Work Hard, Reward Yourself

After our fantastic week at camp, I returned to the office with a nice treat with District 3.5 (District 4 plus Jefferson County) to Kings Island! My first time to Kings Island, my friends from school always talk about how much fun it is and since I hadn't been to an amusement park in like 5 years, this was a nice refresher! Franklin County Teen Club was awarded with this trip after fundraising for the year and attending community service events. Not only did we have a great time, I had the best adrenaline rush on Invertigo, go try it!! Then we had a nice surprise thunderstorm which caused us to leave the park  :( but our day was fabulous!!From water rides to rollercoasters, my cheeks hurt from laughing and smiling all day!

Our new Hort Agent Lora Bailey, ANR Agent Keenan Bishop,

Kim Cowherd

Some of the Ladies of the Office Carolina Durr, Marlene Studdler, Debbie Bohn, Leslie Reynolds, Mackenzie Jones, Bailey Bishop

District 4 Director, Roger Sparrow and I

After our great time at Kings Island the next day consisted of the 55th Annual Farm City Field Day. Farm City Field Day is an awesome event put on by the Franklin County Extension Office, Franklin County Farm Bureau, Franklin County Conservation District, and the Frankfort-Franklin County Chamber of Commerce. It was held at the Julian Farm which was celebrating its Bicentennial. Farm City Field Day consisted of tour stops where locals, farmers, and educators could learn about various research and events in Kentucky Agriculture. The tour stops were Remmant Bluegrass Woodland (Joyce Bender and Dan Cox, KY State Nature Preserves Commission), A Kentucky Garden: 200 Years and Beyond (Connie Lemley, Franklin Co. Farmer/FrankfortCAN), Soybean Balage (Will Stollard, Casey County ANR Agent, Ira Linville, Franklin Co. Conservation District), Dry Stone Fences (Lee Troutwine, Dry Stone Mason, Journeyman 2nd Level), and Protecting Land (Whitney Turner and Adam Watcon, KY Dept. of Ag., Chris Schimmoeller, Woods and Water Land Trust). This event was awesome! I'm really glad I had the opportunity to attend and network with other individuals in extension (formal and informal).

 The next two days consisted of the Tri-State Diversity Conference Committee Program Meeting and State Communications Day. The Tri-State Diversity meeting was a great time. I saw some familiar faces (Ashley Holt, Jeffereson County 4-H Agent), Dr. Quentin Tyler, and Martha Thompson and I had the opportunity to meet some new faces and colleagues from Ohio State (Steve Brady), KState (Marion Gisbon), and Purdue (Katy Zuber). During the meeting, we reviewed proposals for conference sessions and deliberated on the Keynote Speaker. I think it's amazing when people come together and share their viewpoints and perspectives on different topics, you always learn something new in those environments. On Saturday, Whitney and I manned the t-shirt table at State Communications Day. We had awesome help from Ray (Harlan County) and Chanda (Jefferson County). I had a great conversation with Ray about extension and Ag Teachers and the role we play in our communities. We both agreed that extension was rewarding. No matter what discipline, FCS, ANR, 4-H, you will always be helping people and your work won't be in vain.

Last but not LEAST!!! WE HAVE BEGUN THE FRANKLIN COUNTY FAIR! I AM SO PROUD OF ALL THE4-H ENTRIES WE HAD THIS YEAR! I also got a nice taste of the goat show last night and the rest of the week I will be with Leslie at our livestock shows! SN: I can't wait to eat some fair food :-P