2022 4-H Agricultural Plan

RELEVANCE

4 -H Agriculture and Natural Resources projects are an important component of the county 4-H program in Texas. Currently, sixty three percent of Texas 4-H members are enrolled in a livestock project. These projects provide youth with subject matter education, as well as valuable learning experiences, character education and leadership skills critical for youth.

RESPONSE

Adult volunteer engagement is critical to administer the program and expand the outreach. As today's youth are further removed from farming , many do not understand the importance of agriculture and how it impacts their daily lives. This plan included a Path to the Plate program component as a stand alone educational event (1,231 attendees ). The plan also included monthly veterinary science sessions using a directional specific curriculum intended to provide education to achieve Veterinary Assistant Certification. The objective of the plan was to provide 4-H members with excellent learning opportunities within the ANR project areas . This plan utilized a 4-H Livestock Project Coalition to provide direction and support for the programs and events. Conduct activities were implemented during 2021-2022:

•Livestock Clinics (beef, poultry, swine, goat/lamb) (October January).

•12 Veterinary Sessions (Monthly).

•Ag in the Classroom (four sessions, 1,231 participants).

•Livestock County Show (Feb, 2022).

• Dairy Livestock Show (June, 2022).

•Participation in all major livestock shows.

•Validation of steers, heifers, goats, lambs, swine and broilers.

•42 home project visits.

•25 Press release related to Livestock Youth Projects.

Evaluation Strategy

Retrospective post evaluation surveys were utilized to measure knowledge gain and adoptions of best practices for the evaluated pro

•100% (76/76) responded to the evaluation instrument (Path to the Plate Expo).

RESULTS

2022 Ag in the Classroom •80% (61/76) indicated a better understanding of the path food production takes to get to our plate.

•70% (53/76) Indicated a better understanding of the way farmers and ranchers produce the food that we eat.

• 78% (59/76) indicated a better understanding of the connection between agriculture and health.

• 82% (62/76) learned the value of agriculture in daily life.

• 83% (63/76) learned the importance of eating a healthy diet and a variety of food.