Highlights of Menifee County Extension Agricultural Program

The Phase I tobacco settlement funds continue to work for the farmers in Menifee County .  Programs to assist farmers build fence, construct or remodel structures to store hay, grain and other livestock feed, improve and establish pastures and diversify their farm operations.  These programs are the primary responsibility of the Agricultural Development Board and are administered by the Menifee County Beef Producers and the Soil Conservation Service.  A total of over $250,000 was made available to local farmers for a 50/50 cost share to complete projects in these four areas.

 Phase I programs, already approved for 2007, include cattle genetics, fencing, commodity storage, cattle handling facilities, sheep and goat diversification, forage improvements, timber production and on-farm water enhancement.  The share-use equipment program continues, with a new structure built to better protect the equipment and extend its life.

 Six local beef producers took part in CPH-45 sales and/or heifer development programs.  More than 20 farms received their premis ID and six were certified as PVP producers.

The annual Farm and Family Field Day was, once again, a success.  More than 250 people attended and took advantage of learning opportunities, including farm tours and visiting with the 20 plus vendors in attendance.  The soup bean meal and entertainment that followed are an important part of Field Day.

The local farmers market continued strong with more than 14 producers selling locally produced vegetables, fruits and crafts every Friday from late June through early October.

Shelby and Imogene Skidmore with a large variety of top quality vegetables.

 A computer class for farm record keeping was conducted with 12 persons attending the four session program.  Fifteen people learned to graft fruit trees in the Annual Grafting Workshop.  General use pesticide certification continues to be an important program.

 An effort to encourage more farm related agri-business and/or agri-tourism ventures has been on going.  Involvement with the Foothills Eco/Agri-tourism group has been a big part of this.  Efforts will continue with meetings and personal contacts aimed at improving the rural economic development in Menifee County .

4-H Youth Development

4-H Youth Development continues to be an important part of the total Menifee County Extension program.  During the past year opportunities for our youth to learn and grow have come in the form of Speech and Demonstration Contests, the school and county 4-H Talent Contests and 4-H Camp.  Each of these segments gives young people a challenge and a chance to learn new life skills.  Our congratulations go out to all who participated.

 The basis of a successful 4-H program begins with school club meetings.  For the 2006-2007 school year, monthly club meetings have been scheduled for the 4^th through the 6^th grade classes.  A teen club for 7^th graders through high school will be organized in early 2007.  The 4-H Council, the local advisory group to agents is being re-organized.  Hopefully, this will result in improved program direction, support and education.

During National 4-H Week, we held a “Cookout with 4-H” to help raise money for 4-H camp scholarships.  This has been an ongoing event for the past four years.  It is enjoyed by all that attend as shown in the picture.

 Making a World of Difference

In the Family Consumer and Science areas, UK focuses on the ever changing dynamics of the home and socialized life and how to give each member of society a better way of living through programs UK has to offer.  Just as I was beginning my journey through the life as an Extension Agent, our leader Dr. Larry Turner was one of the 49 killed on flight 5191 and took all 120 counties that he served through a tunnel of grief and concern for his programs for Kentucky.  But as usual, the University saw his vision and is carrying-on.

 One of those specialized programs is the Expanded Food & Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP).  The EFNEP is a federally funded program that educates families to have a more nutritious diet and increase their knowledge on how to better handle their budget in an ever changing environment in the income levels of Kentucky families.

 Another program we held in Menifee County this past summer was the Farmer’s Market.  Here, senior citizens and WIC vouchers could be used to buy locally grown fresh farm fruits and vegetables to increase one’s knowledge of the USDA’s Food Guide Pyramid and their diets.  The extension office made recipes from what was sold at the market that week and gave the food away for samples to show the public how easy it would be to make a nutritious meal just from the garden.

Terri Cline, Menifee Co. FCS Agent

 Along with the 4-H and other programs mentioned earlier, is the very important backbone of many of the programs of Extension and that is the Menifee County Homemakers Association.  The Homemakers give support to all the programs by raising monies for such things as materials and scholarships, as well as programs for the community like the ovarian screenings and health fairs.  They also like to put on informational educational sessions such as the Medicare Part “D” sign-up at the public library and much more.  These are but just the tip of a huge iceberg of things that the Menifee County Homemakers do.

 Finally there is the most important part of Extension and that is the volunteer.  The person who sees beyond their own individual needs and is concerned about the community as a whole and wants to see it improve.  The Cooperative Extension Department could not do the many different things that it does each year without the volunteer.