SKY18-002

Final report for SKY18-002

Project Type: PDP State Program
Funds awarded in 2018: $11,111.00
Projected End Date: 06/30/2020
Grant Recipient: Kentucky State University
Region: Southern
State: Kentucky
State Coordinator:
Dr. Marion Simon
Kentucky State University
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Project Information

Abstract:

Kentucky’s Model State Program is focusing on needs identified from our state SARE advisory council. Recent investments in agent training have focused on sustainable communities, food processing, family finances and organic production. Kentucky State University continues to make the Third Thursday Program the focus of its SARE MSP funding.

Third Thursdays have become an institution in Kentucky professional development educational programming. The broad range of topics (listed in a later section) ensure that agricultural professionals and producer leaders have training in the skills necessary on a diversified small farm. TTT also serves as a space for synergies in small farm education.  Many conferences and educational meetings are planned around “Third Thursdays” including:

    • the Annual Small, Limited-Resource/Minority Farmers Conference,
    • the International Pawpaw Conference,
    • the Regional SARE Goat Project’s Collaborator Conference,
    • the SRRMEC Regional Conference on the “Risk-Assessed Business Planning for Small Producers” curriculum, and many others.
Project Objectives:

2017 (previous year) Objectives & Outcomes:

- Build a broad base of interest and skills in agricultural sustainability among extension agents and other professionals in the state.

- Increasing support of professional development for NGO service providers.

- Further development of relationships with those delivering livestock and grain programming.

- Sustained education in genetic engineering and its pros and cons for sustainability.

 

We have delivered on these goals through several projects including: the Southeastern Kentucky Ag Outreach Provider Symposium planning process, support for a speaker at the American Forage and Grassland Conference, attendance at the Ohio Ecological Food and Farming Association conference, tabling at the Organic Association Conference, and staying in contact with the team of faculty working on cover crops after the 2016 Southern Cover Crops Conference. We continue to cover a wide variety of topics at our Third Thursday Thing events, the Annual Minority and Limited Resources Farmer Conference. This has opened some considerable opportunities for engaging our SARE program with the livestock and grain communities.

 

2018 Additional Objectives:
- Add depth to our conversations around the sustainability of Genetic Engineering.

- Reach a broader group of Extension personnel for our professional development “scholarships”

Advisors

Click linked name(s) to expand/collapse or show everyone's info
  • Ken Andries (Educator and Researcher)
  • Andre Barbour
  • Mac Stone
  • Edwin Chavous (Educator)
  • Mark Ferguson (Educator)
  • Jeff Henderson (Educator)
  • Curt Judy (Educator)
  • Dana Lear
  • Lee Meyer (Educator and Researcher)
  • Janet Mullins (Educator and Researcher)
  • Gary Palmer (Educator)
  • Louie Rivers, Jr. (Educator)
  • Susan Schlosnagle
  • Tehran Jewell (Educator)
  • Ed Thompson
  • Paul Vincelli (Educator and Researcher)
  • Brett Wolff (Educator)
  • Martin Richards (Educator)

Education

Educational approach:

Kentucky State University continues to make the Third Thursday Program the focus of its SARE MSP funding. Third Thursdays continue to be an institution in Kentucky professional development educational programming. The broad range of topics (listed below) ensure that agricultural professionals and producer leaders have training in the skills necessary on a diversified small farm. TTT also serves as a space for synergies in small farm education including educator-to-educator, farmer-to-farmer, and farmer-to-educator interactions

Education & Outreach Initiatives

Pastured Poultry, Third Thursday Thing (May)
Objective:

To expose attendees to a variety of pastured poultry topics.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 59

Veterans: 6

Hispanic: 1

Non-Hispanic: 1

Under 18: 6

Caucasian: 6

African-American: 46

Other: 1

Small Scale Beef Production in the 21st Century (May)
Objective:

Introduce basic topics in cattle production including fencing, selection, handling, and other modern issues facing small scale producers.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 45

Veterans: 9

Hispanic: 44

Non-Hispanic: 1

Under 18: 2

Caucasian: 21

African-American: 21

Other: 1

Aquaculture, Third Thursday Thing (June)
Objective:

Expose attendees to a variety of aquaculture topics including Aquaponics, Largemouth Bass production, holding live fish at farmers markets, and pond construction.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 50

Veterans: 9

Hispanic: 2

Non-Hispanic: 28

Under 18:

Caucasian:

African-American:

Other:

Beef Health (June)
Objective:

To expose attendees to veterinary considerations for cattle like vaccination, castration, and dehorning.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 38

Veterans: 4

Hispanic: 0

Non-Hispanic: 34

Under 18: 5

Caucasian: 20

African-American: 10

Other: 4

Agroforestry, Pollinators, and Uninsured Crop Programs, Third Thursday Thing (July)
Objective:

To expose attendees to governmental programs as well as alternate crops and woodland products as additional revenue sources.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 93

Veterans: 11

Hispanic: 2

Non-Hispanic: 91

Under 18: 3

Caucasian: 62

African-American: 19

Other: 6

Mineral Supplementation for Cattle (July)
Objective:

To encourage attendees to accurately use mineral supplements in cattle production.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 37

Veterans: 7

Hispanic: 0

Non-Hispanic: 37

Caucasian: 20

African-American: 12

Other: 3

MarketReady, Third Thursday Thing (August)
Objective:

To expose attendees to key marketing considerations as they expand to larger markets.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 35

Veterans: 4

Hispanic: 0

Non-Hispanic: 35

Under 18: 2

Caucasian: 27

African-American: 3

Other: 2

Administering Medications to Cattle (August)
Objective:

To demonstrate administering medication to cattle in need of treatment.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Attendance data were lost.

Horticulture and Pawpaws, Third Thursday Thing (September)
Objective:

To demonstrate grafting methods, highlught pawpaw cultivars, and introduce Primocane Blackberry cultivars.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 122

Veterans: 18

Hispanic: 2

Non-Hispanic: 120

Under 18: 5

Caucasian: 100

African-American: 13

Other: 5

Beef Cattle Selection and Culling + Hay Quality (September)
Objective:

To expose attendees to key considerations around selecting cattle and culling animals from the herd.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 16

Veterans: 3

Hispanic: 0

Non-Hispanic: 16

Under 18: 1

Caucasian: 8

African-American: 8

Other: 0

Goats, Third Thursday Thing (October) NEEDS AGENDA
Objective:

To expose attendees to an overview of Goat husbandry and marketing.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 74

Veterans: 14

Hispanic: 1

Non-Hispanic: 73

Under 18: 8

Caucasian: 54

African-American: 15

Other: 1

Small Farms Conference & Agrability, Third Thursday Thing (November)
Objective:

To expose attendees to a variety of topics related to well-being and health as well as accessibility to farm equipment and labor.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 202

Veterans: 21

Hispanic:1

Non-Hispanic: 201

Under 18: 14

Caucasian: 85

African-American: 103

Other: 6

Lean Farming and Economics of Animal Health, Third Thursday Thing (January)
Objective:

To expose attendees to a the concepts of Lean Farming and provide them examples of how to implement them on their farms.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 33

Veterans: 4

Hispanic: 0

Non-Hispanic: 33

Under 18: 3

Caucasian: 26

African-American: 6

Other: 1

Organics, Third Thursday Thing (February)
Objective:

To introduce attendees to organizations that can support them in organic transition, while covering specific topics related to urban organic production.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 52

Veterans: 7

Hispanic: 1

Non-Hispanic: 51

Under 18: 2

Caucasian: 39

African-American: 6

Other: 3

Goats, Third Thursday Thing (March)
Objective:

To expose participants to topics focused on pasture management for goats.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 102

Veterans: 19

Hispanic: 1

Non-Hispanic: 101

Under 18: 6

Caucasian: 87

African-American: 9

Other: 4

Marketability of Beef (March)
Objective:

To explain to attendees best practices for managing a herd to optimize for product marketability.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 24

Veterans: 4

Hispanic: 0

Non-Hispanic: 24

Under 18: 3

Caucasian: 15

African-American: 8

Other: 1

USDA & NRCS Programs, Third Thursday Thing (April)
Objective:

To provide attendees with an overview of federal agriculture programs and provide opportunities to meet and ask questions of federal employees.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 78

Veterans: 8

Hispanic: 1

Non-Hispanic: 76

Under 18: 8

Caucasian: 47

African-American: 20

Other: 4

Cattle Vaccination (April)
Objective:

To give attendees additional information and instructions on beef cattle vaccination.

Description:
Outcomes and impacts:

Total Attendance: 27

Veterans: 6

Hispanic: 0

Non-Hispanic: 27

Under 18: 5

Caucasian: 14

African-American: 12

Other: 1

Educational & Outreach Activities

18 Workshop field days

Participation Summary:

100 Extension
100 NRCS
50 Researchers
50 Nonprofit
100 Agency
50 Ag service providers (other or unspecified)
650 Farmers/ranchers

Learning Outcomes

1,100 Participants gained or increased knowledge, skills and/or attitudes about sustainable agriculture topics, practices, strategies, approaches
350 Ag professionals intend to use knowledge, attitudes, skills and/or awareness learned

Project Outcomes

1 Grant received that built upon this project
30 New working collaborations
350 Agricultural service provider participants who used knowledge and skills learned through this project (or incorporated project materials) in their educational activities, services, information products and/or tools for farmers
650 Farmers reached through participant's programs
Additional Outcomes:

Many conferences and educational meetings continue to be planned around “Third Thursdays” including:

    • the Annual Small, Limited-Resource/Minority Farmers Conference,
    • the International Pawpaw Conference,
    • the Regional SARE Goat Project’s Collaborator Conference,
    • the SRRMEC Regional Conference on the “Risk-Assessed Business Planning for Small Producers”curriculum, and many others.

SSARE MSP funding allows KSU to carry on its tradition of serving minority and limited resource producers through its extension system. Training extension personnel, NRCS, other ag service providers, and producer leaders helps to amplify the message of SARE to this group.

Face of SARE

Face of SARE:

Kentucky’s SARE PDP program objective is to build a broad base of interest and skills in agricultural sustainability among extension agents and other professionals in the state, equip them with the needed skills to assist farmers, marketers, and community leaders, and to facilitate a diverse range of collaborative projects. The way that we manage our programs has led to strong partnerships with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, NRCS, FSA, Community Farm Alliance, Kentucky Center for Agricultural and Rural Development, the Cooperative Extension Service, Grow Appalachia, as well as grower groups across the state

Our Program Assistant continues to serve as one of the primary faces of the KYSARE program. He networks extensively across the state and beyond to identify new partners and new ideas for amplifying our financial investment. The core job of KY SARE’s Program Assistant is coordinating all of the SARE-promoted trainings and programs. This includes working with the content providers (faculty, private sector, government, NGO) and SARE leadership to develop effective programs. He provides logistical support (finding meeting space, arranging travel, access to materials) and assisting program evaluation.

The Program Assistant also manages the SARE grant funds, helping with budgets, arranging for reimbursement and overall management. Because sustainable agriculture programs in Kentucky extend much beyond the SARE-supported programs, the program assistant actively participates in other activities. This includes attending extension and grower events where he simultaneously represents KYSARE and the UK Center for Crop Diversification, allowing him to provide SARE resources anywhere they might be helpful and relevant. His engagement and connections markedly enhance the visibility of the SARE Program.  He is actively involved in Kentucky State University’s “Third Thursday Thing”—monthly sustainable ag field days covering a wide range of topics. The current Program Assistant has strong networking and leadership skills that help us build productive partnerships with Farm Services Agency, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and numerous NGOs. The program assistant also oversees reporting and proposal development.

650 Farmers received information about SARE grant programs and information resources
450 Ag professionals received information about SARE grant programs and information resources
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.