marksman, hunters, and stewards of the land they have learned to encourage each other and to rely on each others strengths while competing at a national level.
The program has granted 60 dreams so far including a portrait of a resident’s dog which was hand painted by Extension Council member Susan Coleman: |
Women in Agriculture-Annie’s Project
The 2002 Census of Agriculture reports 883 farms in Henry County. It is known that a percentage of the $24,000,000 total agricultural income in Henry County is produced with female management.
Women are taking on larger roles within Agriculture, sometimes without the advantage of having years of farming experience. Eighteen farm women participated in Annie’s Project designed to empower them to be better business partners in the complex world of agriculture.
These women were from several different counties and sects of agriculture, and had different levels of responsibility in their operations. 80% of the participants felt that the program had empowered them to take on a more active role in the farming operation and fourteen of the 18 identified a potential opportunity for additional income. Twelve reviewed their estate plan to make needed changes, and have begun business plans for their farm.
One participant used management information learned in the program to embark upon a 1,000 hen egg laying business. The project has given these women the knowledge and insight on essential elements to success and provided them with both a network of resources and a group of individuals facing similar challenges.
Childhood Obesity
The average life expectancy of Americans has been increasing as long as good statistics have been available but experts now believe this upward trend is about to reverse thanks to modern diets and the obesity crisis. The Henry County Extension Service obtained a grant and was able to provide Dietitians and Nurses from across the state with a two day intensive conference called “Training in Childhood Obesity” sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The latest research in prevention, assessment and treatment was presented via video-conferencing to the 16 Dietitians and Nurses from across Kentucky who each received 17 hours of CEU’s from the American Dietetic Association.
They came from Paducah, Henderson, Beattyville, Louisville, Frankfort, Lexington, Cynthiana, and Danville. They represented Extension, Hospitals, Health Departments, Community Action Agency, Medicare, and WIC. All 16 reported that they increased knowledge of childhood obesity issues and that they put that knowledge to work in their practices beginning new initiatives in childhood obesity which included an afterschool program for high risk 4th graders, a quarterly newsletter and a coloring book for students and a collaboration with the public library to offer a program on childhood obesity for parents.
The Henry County Cooperative Extension Service
We deliver information, education, solutions.
For more information, contact us at:
street Address: 2151 Campbellsburg Road
New Castle, KY 40050
(502) 845-2811
Fax: (502) 845-2829
www.ca.uky.edu
Henry County Extension Staff: Steve Moore, Extension Agent for Agriculture And Natural Resources Maryellen Garrison, Extension Agent for Family And Consumer Sciences Cathy Toole, Extension Agent for 4H/Youth Development Annmarie Ivers, Extension Secretary.
