Progress report for SKY20-002
Project Information
Our SARE funds cover the costs of hosting Third Thursday Thing (TTT) educational meetings. Third Thursday Thing features monthly sustainable agriculture training sessions. The sessions take place at the Kentucky State University Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm on the third Thursday of every month with no session in December. Agricultural Professionals and farm leaders throughout the commonwealth and surrounding states are the target audience for the trainings. These trainings are structured for multiple learning types, with lecture style presentations followed by hands on demonstration/activities. We have also added a Fourth Wednesday program based on requests from the agricultural community.
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:
• Annual Small, Limited-Resource/Minority Farmers Conference (TTT’s programming is one of the conference’s days of programming)
• International Pawpaw Conference (This conference is hosted alongside the TTT on Pawpaws)
• Regional SARE Goat Project’s Collaborator Conference (This conference is hosted alongside the TTT on Goats)
• SRRMEC Regional Conference on the “Risk-Assessed Business Planning for Small Producers” curriculum, and many others. (This conference is hosted alongside the TTT on Risk Assessment)
• Provide specific professional development activities for non-university ag outreach providers (associated with University of Kentucky funding)
• Evaluate more clearly how these activities translate into grower outreach (associated with University of Kentucky travel funding)
• Build a broad base of interest and skills in agricultural sustainability among extension agents and other professionals in the state (associated with Kentucky State University and University of Kentucky funding)
• Increasing support of professional development for NGO service providers (associated with Kentucky State University and University of Kentucky funding)
Advisors
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Education
Kentucky State University continues to make the Third Thursday Program the focus of its SARE MSP funding. KSU has also added a Fourth Wednesday Beef Education program to the MSP in response to needs from this community. Third Thursdays continue to be an institution in Kentucky professional development educational programming, and Fourth Wednesdays are quickly gaining ground in this regard. 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
To expose participants to personal and business financial topics and resources for managing money.
Presented Presented via Zoom/Facebook by Dr. Joanne Bankston (KSU)
Attendance: 27
To offer practical tips for decreasing stress at weaning.
Presented via Zoom/Facebook
Attendance: 315
To provide some introductory and some advanced topics on aquaculture production and marketing.
Presented via Zoom/Facebook
Attendance: 414
To give an overview of several emerging agricultural technologies and examples of how they might be applied in different scale operations.
Presented via Zoom/Facebook
Attendance: 129
To give updates on pawpaw research at KSU and cover several emerging horicultural topics.
Presented via Zoom/Facebook.
Attendance: 261
To provide updates from KSU research on Goat production and give up to date production and marketing information for ag professionals and producers.
Presented via Zoom/Facebook
Attendance: 747
To provide updates on several governmental programs available to assist producers in Kentucky.
Presented via Zoom/Facebook
Attendance: 296
To provide an overview of Technical, Educational, and Financial Assistance Opportunities for Small Farmers.
Presented via Zoom/Facebook
Attendance: 29
To expose producers and ag professionals to concepts in Managing Pasture for Production and Health of the Animals.
Presented via Zoom/Facebook
Attendance: 491
To provide a more in-depth look at programs available from the USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service.
Presented via Zoom/Facebook
Attendance: 244
To cover basic best practices for cattle vaccinations and defining beef quality assurance practices in Kentucky.
Presented via Zoom/Facebook
Attendance: 17
To provide viewers a virtual tour overview of Eden Shale farm.
Presented via Zoom/Facebook
Attendance: 1392
To provide a virtual equivalent of a field walk demonstrating observations of pasture management and animal health.
Presented via Zoom/Facebook
Attendance: 15
Provide best practices for cattle fencing for different operation sizes.
Presented via Zoom/Facebook
Attendance: 80
Provide an overview of economic considerations for cow-calf producers in Kentucky.
Presented via Zoom/Facebook
Attendance: 11
To compare different approaches to winter feeding across several dimensions.
Presented via Zoom/Facebook
Attendance: 519
To provide an overview of breeding and genetic considerations and practical ways to incorporate these considerations into an operation.
Presented via Zoom/Facebook
Attendance: 15
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
Many conferences and educational meetings continue to be planned around “Third Thursdays” including:
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- 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
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.