WAKULLA COUNTY Northwest Extension District

1. WAKULLA COUNTYNorthwest Extension District Dale L. Bennett County Extension Director July 2, 2003

2. Who We Are • Faculty members ● Dale L. Bennett County Extension Director (Agriculture) ● Karen M. Stribling 4-H/Family and Consumer Sciences Agent ● Vacant Family and Consumer Sciences Agent (FNP/EFNEP)

3. Who We Are • Staff Members ● Vera M. Harvey 1890 Program Assistant ● Cathy Frank Office Manager ● Rose Simon Receptionist/Secretary

4. Who We Are • Budget: $120,194 Major Equipment Purchases These Next 4 Years: • Replace Desktop PC’s • Copier • Color Printer

5. Wakulla County Profile • 22,863+ – Total population • 8,450 – Number of households • 4,700 – Youth population • 83 – Number of farms • 388,300 – Acres total • 341,704 – Acres forest • 7,766 – Acres cropland and pastures • 3,300 – Acres of lakes and rivers • 375,250 – Square feet of saltwater beach area • 60% of county owned by the Federal Government • Ecotourism & Forestry – Major Industry

6. Signs of The Times

7. Listening Session Report • What we heard in the listening session that was expected… 1) Citizens value the rural character/small towns of the county. 2) Growth of the county is impacting what the citizens value. 3) Research facilities, Extension, schools and senior services are all good. • What we heard in the listening session that was unexpected… 1) Citizens perceive having a small voice in government. 2) Uncensored access to the internet is a problem.

8. Listening Sessions • How we incorporated what we heard… ● The faculty and their Extension Advisory Committees will develop the four year plan of work (2004-2007) that reflects the needs of currently targeted audiences and the emerging issues priorities identified in the listening session. • What we were unable to incorporate and why… ● Moral decline: drugs, alcohol, permissive society- our staff is too small to specifically deal with these problems. ● Uncensored access to internet-this problem goes beyond the scope of our responsibilities.

9. Wakulla County Plan by Program Area • 4-H Youth • Family and Consumer Sciences • Agriculture • Natural Resources

10. 4H Program Summary • Major Priority Areas ● 4-H Publicity ●4-H Clubs ● Volunteers/Leadership Development • Target Audience(s) ● 4-H Youth, Parents, and Volunteers ● School Teachers • Long Range Goals ● Establish 15 active 4-H clubs ● Recruit 30 adult volunteers ● Provide educational programs ● Calendar/Web Site/Newspaper Column/Brochures in schools

11. 4-H Continued… • Outcome Indicators ● Number of club members will increase by 100%. ● Number of volunteers will increase by 100%. ● 85% of 4-H youth will gain knowledge through educational programs (pre & post test, questionnaires, and surveys). ● 85% of target audiences will gain awareness of the 4-H program.

12. FCS Program Summary • Major Priority Areas ● Breakdown in family structure ● Individual and family economic resources (growth rate) ● Family Nutrition • Target Audience(s) ● Seniors ● Parents ● Youth ● Limited income families.

13. FCS Continued… • Long Range Goals: ● Provide community based educational programs for families on parenting issues. ● Help citizens to be more aware of their financial status, avoid financial struggles, and manage resources. ● Assist FNP/EFNEP Agent, teaching programs that promote knowledge gain and adoption of nutrition, health, and food safety practices.

14. FCS Continued… • Outcome Indicators: ● Increased knowledge in parenting skills through questionnaire, surveys and follow-up phone calls. ● Citizens increased knowledge in financial management through pre and post test. ● Increase of knowledge of Food, Health, and safety practices through pre and post tests, and questionnaires showing increase of practices.

15. Agricultural Program Summary • Major Priority Areas ● Sustainable Alternative Agriculture Enterprises ● Management/Marketing Skills • Target Audience(s) ● Small Farmers ● Homeowners

16. Agriculture continued… • Long Range Goals ● 83 small farmers will adopt one environmentally sound, economically viable agricultural enterprise that will improve or sustain their operation’s profit. ● 8,450 homeowners will adopt two recommended production practices that will increase their income and improve their quality of life.

17. Agriculture Continued… • Outcome Indicators ● Number of small farmers/homeowners who have adopted production methods for alternative agriculture enterprises as well as business management and marketing techniques. ● Number of alternative enterprises brought into the county.

18. Natural Resources Program Summary • Major Priority Areas ● Natural Resources Ethics, Safety, and Ecosystem Conservation • Target Audience(s) ● Youths ● Volunteers ● Adults ● Building Contractors

19. Natural Resources Continued… • Long Range Goals ● For 85% of 1,000 participants (youths, volunteers, adults, building contractors) to adopt two management practices and/or behaviors that protect our water resources, reduces solid waste accumulation, and preserves, enhances, and restores the biological diversity and ecological integrity of our natural systems, and improves their quality of life. ● Participants will participate in one or more of the following programs: Hunter Safety, 4-H Shooting Sports, Build Green and Profit, Master Wildlife Conservationist Program, and Recycling Education.

20. Natural Resources Continued… • Outcome Indicators ● Adoption of management practices and/or behaviors ● Increase in knowledge and skills ● Amount of decrease in the solid waste stream

21. Multi State Program Summary • Major Priority Areas ● 4-H Youth ● Family and Consumer Sciences ● Agriculture ● Natural Resources • Target Audience(s) ● Youths ● Families ● Volunteers ● Small Farmers ● Homeowners

22. Multi State Program continued… • Long Range Goals ● To coordinate Extension programming in 4-H youth, family & consumer sciences, agriculture, and natural resources to the mutual benefit of agents, specialists, and the clientele we serve in each state. Programming could include: organizational/leadership development, volunteer recruitment, shooting sports, consumer education, parenting & human development, food & nutrition, small farm alternative enterprises, wildlife plots, and water issues.

23. Multi State Programs continued… • Outcome Indicators ● Adoption of management practices and/or behaviors ● Increase in knowledge and skills

24. Needs to Accomplish Plans • County ● Positions - 100% 4-H Agent ● Professional development - Staff Team Building - International Multi-Culture Awareness

25. Needs to Accomplish Plans • Northwest District ● Positions - Small Farm Multi-County Agents ● Professional Development - Information Technology - International Multi-Culture Awareness

26. Needs to Accomplish Plans • State ● Positions ● Professional Development - Dealing with Personnel Issues - How to Organize 4-H Clubs & Recruit 4-H Volunteers - International Multi-Culture Awareness ● Information Technology - High Speed Video Quality Internet Links - Wireless IPAQ’s

27. Summary • In Summary Wakulla County: ● Is experiencing growth and growth management problems ● Needs a 100% 4-H Agent Position ● Needs programming assistance and research in Small Farm Alternative Enterprises ● Needs high speed video quality internet line

28. Thank youWAKULLA COUNTYNorthwest Extension District Dale L. Bennett County Extension Director July 2, 2003