Martin County Impact 2003

The University of Florida's Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) is a federal, state, and local government partnership dedicated to develop knowledge in agriculture, human and natural resources, and the life sciences and to make that knowledge accessible to sustain and enhance the quality of human life.

Districts

Congressional	8, 16, 23
State Senate	28
State House	78, 81, 82

Impact

Gifts from residents to UF	$499,593
Including gifts to SHARE	$2,881
Students at UF from county	348
IFAS students from county	32
UF alumni/donors in county including	1,420
IFAS alumni in county	88

Budget for fiscal year 2003 in the county

County funds for Extension (from previous year)	$294,544
State and federal funds for Extension	173,491
Total County Extension funds:	$468,035

 

With state support, IFAS provides Floridians with lifelong learning programs in partnership with county governments and the United States Department of Agriculture. The breadth of educational programs offered in each county responds to the local needs of families, youth, the economically disadvantaged, schools, regulatory agencies, community organizations, and industry. In the 2000 census, the Martin County population was 121,514. The estimated population as of April1, 2003 was 134,491.

In addition to teaching, research and service activities at the University of Florida and cooperative extension offices in each of the state's 67 counties, research and education centers (REC) with facilities in 18 locations support Florida's agricultural, ecological and human interests through applied research and education. From increasing crops to food safety, from pest control to protecting and preserving natural resources, the research and education centers have local, state, national and international impact.

In addition to teaching, research and service activities at the University of Florida and cooperative extension offices in each of the state's 67 counties, research and education centers (REC) with facilities in 18 locations support Florida's agricultural, ecological and human interests through applied research and education. From increasing crops to food safety, from pest control to protecting and preserving natural resources, the research and education centers have local, state, national and international impact.

Letters	1,644	Times Mass media used	118
Office Visits	3,030	Materials prepared	3,298
Telephone calls	6,837	Direct mailings	16,122
Visits to clientele	1,089	Other materials distributed	11,824
Learning Events	1,470	Number of volunteers	3,004
Participants	54,825	Hours Volunteered	36,105
Instruction Hours	5,483	Contacts made by volunteers	52,450

 

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Specific Examples of Impact:

• Master Gardeners gave over 6,130 hours in service to and contacted over 14,200 individuals in one-on-one and group learning events.
• Green Industry BMPs were taught to 64 public sector employees. The training introduced landscape practices that reduce the possibility of nutrient or pesticide movement off-site. Certificates were awarded to those individuals who completed the training. Additionally, 85% of the participants indicated they would change their maintenance habits to comply with the Green Industry BMPs and the average knowledge increase was 30%.
• Through the assistance from Martin County Extension locally prepared fresh food items and green plants were made available at the second annual Stuart Green Market located at Stuart City Hall from October to May.
• Martin County Extension educated the Sustainable Martin Alliance, a citizen volunteer group formed to fulfill the Florida Department of Community Affair's Sustainable Community designation requirement about sustainable communities. Martin 101is an educational program that focused on Martin County's environment, social, built-environment, and economics. The two offerings of the program had 120 participants. 90% of participants indicated that they learned more about Martin County.
• 122 adult volunteers donated 1,756 hours to the 4-H Youth Development program. 576 youth were enrolled in the Jr. Master Gardener program where they maintained plants that have low water requirements, recycled two items, and managed a compost project. Community service projects for the 400 youth and adults involved in 4-H clubs included collecting food for the local needy, collecting clothes that were distributed through school social workers, road and beach clean-ups, and made cancer comfort caps for youth who have lost their hair as a result of undergoing chemotherapy treatments. The youth also increased their leadership skills in areas such as time management, responsibility, money management, team work and improved self esteem.
• 58 Family Consumer Educator volunteers delivered 4,684 hours of instruction to 31,640 clientele on nutrition and family economic topics.
• 1,717 participants in the Nutrition and Diet program reported making improvements in their diets and learned the relationship between diet and various chronic diseases. 312 participants in one program showed an increase in food safety knowledge and skills. 31 fathers on low income budgets learned how to provide more nutritious meals while saving about $25/month.
• In the Family Economic Stability program, 229 families developed skills in budgeting and record-keeping. 695 individuals learned how to establish and maintain good credit and learned proper money management skills and how to reduce debt. 27 cancelled their credit cards or chose to not obtain new ones. 149 low-income new home buyers learned skills to handle the financial responsibility of home ownership.
• 86% of the Florida Yards and Neighborhoods program participants surveyed increased their overall knowledge of FYN principals such as proper chemical use, Integrated Pest Management practices and water conservation. 24% said they would adopt one or more of these practices. A television series was developed to reach a larger audience.

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