NI24SLBCXXXXG055↗

THE UNIVERSITY OF KENTUCKY COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, FOOD AND ENVIRONMENT COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE MISSION IS TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF KENTUCKIANS THROUGH EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH. KENTUCKY EXTENSION PROGRAMS ARE FUNDAMENTALLY INTERDISCIPLINARY, APPLYING THE BIOLOGICAL, PHYSICAL, AND SOCIAL SCIENCES TO CHALLENGES IN AGRICULTURAL, FOOD, AND ENVIRONMENTAL SYSTEMS THROUGH FACULTY SUBJECT MATTER EXPERTISE AND LOCAL EDUCATORS' SKILLS FOR BROAD OUTREACH. OUR WORK, MADE POSSIBLE THROUGH THIS FEDERAL AWARD, ENCOMPASSES FARMS AND FORESTS, FOOD AND FIBER, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES. WITH SUPPORT FROM ALL 120 KENTUCKY COUNTIES, WE SEEK TO 1) FACILITATE LIFELONG LEARNING INFORMED BY SCHOLARSHIP AND RESEARCH, 2) EXPAND KNOWLEDGE THROUGH APPLICATION OF CREATIVE RESEARCH AND DISCOVERY. WE APPROACH KENTUCKY'S CHALLENGES THROUGH AN INTEGRATED MODEL THAT INCLUDES A NEEDS ASSESSMENT CONDUCTED AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL THROUGH THE COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE, ADVISORY GROUPS, COUNCILS, AND COMMITTEES. ONCE IDENTIFIED AS PRIORITIES, SPECIFIC PROBLEMS AND NEEDS ARE ADDRESSED BY EXTENSION SPECIALISTS AND AGENTS THROUGH OUR LINKAGE WITH RELATED RESEARCH. THIS RESEARCH, DEVELOPMENTS, FINDINGS, AND TECHNOLOGIES ARE TRANSFERRED TO INDIVIDUALS, YOUTH, FAMILIES, INDUSTRIES, AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH TRADITIONAL AND INNOVATIVE MECHAN ISMS, INCLUDING EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PROGRAMS, FIELD DAYS, SOCIAL AND MASS MEDIA, TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER, RESEARCH REPORTS, AND PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER COLLEGES, UNIVERSITIES, AND STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS. BASED UPON THE NEEDS OF KENTUCKY WE FOCUS ON EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS RELATED TO THE CRITICAL AREAS OF A) LIFE SKILL DEVELOPMENT; B) LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT; C) NUTRITION AND HEALTHY LIFESTYLES; D) ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL WELL-BEING; E) FOOD SAFETY AND SECURITY; F) AGRICULTURAL ENVIRONMENT AND NATURAL RESOURCES; AND G) SMALL FARM DEVELOPMENT. OUR GOAL IS TO IMPROVE THE CAPACITY OF COMMUNITIES TO IDENTIFY AND ADDRESS THESE CRITICAL ISSUES, AND OTHERS THAT AFFECT THE LIVES OF CITIZENS. WITH NEARLY 80,000 FARMS IN THE STATE AND AN AVERAGE 171 ACRES PER OPERATION, KENTUCKY IS DOMINATED BY SMALL FAMILY FARMS. EXTENSION PROGRAMS IN SUPPORT OF HIGH-VALUE HORTICULTURAL CROPS, AQUACULTURE, INDUSTRIAL HEMP, DISTILLATION, WINE MAKING, BREWING AND NICHE-MARKET ANIMAL PRODUCTS ARE CRITICAL TO PROVIDING VIABLE ALTERNATIVES TO DIVERSIFY AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISES. KENTUCKY IS MAKING SUBSTANTIAL RESOURCE COMMITMENTS TO SUPPORT THE CREATION OF AN AGRITECH ECOSYSTEM, AS WELL AS VALUEADDED INNOVATIONS THAT UTILIZE LOCAL AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS, PARTICULARLY IN THE AREAS OF LIVESTOCK, HORTICULTURE, SECONDARY WOOD PRODUCTS, AND AGRITOURISM. EXTENSION PROGRAMS ARE KEY IN FACILITATING AND STRENGTHENING THESE STATEWIDE EFFORTS. THE LAND GRANT SYSTEM'S MISSION OF ENHANCING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR AMERICANS GOES WELL BEYOND AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTION. HEALTHY PEOPLE CONTRIBUTE TO THE HEALTH OF COMMUNITIES AND THE COMMONWEALTH. TO SUPPORT HEALTHY LIFESTYLES, EXTENSION EFFORTS FOCUS ON PREVENTION OF CHRONIC DISEASES THROUGH BETTER SELF-CARE THROUGH DIET, NUTRITION, AND EXERCISE. LIKE MOST STATES ACROSS THE NATION, KENTUCKY IS ALSO BATTLING ADDICTION, PRIMARILY THE OPIOID EPIDEMIC. OUR EXTENSION PROFESSIONALS WORK TO COMBAT THESE ISSUES THROUGH BROADBASED PARTNERSHIPS, PARTICULARLY RECOVERY PROGRAMS. OUR WORK INCLUDES THE EMPOWERMENT OF PEOPLE AND COMMUNITIES THROUGH RESEARCH-BASED INFORMATION AND EDUCATION TO ADDRESS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL CHALLENGES FACING OUR YOUTH, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES. THROUGHOUT THEIR LIVES, BOTH YOUTH AND ADULTS NEED TO DEVELOP SKILLS ESSENTIAL TO BECOME PRODUCTIVE MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY AND WORKFORCE. BEING A PRODUCTIVE MEMBER OF SOCIETY AS AN ADULT REQUIRES YOUNG PEOPLE TO GAIN EXPERIENCE AS ACTIVE CITIZENS AT AN EARLY AGE. 4-H COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES PROVIDE LEARNING EXPERIENCES THAT HELP YOUTH DEVELOP LIFE SKILLS NEEDED TO BE EFFECTIVE IN VARIOUS ADULT ROLES IN SOCIETY.

Formula Grant (A) · National Institute of Food and Agriculture · to University of Kentucky (UEI QUKNKLZ4N889) · data as of 2026-09-30

Source: USAspending.gov prime award transactions and FSRS subaward reports, as loaded by SpendQuery (data as of 2026-09-30). Amounts are obligations (money committed), not outlays. The official record on USAspending.gov ↗