Project Overview
Commodities
Practices
Proposal abstract:
Now in its 26th 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. Last year we hosted our first annual homesteader symposium to assist beginning farmers and teach practical techniques for small farms. 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 serve 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.
Project objectives from proposal:
- 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 2024 are listed below, including the International Paw Paw Day, Juneteeth Program and Small and 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.
2024 Third Thursday Thing Workshop Schedule
January: Resources and Funding for Farmers
February: Organic Agriculture
March: Farmers Markets and Local Foods
April: Cattle and Poultry
May: Aquaculture
June: Homesteaders Symposium
June: Agriculture Technology and Juneteenth Celebration
July: Annual Field Day
August: AgroForestry
September: International Pawpaw Celebration and Meeting
October: Small Ruminants
November: Small, Limited-Resource, Minority Farmers Conference