Gadsden County Northwest Extension District Henry G. Grant July 1, 2003

Who We Are Faculty members: Henry Grant, Alex Bolques, Yolanda Goode, Elizabeth Gorimani, and Josh Mayfield Staff members: Program Assistants: Ruby Houston, Clarence Lewis, Mary Kenon, and Sonji West. Secretarial: Linda Scruggs (Office Manager) and Denee Jackson Budget: $229,317 Facilities: William Inman Agriculture Center, 2140 W. Jefferson St., Quincy (Hwy 90 West). What else makes you who you are? One of the most diverse staff in the state.

Gadsden County’s Profile 45,087 - total population 15,867 - number of households 9,473 - youth population 290 - number of farms 325,120 - acres total

Gadsden County’s Profile List of Major Industries Coastal Lumber Co. Quincy Joist Engelhard Quincy Corp SuperValue Higdon Furniture Co. TDS Telecom The Printing House Teligent EMS Talquin Electric Coop.

Gadsden County’s Profile List of Major Industries Quincy Farms Imperial Nursery Fernlea Nursery Clinton Nursery May Nursery Hackney Nursery Fletcher Nursery Tomato Production & Packing

Listening Session Report What we heard in the listening session that was expected…… 1) Land and natural resources use and management issues. 2) Youth issues (quality of education for our youth, agriculture education, character development, child care, youth and adult relationships). 3) Access to local quality healthcare and extended care. 4) Need for adequate and affordable housing. 5) Need for Extension materials in Spanish. 6) Continued sense of racial divide. 7) Low wage jobs

Listening Session Report What we heard in the listening session that was unexpected…….. 1) Sense of hopelessness if there is no improvement in areas of concern such as the school system. 2) Not wanting anymore people to move into county so it won’t turn into Leon county.

Listening Sessions How we incorporated what we heard….. 1) Reviewed notes from all three listening (General Public, Hispanic, and Youth) sessions for common themes/issues 2) Identified those concerns that were being addressed and could be addressed in the future. 3) Marked off those items we could not address directly. What we were unable to incorporate and why….. 1) Satellite Extension Offices: Not feasible due to financial and personnel constraints. 2) Bilingual Education: Currently the majority of the staff does not speak Spanish.

Gadsden County’s Plan by Program Area Administration and Supervision 4H/Youth Development Commercial Agriculture Community Resource Development Family and Consumer Sciences Horticulture Livestock Natural Resources Multi-state

Administration and Supervision Major Priority Areas Budget Facilities Management & Maintenance Faculty and Staff Management and Evaluation County Program Areas Management Maintenance of overall Extension Advisory Committee Target Audience(s) Gadsden County Extension Faculty and Staff

Administration and Supervision Long Range Goals Office renovation and new construction Outcome Indicators Stable budget New office facility and equipment Remain fully staffed Strong Extension presence in the community

4H/Youth Development Program Summary Major Priority Areas Life Skills (Character Education, Job Readiness, Conflict Resolution, Health and Nutrition, and Agriculture and Animal Sciences) Program Management & Development (Volunteer & Club development and maintenance) Target Audience(s) Youth (Grades K-12) Adults (21 and above) Local Businesses School Teachers

4H/Youth Development Program Summary Long Range Goals To increase youth participation in 4-H activities. To increase number of community clubs. To increase number of long term adult volunteers. Outcome Indicators 35% increase (978 to 1320) of youth participation in total 4-H program. 25 % increase (29 to 36) in long term adult volunteers. 55% increase (9 to 14) in 4-H clubs.

Commercial Agricultural Program Summary Major Priority Areas Row Crops, Livestock Forages, and Vegetables Target Audience(s) Gadsden Co. small farmers, livestock producers, and commercial vegetable producers Long Range Goals: To increase profitability and efficiency of production methods for producers. To promote Extension activities that look at alternative crops and marketing strategies for local and regional produce.

Commercial Agricultural Program Summary Outcome Indicators: 10% of 207Agricultural producers will adopt production techniques through insect, disease, and weed control, and increase production of forages and other crops. 50% of 207 producers will use soil testing and fertilization practices recommended by UF. 50% of 72 vegetable growers will increase production efficiency and profitability by implementing new IPM practices and methods of safe pesticide use. 10% of 72 vegetable producers will explore alternative crops and marketing opportunities.

Community Resource Development Program Summary Major Priority Areas Community Development Economic Development Target Audience(s) Local Leaders Gadsden County Residents Long Range Goals Create an environment to enhance education, develop leadership and vision, and improve the quality of local human resources for the job market.

Community Resource Development Program Summary Outcome Indicators Implement marketing plan development for Agriculture, distribution, retail, manufacturing, and business services. 50% of the 500 existing businesses will develop written marketing plans. Complete benchmark activities for 75% of county’s 10 year strategic plan for community and economic development by 2008.

Family and Consumer Sciences Program Summary Major Priority Areas Housing & Financial Management Health and Nutrition Family Life Target Audience(s) Gadsden County Residents

Family and Consumer Sciences Program Summary Long Range Goals To increase homeownership and financial security among low-income residents of Gadsden County To decrease the number of nutrition related health problems. To increase food and nutrition security among low-incomer residents of Gadsden County

Family and Consumer Sciences Program Summary Outcome Indicators At least 5% of 120 First-time Homebuyers’ class participants will qualify to purchase a home. 75% of 120 First-time Homebuyers will use the debt repayment plan to reduce their debt. 45% of the 200 participants in the Health, Food, and Nutrition program will improve their dietary quality.

Horticulture and Small Farms Program Summary Major Priority Areas: Container Plant Production Master Gardener Volunteer Program Small Farms Target Audience(s): Nurseries and Greenhouse Growers Home Owners Small Farmers

Horticulture and Small Farms Program Summary Long Range Goals To reduce the potential of groundwater contamination by nitrate-nitrogen runoff. To educate trainees in the Master Gardener Volunteer Program so that at least six volunteers would become regular or seasonal Master Gardeners. To increase farm profitability by providing alternative farm enterprises to small and disadvantage farmers.

Horticulture and Small Farms Program Summary Outcome Indicators Adopted practices or changes in nitrate-nitrogen will be measured by annual survey. At least 5% of 129 small farms will adopt an alternative farming enterprise.

Livestock Program Summary Major Priority Areas Beef Cattle, Goats, and Horses Target Audience(s) Gadsden County Beef Producers, Goat Producers, and Horse Producers. Long Range Goals To improve health care practices and profitability. To improve response procedure for livestock pest alert.

Livestock Program Summary Outcome Indicators 50% of the 130 livestock producers will implement preventative herd health programs tailored to their operational needs. 100% of the 130 livestock producers will become aware of rapid response procedures when pervasive pest are identified. 20% of the 130 livestock producers will improve marketing strategies to increase profit margins.

Natural Resources Program Summary Major Priority Areas: Wildlife Managers, Private Landowners, Timber Producers Target Audience(s) Gadsden Co. private landowners with wildlife, forestry, and soil & water conservation interests Long Range Goals: To increase landowners’ knowledge about current issues in natural resources management and teach stewardship skills that will promote soil, plant, wildlife, and water resources on private lands.

Natural Resources Program Summary Outcome Indicators: 10% of 3,723 private landowners (10 acres or more) who attend extension programming will adopt management practices that include invasive weed management on land and in ponds, timber management, wildlife food plot selection and plantings, and practices that reduce soil runoff of highly erodable lands

Ag. Multi State Program Summary Major Priority Areas Natural Resource Mgt. Forage and Row Crop Production Vegetable Production Green Industry Growers Update Target Audience(s) Vegetable Producers Livestock and Row Crop Producers Nursery Growers and Private Landowners

Ag. Multi State Program Summary Long Range Goals Develop year round forage grazing program To put forward the industry informational and educational concerns relating to container plant production Outcome Indicators Adopted practices or changes will be measured by an evaluation instrument

FCS Multi State Program Summary Major Priority Areas 1 Financial Literacy 2 Food & Nutrition Target Audience(s) 1 Middle to low income families 2 Families participating in the food assistance programs (Food Stamps, WIC, etc.). Long Range Goals 1 To increase financial security among middle to low income residents of the county. 2 To reduce the number of people diagnosed with nutrition related disease such as obesity and type 2 diabetes.

FCS Multi State Program Summary Outcome Indicators 1 20% of the financial literacy program participants will reduce debt by 25%. Participants in the financial literacy program will increase their financial security. 2 Participants in the food & nutrition program will reduce their risk of developing a nutrition related disease.

Needs to Accomplish Plans County Positions: Horticulture Program Assistant 4-H Program Assistant (s) (Bi-lingual) Professional development: Spanish classes for all staff. 4-H: Youth Development Certification program Grant Writing Teen focus programming

Needs to Accomplish Plans County Professional development: Agriculture: Ag. Economics (marketing training) Entomology Food Safety/Post Harvest Technology Pond Management Weed Horticulture: Aquatics/Pond Management ARC View GIS

Needs to Accomplish Plans County Professional development: FCS: Training of Support Staff (Program Assistants) Clinical Nutrition State Regulations Workshops (Insurance, home buying, child care, nutrition, elder care)

Needs to Accomplish Plans Northwest District Positions: Fill All County Positions First Multi-County FYN (Gadsden & Jackson) Community Resource Development/Rural Economic Development Specialist 4H Program Specialist Professional development: Youth Development Certification program Spanish Classes

Needs to Accomplish Plans State Positions: Youth Development Specialist Community Resource Development/Rural Economic Development Specialist Professional development: Youth Development Certification Program ***Resources in Spanish in all program areas.***

Summary Gadsden County Rural Myriad of challenges and opportunities Much work to be done

Thank you Gadsden County Northwest Extension District July 1, 2003