Pike County • 2019

Certified Master Volunteers in Clothing Construction taught STEAM through

sewing as part of the Verizon Innovative Learning STEAM Camp.

Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS)

Family and Consumer Sciences taught STEAM through sewing to 60 girls as part of the Verizon Innovative Learning STEAM Camp for middle school girls. Sponsored by the community college and BitSource, a local company founded to retrain displaced coal-miners in coding and technical skills, the participants showed special interest in learning about sewing. The Pike County Extension Certified Master Volunteers in Clothing Construction provided an educational lesson in which all 60 girls had the opportunity to apply their skills! The planning and design of their project and hands-on use of computerized sewing equipment all fit in with their STEAM curriculum. Sewing is about putting multiple flat pieces together in theory while creating a 3-dimensional item in reality. It’s the ultimate test of STEAM curriculum in action.

For More Information, Please Contact us at:

Pike County Extension Office • (606) 432-2534 • https://pike.ca.uky.edu

148 Trivette Drive, Pikeville, KY 41501-1274

In our third year of offering a monthly cooking program featuring recipes from the USDA Food and Nutrition Calendar, we have helped over 40 families feed themselves more economically by cooking regular meals, and improving family relations through eating and socializing together. Recipes also feature locally grown and available produce so that families know how to use garden vegetables and fruits that can be found in season at high quality and low cost.

One program participant reported making a raw Brussel sprout salad twice in one week. “I would never eat Brussel sprouts because I’d always tried them cooked and I hated them. After taking the class last year, I was surprised at how different they taste raw. You can’t imagine how different they are. My family uses all the recipes from the calendar but that salad is our favorite. We worked together and made it twice last week for supper.”

At the Pikeville Farmer’s Market we reached 30,257 families for healthy food purchases. Family and Consumer Sciences staff is available weekly to offer samples and recipe cards for Plate It Up Kentucky Proud recipes. Ninety-eight percent of market visitors report purchasing ingredients featured in PIUKP recipes when sampled at the market that week, resulting in $121,000 in sales for our farmer’s market vendors and an increase in fruit and vegetable consumption for our market visitors.

Snap-Ed

The Pike County Nutrition Education Program works with SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) recipients to plan nutritious meals on a limited budget. Our entire staff commits thousands of hours annually engaging our community in nutrition and health education to improve the quality of life in Pike County. Our two federally funded nutrition assistants graduated 225 families from their USDA curriculum “Healthy Choices for Every Body” this year. Its 12 lessons focus on meal planning, budgeting for food spending, food safety and proper exercise.

As part of their adult education efforts, our assistants collaborate with many service providers. The Pike County Detention Center, Westcare Rehabilitation Center and The Shelby Valley Veteran’s Transitional Center are all important partners in our programming. We have provided a critical piece of education as

residents in these programs begin to rebuild their lives. All three groups reported they gained skills in meal planning, budgeting for food, and food safety. The veterans also learned about reading food labels in response to health conditions and diet restrictions. One veteran said he felt better since he started exercising more and drinking water instead of energy drinks after completing the class.

One goal of SNAP programming is to educate families with young children and SNAP eligible individuals to plan nutritious meals on a limited budget, acquire safe food handling practices, improve food preparation skills, and change behavior necessary to have a healthy lifestyle. When working with our school-age population, our assistants have provided interactive workshops on physical activity, eating fruits and vegetables, and low-fat dairy products. Nearly 800 elementary students in Pike County graduated this year with a 90% improvement in choosing foods consistent with Federal Dietary Guideline recommendations. Additionally we work with both public and private schools so all Pike County students get the same opportunity to learn about health and food in a fun and energetic environment.

4-H Youth Development

Today's mighty oak is just yesterday's nut that held its ground - David Icke. In 4-H, we are planting seeds of knowledge by this “learn by doing organization!” In Pike County 4-H, there are 3,936 diverse 4-H members in 143 clubs. The youth are learning leadership, life skills, and citizenship. During the last program year, our program had 4,000 projects exhibited at the 4-H Fairs, 90 exhibits at the KY State Fair, and three

American Private Enterprise State Seminar

were state champions! Two high school youth won the right to represent our Commonwealth at the National Livestock Show! Four 4-H teens represented our state during the National Junior Horticulture Conference in Nebraska. One youth won the coveted “gold” award and will represent our state during the National 4-H Club Congress. Forty-three hundred youth learned communication skills through speech, skits, and presentations.

According to research, youth in 4-H are 1.9 times more apt to make better grades. We are building the workforce. Teens learned through Leadership Conferences like the 4-H Teen Summit and 4-H Teen Conference; two teens serve on the KY State Teen Council.

Members of the 4-H Teen Council serve as the leadership base for our large 4-H program. These 30 youth serve as leaders at 4-H Camp, during day camps, and during the 4-H Fairs. The Pike County 4-H Council is made up of community leaders that make recommendations for programming.

We have three clubs in the FMD (Functional Mentally Development) clubs with a membership of 24, they are learning practical living skills. One teacher said, “4-H is a light at the end of a tunnel.”

At the American Private Enterprise Seminar and the KY Youth Seminar, fifty youth participated in the county program and five attended the state contest at U.K. One youth won a $1,200.00 college scholarship and one won $500.00 for being the outstanding junior leader for the program.

The Reality Store taught 100 youth the basics of the relationship of grades and a good quality of life. The 4-H Camp experience helped youth learn self-reliance, leadership, and teamwork skills. Teens, staff members, and volunteers made a great camp to help 160 youth learn skills. 4-H grows here and is making the best better!

Agriculture and Natural Resources (ANR)

The Pike County Beekeepers have implemented several new programs. They sponsored the first two-day “Queen Breeders Hands-On Workshop” in April. We had 11 local beekeepers in attendance, as well as two from Michigan and one from Alabama, which shows the quality of the training. We now have three members serving as officers and working with the State

Queen Breeders Association. We have three of the first certified “Queen & Drone Breeders” in the State. President Neil Hunt regularly does trainings on the local, regional, and state level for our beekeepers. Two individuals attended the Perdue Queen Breeders classes in Indiana. The beekeepers continue to grow and develop new interests each year. In spite of the weather early in the year, our beekeepers had a fantastic year selling at the Farmers Market. The Beekeeper equipment was used more this year than in any previous year. Great success to the Pike County Beekeepers!

One of the biggest financial successes for ANR is the Pikeville Farmers Market. This has been a bright spot for several years. We had 7,983 people come to the market and purchase vegetables, fruit, value added products, and crafts. People spent $70,341.25 at the market on fruits, vegetables, meats, value added products, and crafts. Looking forward to growing even more in future. Two farmers started the process to become “Certified Organic.” Trainings and transportation provided for State Fruit & Vegetable Conference (Market President David Walker presented), East Kentucky Farm Conference, High Tunnel Production, Grant Writing, Marketing, WIC/SR Voucher Training, PBPT/All Samples, and many others.

A myriad of other activities have taken place with the Master Gardeners, Broken Trial Horse Group, and the Pike County Conservation District. Activities with the Community and Pike County Emergency Management such as the LADDER (Local Approach to Discussion-Based Disaster Exercise and Readiness).

Pike County Beekeepers Tony Coleman, Rick Ward, and Neil Hunt received Queen & Drone Breeders Certification.

Fine Arts

Artists Collaborative Theatre (ACT) held seven productions this year, with 16 performances per show. School outreach programs served over 1,200 students in theatre production field trips and educational programming from 14 schools across Pike County and into Virginia. This year, the children’s acting troupe performed The Adventures of Peter Rabbit and His Friends and Mary Poppins, Jr.

Fifty-two students were involved in completely tuition-free after school theatre classes and productions. Parents in our area save $26,000 in theatre class tuition fees per year (based on local rates). High school students were trained and assisted as student educators for the classes and directed the youth productions. One- hundred percent of our high school leaders have been placed in post-secondary education programs and receive $500 scholarships each from ACT.

The Pike County Extension Fine Arts Program and the Hatfield and McCoy Arts Council collaborated to bring an original depiction of the Hatfield and McCoy feud to life. Now in its seventh year, productions of the NaCo awarding winning Blood Song: The Story of the Hatfields and the McCoys are performed each summer to approximately 1,000 people on the banks of the Tug River at McCarr, where the events of the feud took place. This year, the show premiered at a new venue, Jenny Wiley Amphitheatre, in Prestonsburg, KY.

Twenty-six students and 13 adults participated in The Women of Theatre Technology this year. These females learn light and sound design and operation, stage management, and scenic and costume design/construction – professional areas dominated by men. In the past, this unique program has received the University of Kentucky Diversity Award as well a NaCo Award for advancing Appalachian females in the areas of science and technology.

Appalachian Symphony meets each Saturday and teaches anyone in attendance how to play musical instruments. The meetings and use of the instruments are completely free. These free music lessons save Pike County residents over $10,000 per year, based on a $30 per lesson rate.

347 Number of residents reporting an increase in accessing fresh, local foods

1836 Number of volunteer service hours completed by Extension Master Gardener Volunteers in the county

226 Number of participants gaining access to Extension programming at local farmer’s markets

10500 Number of hours KEHA members volunteered for Extension activities/events

215 Number of those who gained knowledge related to financial management

2200 Number of individuals more likely to buy a Kentucky fruit or vegetable as a result of tasting a Plate It Up! Kentucky Proud recipe sample

9000 Number of participants in arts activities/events

3000 Number of participants reporting an increase in community pride through participation in Extension arts programming

3900 Number of youth who apply the skills learned in 4-H and in other activities at home, school or in the community

1327 Number of youth who are more aware of preparing and eating healthy, local food

961 Number of youth that have improved their communication skills

800 Number of youth that report making healthy lifestyle choices

Extension At a Glance