Whether it is talking about home gardens, healthy snacks, or the science of cooking, agents with the Kenton County Cooperative Extension Office have a lot to offer students.
The problem? The image of the cooperative extension service is one of helping rural communities with farming and livestock issues.
Daniel Allen and agents across Kentucky are part of a leadership program trying to expand the image of the extension service.
On a recent day this fall, Allen, a Kenton County agent, brought pumpkins to Ninth District Elementary School for students to decorate, as well as ingredients for a healthy snack.
Allen says the extension service has a lot to offer people in the urban areas but not as much visibility.
Allen and his coworkers are talking to groups like Covington Partners about ways to meet needs in the urban areas. They also want more people from the urban core to serve on a council that advises the agents on local needs of urban communities.
The 4-H program already is very visible in Covington schools he said, bringing STEM programming, gardening, healthy living and other programs to students in out-of-school time programs. For students, though, it’s all about learning new things and having fun.
Covington Partners
