Perry County Cooperative Extension Office Offers Agriculture, 4‑H and Nutrition Services

Perry County residents can turn to the Perry County Cooperative Extension Office in Hazard for agriculture, 4‑H youth development, family and consumer sciences, nutrition education and community and economic development services. The county office, part of the University of Kentucky’s Martin‑Gatton College and Cooperative Extension Service, serves as a local gateway to university research, publications and technical help.

The office is located at 933 Perry Park Rd., Hazard, KY 41701 (ZIP+4 41701-5322 available). Staff can be reached by phone at (606) 436-2044, by fax at (606) 436-9964 or by email at perry.ext@uky.edu. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., closed 12:00-1:00 for lunch. The county page on the Extension site invites residents: "As the front door to the university, connecting with your county office is the best place to start. Walk in, call us or email - we're here for you."

Program areas listed for Perry County include Cooperative Extension Service programs generally, 4‑H Youth Development, Ag and Natural Resources, Community and Economic Development, Family and Consumer Sciences, and Program and Staff Development. The site highlights publications and resources described as "the best research from the university, in an easy-to-use format. Find information on farming, gardening, nutrition, budgeting and much more." County navigation also lists announcements, newsletters, upcoming events and a staff directory for residents seeking specific agents or specialists.

Perry County also has a documented role in SNAP-Ed nutrition efforts. The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service’s LEAP2 program was delivered in intervention schools in Perry and Laurel counties from October 31, 2011 to February 3, 2012. The SNAP Education and Evaluation Wave II case study reports that eight intervention schools received eight LEAP2 lessons, reaching 889 students in 42 classrooms; eight matched comparison schools were used for evaluation. The program targeted first- through third-grade students in schools where 50 percent or more of students qualified for free or reduced-price meals, and included classroom lessons plus a parent and caregiver newsletter designed to increase at-home offerings and consumption of fruits and vegetables.

For broader campus-level context, Jennifer L. Hunter, Ph.D., associate dean and director for the college, is listed as a contact at S-107 Ag Science North in Lexington with a phone number of (859) 257-2877 and email jhunter@uky.edu. The county office also directs visitors to job listings, benefits information for Extension employees and statewide Extension news and trainings.

What this means for Perry County is practical: farmers, parents and community leaders have a local entry point to technical assistance, youth programs and nutrition education, backed by university research and documented program experience in the region. Residents seeking workshops, school-based nutrition initiatives or one-on-one assistance should contact the Perry County office at (606) 436-2044 or perry.ext@uky.edu to learn about current offerings and upcoming events.