Progress report for SKY23-002
Project Information
Now in its 25th year, The 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 Beef Cattle program based on requests from the agricultural community and are exploring the addition of a Women in Sustainable Agriculture Group. We are including funds to support some of our KSU agents to seek professional development training in sustainable agriculture. 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. Third Thursdays 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, and many others.
- Kentucky’s SARE PDP Model State Program objectives are to build a broad base of interest and skills in agricultural sustainability among extension agents, other professionals, and farmers, particularly mentor farmers, in the state to equip them with the needed skills to assist farmers, marketers, and community leaders, and to facilitate a diverse range of collaborative projects.
- Continue to offer the basic science-based information on sustainable agriculture production and marketing.
- Support the further development of a community of women working in sustainable agriculture.
- Forums for underserved farmers and professionals to network with USDA, State, Research, Extension, NRCS, and other professionals, learn about their programs and opportunities, and learn about Third Thursdays.
- The Third Thursday Thing Workshops for 2022 and 2023 are following. 2022 found the numbers increasing, but less than prior to the pandemic, and the remote access you-tube and Zoom sessions are increasing as participants from a wider scope of people are reached. As one producer leader said “… when Third Thursdays return from the pandemic, we will know that things are right with farming in Kentucky…” Our records and evaluations show that sustainable agriculture education is expanding across the Commonwealth.
- Many of the topics are similar but the purpose of Third Thursdays is to focus on basic sustainable production and marketing, as well as improving family and community life. The targets focus on beginning farmers, limited-resource, minority, women, and low literacy producers and those who educate them. Repeated basic information prepares them for more in-depth training at UK and KSU Extension, and understanding of state and USDA agency opportunities.
2022 Third Thursday Thing Workshop Schedule
January: Natural Resources (Jody Thompson)
February: Organic Agriculture
March: Goat Production and Marketing
April: Farmers Markets (Joni Nelson)
May: Aquaculture
June: Juneteenth (Tiffany Bellfield, Community Farm Alliance
July: Sustainable Agriculture Small Farm Field Day
August: Environmental Impacts on Small Farmers (Cindy Rice)
September: National Pawpaw Third Thursday
October: Small Ruminants
November: Small, Limited-Resource, Minority Farmers Conference (many topics)
2023 Third Thursday Thing Workshop Schedule
January: Learn About USDA Farm & Home Loans and Natural Resources
February: Organic Agriculture
March: Small Ruminants & Goats
April: Weed & Insect Control & Beneficial Insects & NRCS Programs
May: Aquaculture
June: Farmers Markets and Juneteenth
July: Learn About Farm Fencing & Pasture
August: Sustainable & Organic Agriculture
September: National Pawpaw Third Thursday
October: Small Ruminants & Goats
November: Small, Limited-Resource, Minority Farmers Conference
Advisors
Education
The Kentucky State University Model State Program centers around The Third Thursday Thing. The 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 and began a KSU Women in Sustainable Agriculture Group. We also included funds to support some of our KSU agents to seek professional development in sustainable agriculture.
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. The Third Thursday Thing also serves as a space for synergies in small farm education. Many conferences and educational meetings are planned around “Third Thursdays” including:
o the Annual Small, Limited-Resource/Minority Farmers Conference,
o the International Pawpaw Conference,
o the SARE KSU Women in Agriculture Meetings,
o the “Third Thursdays” video programs which are recorded and placed on you-tube and then placed on the KSUAG website, and many others.
Education & Outreach Initiatives
The Third Thursday Thing Workshops for 2022 and 2023 are following. 2022 found the numbers increasing, but less than prior to the pandemic, and the remote access you-tube and Zoom sessions are increasing as participants from a wider scope of people are reached. As one producer leader said “… when Third Thursdays return from the pandemic, we will know that things are right with farming in Kentucky…” Our records and evaluations show that sustainable agriculture education is expanding across the Commonwealth.
The Third Thursday Thing offered these workshops in summary for FY 2023:
|
Workshop/Training Title |
Number of attendees |
Dates |
|
KSU “Third Thursday Thing” Topic: “Pasture Poultry and Fencing” July 20, 2023 –in-person at 10 a.m. EST & 155 view streamed live
|
31 |
7-20-23 |
|
|
|
|
|
KSU “Third Thursday Thing” Topic: “NRCS & Drones” August 17, 2023 –in-person at 10 a.m. EST & 64 view streamed live |
35 |
8-17-23 |
|
|
|
|
|
KSU “Third Thursday Thing” Topic: “National PawPaw Day” September 21, 2023 –in-person at 10 a.m. EST & 917 view streamed live |
160 |
9-21-23 |
|
KSU “Third Thursday Thing” Topic: “Small Ruminants” October 19, 2023 –in-person at 10 a.m. EST & 114 view streamed live
|
31 |
10-19-23 |
|
|
|
|
|
KSU “Third Thursday Thing” Topic: “Engaging Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers—2023 Farm Bill Update-Policy Center” Presenter: Dr. Eloris D. Speight
Topic: “Enhancing the Understanding and Use of Federal Crop Insurance by Producers” Presenter: SeRena M. Hill, University of Arkansas Topic: Building Human Diversity & Equity Among Producers & Inspectors in the Organic Sector Presenter: Dr. Shawn Lucas, KSU ; Kenya Abraham, Organic Transition Program Manager
|
196 |
11-16-23 |
|
KSU “Third Thursday Thing” Topic: Resources and Funding For Farmers. January 18, 2024 - in-person at 10 a.m. EST |
29 |
1-18-2024 |
|
KSU “Third Thursday Thing” Topic: Organic Agriculture February 15, 2024 - in-person at 10 a.m. EST |
64 |
2-15-2024 |
|
KSU “Third Thursday Thing” Topic: Farmers Markets & Local Foods March 21, 2024 - in-person at 10 a.m. EST |
69 |
3-21-2024 |
|
|
|
|
|
KSU “Third Thursday Thing” Topic: Poultry and Cattle April 18, 2024 - in-person at 10 a.m. EST |
31
|
4-18-2023 |
|
|
|
|
|
KSU “Third Thursday Thing” Topic: Aquaculture
May 16, 2024 –in-person at 10 a.m. EST |
35
|
5-18-2023 |
|
KSU “Third Thursday Thing” Topic: Juneteenth Celebration & Agriculture Technology June 20, 2024 –in-person at 10 a.m. EST |
TBD
|
6-15-2023 |
The Kentucky State University Model State Program centers around The Third Thursday Thing. The 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 and began a KSU Women in Sustainable Agriculture Group. We also included funds to support some of our KSU agents to seek professional development in sustainable agriculture.
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. The Third Thursday Thing also serves as a space for synergies in small farm education. Many conferences and educational meetings are planned around “Third Thursdays” including:
o the Annual Small, Limited-Resource/Minority Farmers Conference,
o the International Pawpaw Conference,
o the SARE KSU Women in Agriculture Meetings,
o the “Third Thursdays” video programs which are recorded and placed on you-tube and then placed on the KSUAG website, and many others.
Third Thursday Thing is one of the premier sustainable agriculture training programs in the state. It serves producer leaders, extension and other ag outreach providers in the state by offering up-to-date, timely information on a variety of sustainable agriculture topics. It meets two of the most pressing needs in Kentucky sustainable agriculture: the need for regular, relevant, basic production and marketing information, and a place for agricultural professionals to seek professional development and connect with growers and other clientele.
KSU’s target audience is a blend of Extension, NRCS, research, and governmental personnel. We also place strong emphasis on professional development of producer leaders in the community who are poised to share the information learned at the Third Thursday Thing with many of their neighbors. We engage in Focus Group feedback throughout the year, and we collect and analyze attendance data to ensure that we are recruiting a balanced group of attendees. For the UK portion, our focus is on developing the capacity of our technical assistance professionals in the state. In our experience these groups do not have abundant funding to support their continued professional development in the field of sustainable agriculture. The main objective of these efforts is for these professionals to acquire knowledge, skills, and networks that allow them to better serve their clientele. The Third Thursday Thing serves to provide training for both UK and KSU staff.
Educational & Outreach Activities
Participation Summary:
Learning Outcomes
Project Outcomes
We will be adding and expanding our Homesteader program to offer workshops in multiple locations throughout the state. Future plans are to make regional centers in which programs may become more accessible to limited resource farmers.
Face of SARE
SARE resources and opportunities have been invaluable to a small 1890s university extension program. Through Third Thursday Things and other workshops and events, Kentucky State University promotes SARE and it's support for our agriculture and small farms programs. KSU discusses programs and the mission of SARE with small scale farmers, minority farmers and socially disadvantaged farmers to encourage their participation in projects and SARE opportunities. By working together we may make advancements in agriculture improve the sustainability of farms across the commonwealth.