Tactic 1: Kentucky Ag 101

Develop suggested presentation for classrooms, businesses, restaurants, health professionals and healthcare students, community organizations, et al. delivered by members of the Ag Literacy Network in-person, but also available virtually. Encourage use of personal stories.

1. Take inventory of consumer interests with consumer survey. What do consumers want to know about Kentucky agriculture? Consumer survey completed at the Kentucky State Fair - Results
2. Increase number of literacy network volunteers – need to identify strong local leaders. See Kentucky Agriculture Literacy Network - Website - Includes Extension Personnel, Conservation District Personnel, County Farm Bureaus, FFA Chapters.
3. Create baseline presentation focused on what’s produced, the people behind it, sustainability, soil health, and economic impact (then tailor-make to food service, business, health audiences, food business employees, and/or specific counties in future). Find those seeking content. - Kentucky Agriculture Overview Presentation - Asking agriculture groups for input/review. Google Slide Version
4. Seek funding to conduct regional training workshops for agriculture advocates to promote Ag Literacy Network.
5. Promote Ag Literacy Network and help schools understand where they can go for resources. - Ongoing - www.teachkyag.org
6. Market to local organizations, such as schools, libraries, restaurant associations, healthcare associations, city/county governments.
7. Help KY Chamber, KY Chamber Executives, and local chambers identify ag folks and agribusinesses to talk with leadership programs as part of Ag Literacy Network. Train and incentivize farmers and help them understand.

When? 2024-2025

Collaborators Kentucky Agricultural Leadership Program alumni could participate as presenters, Ag Coordination & Communication Working Group, Local Chamber offices

Project Leads

• Dr. Will Snell, (UK)
• Jennifer Elwell (TeachKyAg)

Partners for Delivery

• Farmers
• Need Extension, Conservation, County Farm Bureaus, local ag groups, and farmers markets, to showcase KY farmers.
• KAC and all agriculture groups
• Include local FFA chapters & postsecondary agriculture programs
• Leverage city/county government and chamber relationships.
• Ag Days 
• State, regional and county leadership groups.
• Statewide associations such as healthcare and restaurant 
• KY Chamber Executives

Tactic 2: Kentucky Agriculture Video

Create short video about KY Agriculture for events and visitors based on consumer survey. Include importance of ag, national security, etc. Appeal to public interests.

When? 2025

Where? KY Expo Center and tourism venues

Project Lead

• Jennifer Elwell (TeachKyAg)

Partners for Delivery

• KFB 
• KDA 
• UK or KSU communications teams 
• KY Proud

Collaborators

Ag. Coord. & Comm. Working Group, KY agriculture organizations

Tactic 3: Teacher Curriculum

Work with local agriculture organizations to sponsor non-ag classroom supplemental activities, designated K-5 and 6-8. 

Curriculum available at www.teachkyag.org and www.kyagr.com

Farm to School Challenge - October

All in for Ag Education Week - March 17-21, 2025

1. Market to a variety of school systems to demonstrate why it applies to them through food, life cycle, careers, etc. Seek funding for marketing and training from Ag Dev Board, KDA, USDA, and partner organizations.
2. Continue to identify needs of classrooms for science-based material about agriculture for future development. 

When? Ongoing

Where? Teachkyag.org, KDA, KY Department of Education channels, virtual and in-person workshops

Project Leads

• Jennifer Elwell (TeachKyAg) 
• Bethany Mattingly (KDA)

Partners for Delivery

• KY Ag & Environment in the Classroom (TeachKyAg) 
• KFB 
• KY Department of Education 
• All agriculture groups 
• Farm to School Network 
• National Ag in the Classroom 
• AFB Foundation for Ag

Collaborators

STEM teachers, Public Libraries, Cooperative Extension Agents and Program Assistants, Conservation District educators, KY FFA Chapters, Homeschool co-ops and teachers, Regional education co-ops

Tactic 4: Inventory of Ag Literacy Efforts

Create comprehensive list of all farm to school efforts. Determine what ag literacy efforts are already being done by KAC members, categorized by target audience. Start with questionnaire sent out to KAC members and other partners to identify their programs. Also provide county program resources. 

When? May 2024 - February 2025

Where? TeachKyAg.org, KyFoodandFarm.info, KAC meetings and communications

County education providers are listed at www.teachkyag.org/county/xx.

Project Leads

• Jennifer Elwell (TeachKyAg) 
• Bethany Mattingly (KDA)

Partners for Delivery

• KY Ag & Environment in the Classroom (TeachKyAg)
• All agriculture groups 
• Farm to School Network 
• Cooperative Extension 
• Conservation Districts 
• FFA Chapters 
• Kentucky schools

Collaborators

Ag Coord. & Comm. Working Group

Tactic 5:  Elected Officials

Focus on connecting with state elected officials, outside of session, in districts. Work with local Farm Bureaus to help represent ag as one voice and provide insight on ag economic development and impact, environmental issues at local level, work with consumers. Need to help local events repeatedly say ag is important – elected officials need to hear it from constituents often. 

1. Need to integrate KY and county ag economic development numbers.
2. Compete with non-farm economic (farms are disappearing).

When? Ongoing

Where? Legislator communications and events

This map was provided to all legislators in summer 2024. 

Project Leads

• Chris Crumrine (UK) 
• Kyle Kelley (KFB)

Partners for Delivery

• KDA 
• All agriculture groups 
• CEDIK 
• FeedingtheEconomy.com

Collaborators

• Ag Coord. & Comm. Working Group
• Economic Development Working Group
• Local and regional Chambers of Commerce and econ. dev. groups