report to the people 2010 - University of Kentucky Cooperative ...

IN HICKMAN COUNTY
November 8, 2010
In Hickman 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 Hickman
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.
4-H Youth Development
Environmental Day Camp 2010
The 2010 Environmental Day
Camp was held June 23-24 th,
2010 and was definitely a
success with an average of 25
youth in attendance both days.
Youth were able to learn more
about their environment
Environmental Day
Camp 2010
through activities such as
dissecting owl pellets, fishing,
hiking and programs through
the Kentucky Forestry Department, Soil
Conservation, and Kentucky Fish and Wildlife.
The Kentucky Forestry Department district
representative, Brad Whybark, educated the youth on
trees, what they are used for and the importance of
preserving them. He took the youth on a trail
through the woods and showed them many different
types of trees and explained what things may be
made using the types of trees that they saw. He also
talked about how to identify trees by their leaves, tell
the age of a tree and quizzed the youth on the
different types of trees they saw. For many of the
youth this was their first experience in the “woods”
on the bluff of the Mississippi River.
The Soil Conservation Service representatives,
Tatia Bradshaw, Debra Hinton, and Jennifer Swain,
brought the water erosion table and demonstrated the
concerns we should have for water and soil and how
Reaching Out to
Hickman County
Educational Programs
Programs presented 232
Total participants 4468
Educational Contacts
Clientele visits 282
Telephone consultations 3223
Newsletters distributed 4200
Volunteer Development
Volunteers 67
Volunteer hours 820
erosion affects the
land around where
we live. The youth
were able to explore
the table by deciding
how to correct
erosion problems to
Erosion Table
preserve the land and
control water ways.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife officers,
Denny Broyles and Lee Cope educated the youth
about the dangers of wild animals and trapping.
They brought deer antlers and various types of
animal furs from animals such as a skunk, raccoon,
rabbit, coyote, and a beaver for the youth to explore.
The officers also displayed various types of traps,
explained which traps are used to catch certain

animals, and demonstrated how
each work and how dangerous
each type can be.
Another Environmental Day
Camp experience included fishing,
a first for many of the youth, and
learned about different types of
fish that were in the pond. Most
everyone caught a fish and for Hayden Spillman
some it was their first catch ever.
Ashley Workman, FLIGHT After School
Program Coordinator, was another partner who
played a role in helping the two days be such a
success.
CSI: Local Youth Investigate
On the days of June 14 th and 15 th , approximately
45 youth participated in solving a crime right here in
Hickman County as a part of a new 4-H curriculum
Biotechnology. The CSI Day Camp was held at
Hickman County High School with youth from both
Hickman County 4-H and FLIGHT programs.
The case scenario to be solved: 4-Hers at
Environmental Camp noticed dead fish lining the
edge of the lake. As they walk along the water’s
edge and into a forested area they discover a dead
body. Could the dead fish and dead body be related?
The answer: Yes, the two are related. A local
chemical factory was illegally dumping chemical
waste into local water bodies, causing dangerous
high levels of pH and fish kills. Someone suspected
the company of their illegal activities and confronted
the company’s owner and all evidence points to the
chemical factory owner being responsible for the
person’s death.
The scene: dead body with finger prints, DNA,
and footprints of chemical owner, note in the pocket
of dead person from company owner stating
something like he better be careful of making
accusations, maggots on the body, and outline of
water body and dead fish.
Youth began their investigation by learning what
happens after a crime scene has been reported.
Detective Brett Miller and Trooper Dean Patterson,
as well as Paula Boaz, spoke with the participants
about their jobs and what their role is during this
type of investigation. Next, the youth were given the
case scenario and began taking part in a series of
experiments to determine who committed the crime
and how long the body had been at the water’s edge
including water testing to determine the pH levels,
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extracting DNA from fruit, maggot identification
(pipe cleaners resembled the maggots)
chromatography to see who wrote the note found in
the pocket on the body, blood typing with a kit, and
making footprints. In addition, the participants were
able to take and print pictures of the crime scene for
souvenirs of the program as well as keep their
footprint molds, fingerprint cards, and a set of
fingerprint type cards. The students also enjoyed
visiting the crime scene trailer and crime scene kits
brought by the Kentucky State Police.
Paula Clark, Agent for 4-H Youth Development
and Ashley Workman, FLIGHT coordinator, would
like to thank each individual for helping out with this
program making it successful. Workers and
volunteers include Krista Dadd, FLIGHT Program;
Meredith Bizzle, FLIGHT program; Yvonne Bolin,
FLIGHT program; Larry Jones, USMC Reserves,
Darian Irvan, Hickman County ANR Agent; and
Melissa Goodman, Hickman County FCS Agent.
We would also like to recognize Paula Boaz,
Hickman County Coroner, and Detective Brett
Miller and Trooper Dean Patterson from the
Kentucky State Police for their roles in our program.
I would also like to thank Mrs. Rose Berry from the
Hickman County Museum for the use of a
mannequin to resemble Fletcher, the dead body and
to Hickman County High School for the use of the
school gym.
Agriculture/Natural Resources
Spring Two Thousand Ten proved to be one of
the most challenging in recent history for Hickman
County farmers. Tillage and planting efforts were
held back to a critical planting window due to
excessive rainfall and flooding especially in river
and major drainage bottom areas.
Farmers were only able to plant and prepare soil
in a sporadic manner. When all planting efforts were
complete, Twenty Ten crop appeared to have
prospects for an average or better yield. Going from
a short period of having too much rain, the weather
made a dramatic change, rain fall shut off and by
early July, temperatures were exceeding ideal
growing conditions and moving to excessive or
critical heat and stress levels. There were several
odd scenarios of production in many fields where
yields varied as much as 80 to 100 bushels of corn in
the same field.
Along with dry weather, pest of all sorts invaded
county crops. Second generation corn ear worm (aka

soybean pod worm) invaded alfala, soybeans and
pasture fields. Similar infestations were also true for
fall army worms which were just getting started
when the county received the two to three inch rain
fall in September which slowed army worm
development.
In addition to the problems faced by farmers this
year a new menace has surfaced. A most destructive
and ever growing population of wild hogs have made
their mark outside of the boundaries of the Local
State Nature Preserve. These unwelcome feral
animals with their large numbers are causing a major
impact on crops as their populations thrive and move
out of the Obion bottoms. The State Wildlife
Commission has plans to set traps, with the
landowners responsible for the expense in an attempt
to reduce their expansion into new territory.
At this time commodity prices have rebounded
by thirty to fifty percent above pre harvest levels
allowing farmers to enjoy a healthier profit potential
even with lowered crop yields.
Family & Consumer Sciences
Mission Health
Lifestyle and behavioral risk factors contribute
greatly to the onset of the chronic diseases that are
the leading causes of death for Kentuckians. On
overall health indicators a national report card ranks
Kentucky 39th out of 50 states (United Health
Foundation State Health Rankings, 2006). According
to the Kentucky Institute of Medicine, Hickman
ranks 33 in the state with greatest challenges being
obesity, diabetes, and lack of physical activity.
County Stakeholders through Issues Flow have
relayed a need to include Improving Adult Nutrition
and Increasing Physical Activity.
Mission Health Hickman County helps
participants meet outcomes of increased physical
activity and reducing risk factors of chronic diseases
through reduction of weight. Two Sessions were held
10 weeks in Fall and 15 weeks in Spring.
Participants weighed in once a week for 10
weeks in the fall. Fall Participants could choose to
participate in educational and physical activity
challenges to learn more. Participants in the Spring
could choose competitive challenge, supportive
classes or walk classes. Many participants were
employed fulltime with families and first time
Extension program participants.
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Fall Participants: Biggest Loser- 74 participants;
Weight Reality Series- 10 Participants; Cumulative
Weight Loss -714.9 Lbs. Spring Participants:
Mission Health Competes- 44 participants ; Mission
Health Walks- 25 participants ; Mission health
supports- 8 participants; Over 663 miles walked;
Cumulative Weight Loss 354.6 Lbs. Evaluation Data
of Fall and Spring Participants concluded that 86.6%
found the program to be extremely valuable; 70.9%
Found that before participating in Extension
programming they were not effective in managing
their weight; 70.9% found that after participating in
Extension programming they were more effective in
managing their weight; 96.7% feel that physical
activity are very important and 87% continue to
exercise three or more days a week three months
after the fall program.
Community Economic Development
Chamber Leadership
During the Plan of Work Process, the County
Extension Council and many community
Stakeholders stated that growing leadership in
Hickman County was one of the top five needs. To
Meet the challenges of our 21st century community,
Cooperative Extension and Chamber of Commerce
Have partnered to establish a new foundation for the
Cultivation and growth of inspired local leaders. A
Portion of the foundation is the Chamber Leadership
Program. In order to meet the demands and
Challenges of this century, our community desires to
Develop the leadership potential of our citizenry.
This program has allowed high school juniors and
young adults the opportunity to work in three critical
areas: personal leadership development,
Tori Harper learning about Cultural Heritage

21 High School Juniors graduated the program.
Evaluation of the participants after the program
concluded that 73.3% would recommend the
program to others; 73.3% felt it was a worthwhile
use of time; 93.3% were able to state and discuss 3
historical facts about Hickman County; 80% could
see a connection between Hickman County’s History
and current tourism and economic development
activities; 80% were motivated to use new
information about Hickman County to get involved
in a community development project; 100% were
able to state three strengths, weaknesses,
opportunities and three associated with Hickman
County; 93.3% understand how County Government
Works; 93.3% understand the roles of civic
organizations; 100% are now comfortable within a
leadership role; 80% are comfortable making
presentations and speaking in public.
One student described the program, “It’s a
chance to better your community. You will learn
how to take the leadership role and work within a
group.” When asked what you obtained from the
program one student stated that, “I loved it. I thought
it taught me a lot and that it helped our community
leaders know that our community is capable of
greater things.” When asked about the Group
Project experience one student stated, “The group
project was an excellent experience and gave us all
who participated in this program to actually speak
out and let people over the age of thirty to hear out
our thoughts and ideas for the community.”
SNAP-Ed Nutrition Program
Outdoor Cooking School
Hickman County Extension Agents (ANR,4-H
and FCS) and SNAP-Ed Assistant collaborated
during the 09-10 program year in many new ways to
positively impact stakeholders. A new partnership
was forged with the Hickman County School District
through serving as the co applicant for the 21st
Century Community Learning Grant Program
(Hickman County FLIGHT). This collaboration
effort allowed Hickman County Extension to reach
more youth and extend life skills programming
including nutrition education. The Outdoor Cooking
School was taught to 17 boys and 16 girls ranging in
ages from 9-14. Students were taught different
methods of cooking outdoors and food safety issues
related to those methods. 26 of the students had
never cooked outdoors with their parents and
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guardians so it was a new experience for many. All
students claimed that they liked the food prepared
and discovered that they liked the food cooked over
a grill and hot coals rather than in a skillet or pan at
home. The Summer Feeding Program was
conducted through a partnership with Hickman
County Food Service with both programs allowing
all participants quality nutritional lunch meals.
Nathan Hartsell tasting his homemade
ice cream at the Outdoor Cooking School
The Hickman County
Cooperative Extension Service
We deliver information, education, solutions.
For more information, contact us at:
116 S. Jefferson
Clinton, KY 42031
(270) 653-2231
Fax: (270) 653-4754
www.ca.uky.edu