EXTENSION TRENDS: BLAINE COUNTY University of Idaho Extension, Blaine County • www.uidaho.edu/blaine
2019 Impact UI Extension, Blaine County partners with community groups and farmers to create a robust food system for the valley. This has included directing the Blaine County Food Council (BCFC) which works on food system initiatives for the community. Projects include local food procurement, Farm-to-Early Care and Education, and food events. Educational programs and research efforts support agriculture producers in Blaine County. Agriculture production in Blaine County is estimated at $38,572,000. This includes sustainable agriculture practices and local market development. UI Extension, Blaine County helps local farmers find ways to keep food local.
2019 By the Numbers • 1,712 direct contacts • 81 youth participants • 19 volunteers • 50 volunteer hours • $185,732 extramural funding
Our Advisory Council Special thanks to our volunteers who help shape programming and inform the work we do for UI Extension in Blaine County: Katherine Noble, Judd McMahan, Kristy Molyneux, Rocky Sherbine, Gerald Bashaw, Nick Purdy, Larry R. Peterson, Larry Schoen, Dick Springs, Malia Leonard, Gary Beck and Dayna Gross.
UI Extension Educators Grant Loomis 208-788-5585 gloomis@uidaho.edu
On-farm visits are conducted to examine soil health, water savings, regenerative agriculture, and alternative crops. In 4-H Youth Development programming, 1,241 direct contacts were made in 2019, 329 of which were underserved populations.
4-H in Blaine County UI Extension 4-H Youth Development programming in Blaine County reached 1,241 direct contacts in 2019, 329 of which were underserved populations. A variety of presentations were offered including; Bug Zoo Festival, 4-H volunteer training, Wildlife Day Camp, Hope Garden summer lessons, Bloom Garden summer lessons, Dutch oven projectin-a-day, WeDo Robotics Camp, hiking project-in-a-day, Coding Camp, woodworking project-in-a-day, Adventure Quest Camp, and EV3 Robotics. A partnership with UI Extension educators and 4-H professionals in Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka, Power, Oneida, and Twin Falls counties is underway to plan, deliver, evaluate, and improve educational events and activities, including: teen leader and camp counselor training; Central District All Things Wild 4-H Camp; Twin Falls Swine Education Day; and Central District 4-H team monthly meetings. UI Extension, Blaine County also assists volunteers, the Blaine County Fair board, and market animal sales committee with running a successful fair by scheduling 4-H events, ordering awards, conducting weigh-ins, recruiting judges, and collaborating with all committees.
On the Horizon Chandra Vaughan 208-788-5585 cvaughan@uidaho.edu
Due to COVID-19, the Blaine County Fair will be offered as a virtual event, which UI Extension, Blaine County will assist with. Virtual education and project in-a-day activities will continue to be offered as well as the Teen Leadership Camp and Adventure Quest Camp. UI Extension, Blaine County will also assist with the new 5B Resilience Garden Group, and Annie's Project, a program to help strengthen women’s roles in modern farm and ranch enterprises. Annie’s Project will be offered in cooperation with UI Extension, Lincoln County in fall 2020.