WASHINGTON COUNTY Northwest Extension District Andy Andreasen, CED July 1, 2003

Who We Are Who We Are Faculty members: –1 CED/Agriculture Agent –1 4-H Agent –1/2 Family and Consumer Sciences Agent Staff members: –2 Secretaries Budget: $108,249 + Facility Support Staff Computer upgrades, Auditorium Equipment, Ag Center Improvement Grants 14,295 Sq. Ft. Agricultural Center

Washington County Profile Washington County Profile Total Population: 21,192 Racial Composition: 82% White / 14% Black / 4% Other Number of Households: 7,931 Youth Population ages 5-18: 4,120 Female Head of Households: 901 Children Living Below Poverty Level: 2192 Unemployed: 473 (rate = 2.9%) Principal employers – West Point Stevens, Department of Transportation, Washington County School Board Total Acres: 371,200 Number of Acres in Agriculture (non-timber): 77,500 Principal crops – peanuts, cotton, cattle, vegetables, corn, hay, turf, ornamentals & landscape plants Number of acres in Forestry/Lakes: 291,900 Natural Resource Acres: 167 (Falling Waters State Park) Other Acreage: 1733 – Recreation Areas & Parks, Municipalities, Prisons

Who Participated in the Listening Session: –Health Department –Council on Aging –PAEC Migrant Worker Specialist –Clergy –Florida DOT Credit Union –4-H Volunteers –Guardian ad Litem Program Coordinator –FCS Club Members –Agriculture Producers and Farm Owners –Urban Citizens –Civic Club Members Listening Session Report

What we heard in the listening session that was expected: –Small Town Values –Agricultural Roots –Financial Support Needed –Club Support –Anti-Tobacco Partnership –Need for Horticulture and Master Gardener Training in the County –Water Quality and Availability for Agriculture –Concern about the Inability to Fill Vacant Specialist and Agent Positions

What we heard in the listening session that was unexpected: –Drug Issues – Involvement –Bible School Programs –Lack of Available of Agriculture Land to Rent Listening Session Report

Listening Sessions How we incorporated what we heard:  Reviewed with Advisory Committees  Discussion with Extension Partners  Discussion with Neighboring PIT Team Members by Program Areas

What we were unable to incorporate and why: –Bible School Clubs –Legal Issues involving Drugs –Increasing the Availability of Land for Agriculture –Inability to Provide Programming in all the Areas Requested without Additional Staff and Funding Listening Sessions

Washington County Plan by Program Area 4-H and Youth 4-H and Youth Family and Consumer Sciences Family and Consumer Sciences Agriculture Agriculture

4-H Program Summary Major Priority Areas –4-H Organizational and Volunteer Development –4-H Agriculture and Natural Resource Education –Life Skills for 4-H Youth Target Audience(s) –Youth Ages 5 – 18 –All Teachers, Parents, Community Leaders and Citizens

4-H Program Summary Current Washington County 4-H Situation –Agent will be Moving and Leaving Program July 2003 –Currently there are 298 Registered Volunteers and Leaders –There are 141 Official Community Club Members –2604 Youth or 71.4% of School Children are Reached with 4-H Programs Annually –4-H Youth are Very Active at District and State Levels –Wonderful Public School Cooperation and Support –Media Services and Coverage is High –65.1% of Youth in Schools Qualify for Free/Reduced Lunch Program

4H Program Summary Long Range Planning Efforts –Club Development and Maintenance –Volunteer Recruitment and Education –School Based 4-H Programs and Opportunities –Fund-raising Programs to assist Need Participants –Agriculture and Natural Resource Education –Life Skills Acquisition for Youth

Outcome Indicators –Enrollment Numbers –Volunteer Enrollment –Member Participation –Pre/Post Testing 4H Program Summary

Family & Consumer Sciences Program Summary Major Priority Areas: –Improving Family Resource Management Target Audience: –First-time homebuyers –Working Families –Youth Long Range Goals: –Improve Economic Well-being of Washington and Holmes Counties Families through Resource Management Education Outcome Indicators: –Families will set up a spending plan; reduce debt –Families will Qualify for a Home Mortgage –Individuals will Develop a Retirement Plan

Family & Consumer Sciences Program Summary Major Priority Areas: –Nutrition and Health Target Audience: –Adult Population –4-H and Other Youth Long Range Goals: –Washington and Holmes Counties Citizens will Improve Their Dietary Intake to Reduce the Risk of Chronic Diseases Outcome Indicators: –Increased Number of Adults Making Healthful Food Choices –Increased Number of Youth Making Healthful Food Choices

Major Priority Areas: –Developing Family and Community Education Leadership Target Audience: –General Public Long Range Goals: –Develop Leadership Skills to Positively Impact Family and Community Development Outcome Indicators: –Number of FCE Members Communicating with Community Leaders and Elected Officials Regarding Family and Community Issues –Number of FCE Members Participating in Community Service Projects Family & Consumer Sciences Program Summary

Agriculture Program Summary Major Priority Areas: –Livestock and Dairy Production Target Audience: –Area Livestock and Dairy Producers Long Range Goals: –Adoption of Best Management Practices for Livestock and Dairy Production Outcome Indicators: –Increased Implementation of BMP’s resulting in more efficient and economical production of livestock and milk

Agriculture Program Summary Agriculture Program Summary Major Priority Areas: –Agronomic and Vegetable Production Target Audience: –Washington County Growers Long Range Goals: –Adoption of Best Management Practices for Agronomic and Vegetable Production Outcome Indicators: –Increased implementation of BMP’s resulting in more efficient production of Agronomic and Vegetable Crops

Agriculture Program Summary Major Priority Areas: –Forestry and Wildlife Resources Target Audience: –Land Owners and Timber Growers Long Range Goals: –Increase knowledge and adoption of Forestry BMP’s –Increase knowledge and management of wildlife as an economic resource for the land owner Outcome Indicators: –Increased number of Stewardship plans adopted to manage for timber and wildlife –Increased adoption of forestry BMP’s for economical timber production

Multi State Program Summary Major Priority Areas –Livestock and Dairy –Forest and Wildlife Resources –Sustainable Agriculture –4-H Organizational and Volunteer Development –4-H Agriculture and Natural Resource Education –Life Skills for 4-H Youth –Improving Family Resource Management –Nutrition and Health –Developing Family and Community Education Leadership

Needs to Accomplish Plans County –Positions: Fill Vacant 4-H Agent Position Establish County Budget Lines for Horticulture Agent –Professional development: County Travel Support Additional computer hardware and software to facilitate educational programming support for Horticulture Agent

Needs to Accomplish Plans Northwest District –Positions-DED assistance and Tech Support –Professional development-Support of Program –Implementation Teams involving district faculty and multi-state coworkers –District 4-H Specialist

Needs to Accomplish 4-H Plans State –Support/Resources Needed for 4-H Funding and support to fill vacant 4-H position State Events Support and Communication Consideration in Setting Program Fees After School Program Curriculum Development and Support

Needs to Accomplish FCS Plans State –Support/Resources Needed for FCS Housing and Home Environment Specialist –The need for updated fact sheets on home purchasing and the increased concern about indoor air quality issues, warrant a specialist in this area.

Needs to Accomplish Plans State –Support/Resources Needed for Agriculture Positions: –Priority County Agent Positions - 4-H - Horticulture Critical Specialist Positions - Horticulture - Agronomy - Distance Education In-Service Technician Professional Development: –Statewide In-Service Training System that can reduce travel time and expense when possible.

Summary Address Needs of Clientele in all Program Areas County Partners are very patient but the county positions are critical. The Partnership should include all partners in decisions relative to staffing, fees charged, reporting, training and facilities. Must be cost effective. Washington County Extension is dedicated to preserving & enhancing quality of life which has made our community a desirable place to live, work and raise our children.

Thanks from: Washington County Northwest Extension District Andy Andresen, CED July 1, 2003