Kentucky State University Training Grant- 2025 MSP

Commodities

Practices

Now in its 27th 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 demonstrations/activities. The program also targets small and limited-resource farmers, especially those who hold leader or mentor positions in their local counties. We have added a Fourth Wednesday Beef Cattle program based on requests from the agricultural community. The Fourth Wednesday Night programs runs from March through October. KSU is including funds to support some of our KSU agents to seek professional development training in sustainable agriculture and for the Program Assistant. Third Thursdays have become an institution in Kentucky professional development educational programming. The broad range of topics 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. KSU has implemented a Women in Sustainable Agriculture Program that meets three times a year.

• 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 basic science-based information on sustainable agriculture
  production and marketing. While some Third Thursday months may share themes from the previous year, the topics and materials presented will be different.
• Increase participation for the Homesteader Symposium and help additional small farmers improve the sustainability of their operations and farm diversification.
• Forums for underserved farmers and professionals to network with USDA, State, Research, Extension, NRCS, and other professionals to learn about their programs and opportunities and learn about Third Thursdays.
• The Third Thursday Thing Workshops for 2025 are listed below, including the International Paw Paw Day, Juneteenth Program and Small land Limited Resource Farmers Conference.
• All educational workshops will be recorded and posted on Social Media sites such as YouTube to make information obtainable for a wider audience that may not have the opportunity to attend in person.

2025 Third Thursday Thing Workshop Schedule

January: Farm Safety & Disaster Recovery

February : Organic Agriculture
March : Natural Resource Management
April : Grow, Buy, Eat Local
May : Aquaculture
June : Juneteenth/ Business Planning
July: Cattle & Poultry
August: Agri-technology & Vertical Farming

September : Horticulture & Urban Agriculture

October : Small Ruminants
November : Small, Limited-Resource, Minority Farmers Conference