No Title 2948
�Cooperative Extension Service in the 21st Century�
Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association celebrates 80th anniversary
From agriculture to fine arts: A sampling of Cooperative Extension programs

Extension by the numbers

Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association celebrates 80th anniversary
by: Katie Pratt, UK Cooperative Extension
As the Cooperative Extension Service approaches its 100-year anniversary, Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association celebrates its 80th anniversary, and like the Extension service as a whole, the organization continues to evolve to meet the needs of Kentucky families.
Just ask Terry and Judi Little of Calloway County. After they moved from Houston, Texas, to Murray in 2005, Judi quickly became involved with the county Extension Homemakers and was elected county president the next year. When she accepted the leadership position, Terry joined as a mailbox member, receiving the county Homemakers newsletter. But he, too, quickly became involved teaching classes on basic photography, home repairs, and hummingbirds. Through their classes, the Littles have been instrumental in attracting nontraditional audiences to the organization.
�This isn�t your mother�s Homemakers,� Terry Little says.
The Kentucky Extension Homemakers Association began in 1932 as the Kentucky Federation of Homemakers. The goal of the organization was to unify the efforts and strengthen the voice of Kentucky Homemakers while helping them develop leadership skills and broaden their horizons.
�As the KEHA state advisor since 2006, I am continually honored to see the spirit of leadership, service, and education present in the organization,� says Kim Henken, assistant to the director of the UK School of Human Environmental Sciences in the College of Agriculture. �Across Kentucky, KEHA members have an impact in local communities. The impact extends beyond Kentucky to the projects they support around the world.�
Alice Brown from Greenup County was nicknamed �Mousy� until she joined Extension Homemakers nearly 30 years ago. She�s now president of the statewide organization.
�The leadership training helped me learn how the county government works,� she says. �Homemakers are not just a bunch of crafty ladies. They are involved in issues at community, state, and national levels.�
While the organization has changed over the years, the Extension Homemakers have always emphasized family, community, and leadership, according to Brown.
They�ve also educated many people. Helen Eden, a Madison County Extension Homemaker, remembers going to Homemakers meetings with her mother in the 1950s.
�It was a great opportunity for women to learn,� she said. �I remember my mother getting materials on how to do a breast self-exam. That was unheard of in the 1950s.�
Extension Homemakers have donated items and money to a lot of worthy causes over the years, including UK ovarian cancer research, the Kentucky Academy in Ghana, and scholarships to students pursuing a degree in the UK School of Human Environmental Sciences.
�It continues to amaze me how willing people are to participate and give of themselves,� Little says. �I believe in paying it forward, and a lot of that happens in Homemakers.�
There is an Extension Homemakers chapter in every county. To fine out more about the one in your county, contact the family and consumer agent. A list of agents can be found at www.ca.uky.edu/ces. Under �CES Programs,� click on the link for Field Staff Directory.
From agriculture to fine arts: A sampling of Cooperative Extension programs
by: Debra Gibson
The Cooperative Extension Service has offices and county agents in all 120 counties. Because programs are designed to meet local needs, they differ from county to county.
To learn about specific programs in your county, go online to www.ca.uky.edu/county then click your county to go to your local Web site page. This will link you to information on programs and agents in your county.
Extension Programs run into the hundreds. Here�s a small sampling:
Aquaculture: The goal of this research/Extension program is to help farmers with a promising new enterprise. Research is being done on fresh water shrimp, large mouth bass, and paddlefish. Extension agents work directly with farmers interested in getting into raising fish: first visit the extensive Web site at http://www.ksuaquaculture.org/extension.htm.
Dr. James H. Tidwell
(502) 597-8104
jamestidwell@kysu.edu
Community & Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky (CEDIK) seeks to benefit the lives of Kentuckians, businesses, organizations, and communities through an array of programs focused on such areas as leadership, community health needs, business support and expansion, collaboration and facilitation, as well as community and economic planning.
Dr. Alison Davis
(859) 257-7260
alison.davis@uky.edu
Farm Service Agency (FSA) Borrower Training
 This 16-hour training program for prospective borrowers provides education in farm business planning, financial management, and crop and livestock production practices to meet a Farm Bill mandate for first-time FSA borrowers.
Heather LaBoyteaux
(859) 257-3266
heather.laboyteaux@uky.edu
Horse College
 Developed in partnership with County Extension agents and designed for recreational horse owners, this four-to-five-night educational program covers nutrition and feeding, pasture management, health care, hoof care, facilities, and behavior. Curriculum is adapted wherever possible to the needs of the audience; not all topics listed are given at each program.
Dr. Robert J. Coleman
(859) 257-9451
rcoleman@uky.edu
Kentucky Master Loggers
 Program provides comprehensive training for timber harvesting professionals on such topics as environmental protection, safe logging practices, and laws and regulations impacting the timber harvesting industry. More than 7,000 loggers have been trained since the inception of the program in 1993, and currently there are approximately 3,000 loggers designated as Master Loggers.
Dr. Jeff Stringer
(859) 257-5994
stringer@uky.edu
Kentucky Master Volunteer in Clothing Construction Program
 Trained volunteers conduct sewing classes and help those wanting advice on sewing.
Marjorie M. Baker
(859) 257-7772
marjorie.baker@uky.edu
Operation: Military Kids Family Camp
 These weekend camps for families from any branch of the military are conducted in partnership with many different entities across the state, such as 4-H camps, Louisville Science Center, Life Adventure Center, Newport Aquarium, and Mammoth Cave Hotel. This is the fourth year that the University of Kentucky Family and Consumer Sciences Extension has received this grant for the summer military family camps in Kentucky. Through activities such as storytelling, sports, arts and crafts, challenge courses, and wellness programs, participants acquire coping mechanisms, learn to talk with others going through similar experiences, and learn about resources.
Kerri L. Ashurst Goodman
(859) 257-3032
kgoodman@email.uky.edu
Organic Production Program Because most producers are new to organic farming, this program offers opportunities to get information and talk with other farmers. It includes workshops, field days, an annual conference, and a Web site: organic.kysu.edu.
Dr. Michael Bomford
(502) 597-5752
Michael.bomford@kysu.edu
Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (PDDL)
The Department of Plant Pathology operates a Plant Disease Diagnostic Laboratory that analyzes samples and diagnoses plant diseases. This provides the basis for posting alerts on disease outbreaks and formulating educational programs, and is a service for individual producers and homeowners as well.
Dr. Paul Vincelli
(859) 218-0722
pvincell@uky.edu
Kentucky Forest Leadership Program The hands-on approach to learning is sure to get high school students (for those completing their sophomore and junior years) excited about forestry. By truly �getting your hands dirty� on this weeklong experience, students get to know the depths, surprises, and excitement of one of Kentucky�s most plentiful natural resources�forests. Participants will see a variety of careers in related fields beyond forestry, including civil engineering, soil science, wildlife habitat assessment, water quality, and wood products, led by professionals in various areas. The activities are designed to increase awareness of and appreciation for our natural resources. Participants will come away with an understanding of how society and natural resources interact. For more information, go to Kentucky Forest Leadership Program.
Doug McLaren, UK Department of Forestry
(859) 257-2703
doug.mclaren@uky.edu
Step Up to Leadership
 This 4-H program emphasizes leadership education, helping young people increase their knowledge and skills in communication and public speaking, decision making, group facilitation, and teamwork.
Dr. Mark Mains
(859) 257-5961 x 231
mark.mains@uky.edu
Tax Preparers� Seminars
 The Extension Service and the Department of Agricultural Economics, in conjunction with the Internal Revenue Service, conducted the 43rd annual in-service training seminars for tax preparers, CPAs, farmers, and attorneys last year. They also offer seminars throughout the year on tax-related issues. See dates and topics.
Dr. Steve Isaacs
(859) 257-7255
or steve.isaacs@uky.edu
Weight: The Reality Series is a 10-week curriculum for Kentucky adults to promote behaviors supporting a healthy weight. Each weekly session includes a recipe, physical activity, and program topic.
Dr. Janet Tietyen Mullins
(859) 257-3800
janet.mullins@uky.edu
Woodland Owners Short Course
 Ongoing programs focus on woodland management, wildlife, woodland economics, and recreation for woodland owners. Participants learn how to increase revenue from timber, improve wildlife habitat, and make their woodlands more productive and healthy.
Billy Thomas, UK Forestry Extension
(859) 257-7255
billy.thomas@uky.edu
Extension by the numbers
by:Debra Gibson
� Youth who participate in 4-H are three times more likely to contribute to their community. Almost a third of Kentucky youth in grades K-12 participated in 4-H during 2010. Of those, 89,000 said they acquired one or more life skills as a result of participation.
� Forty-two new tourism businesses were formed with Extension�s help as of July 2010, and some 2,565 people were involved in 248 community coalitions.
� A total of 18,921 producers adopted one or more new practices learned from Extension programs last year. These new practices resulted in increased profits and an economic impact of $25 million.
� More than 40,000 Kentuckians adopted practices related to the conversation and protection of soil and water resources. This resulted in landowners using new or additional conservation practices on a total of 529,613 acres.
� The independent sector estimates the value of volunteer time at $21.36 per hour. In Kentucky, 38,197 youth and adults volunteers through the 4-H program, 48,350 residents increased their leadership skills, and 60, 664 improved skills in communication, problem solving, or group processes.
To read the Kentucky Living August 2012 feature that goes along with this supplement, go to Cooperative Extension Service in the 21st Century.
