Project Overview
Commodities
Practices
- Animal Production: animal protection and health, aquaculture, grazing management, grazing - multispecies, livestock breeding, parasite control, preventive practices, processing regulations, vaccines, winter forage
- Crop Production: agroforestry, beekeeping, conservation tillage, cover crops, crop rotation, food processing facilities/community kitchens, food product quality/safety, grafting, high tunnels or hoop houses, no-till, organic fertilizers, pollinator habitat, water management
- Education and Training: demonstration, extension, farmer to farmer, mentoring, technical assistance, workshop, youth education
- Farm Business Management: agricultural finance, agritourism, farm-to-restaurant, farmers' markets/farm stands, financial management, marketing management, risk management, value added
- Production Systems: agroecosystems, aquaponics, hydroponics, integrated crop and livestock systems, organic agriculture
- Sustainable Communities: community development, community services, food hubs, local and regional food systems, quality of life, sustainability measures, urban agriculture
Abstract:
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 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 three off sites for The Third Thursday Thing features monthly sustainable agriculture training sessions. 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 Kentucky Small, Farmers Conference, the International Pawpaw Conference, the Regional SARE Conference, and many others.
Project objectives:
- 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 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 2024 and 2025 are following. 2025 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.
2024 Third Thursday Thing Workshop Schedule
January: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - “Resource and Funding for Farmers”
February: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - "Organic Agriculture"
March: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - “Farmers Markets and Local Foods”.
Beef Cattle Workshop - Reproductive Management and Marketing Your Livestock
April: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - “Cattle and Poultry”.
May: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - "Aquaculture"
Beef Cattle Workshop - Nutrition & Considerations for Feeding Wet Distiller's Grains + Bovine Viral Diarrhea Management
June: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - “Agriculture Technology| Juneteeth Celebration”.
July: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - Sustainable Agriculture Small Farm Field Day
Beef Cattle Workshop - Summer Grazing and Forage Management
August: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - “Forestry”.
September: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - National Pawpaw Third Thursday
October: Third Thursday Thing Workshop -Small Ruminants
November: Annual Kentucky Small Farmers Conference (many topics)
2025 Third Thursday Thing Workshop Schedule
January: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - “Farm Safety & Disaster Recovery”
February: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - Organic Agriculture
March: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - Forestry & Natural Resources”.
Beef Cattle Workshop -“Effects of Endophyte & Tall Fescue in Pastures and Preparing Your Beef Herd for Breeding Season”.
April: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - Grow, Buy, Eat Local”.
Kentucky State University, Small Farms Conference Eastern Kentucky Style
May: Third Thursday Thing Workshop -“Aquaculture”.
Beef Cattle Workshop - “Marketing Your Beef Cattle” & “Grazing and Forage Selection.
June: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - “Juneteenth & Business Planning”
July: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - “Cattle & Poultry”.
August: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - “Agri-Technology & Vertical Farming”.
September: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - “Horticulture & Urban Agriculture”.
Fifth International Pawpaw Conference
October: Third Thursday Thing Workshop Small Ruminants & Goats
November: Third Thursday Thing Workshop - “Water Quality is in Our Hands, Making a Documentary” & “Income From Small and Micro-Scale Vegetable Farming & “Soil Conservation Practices:Working with Farmers” & “Heir Property”.
November: Annual Kentucky Small Farmers Conference (many topics)