2024-25 SSARE Assistant Funds

Project Overview

SKY24-A01
Project Type: PDP State Program
Funds awarded in 2024: $30,000.00
Projected End Date: 06/30/2025
Grant Recipient: University of Kentucky
Region: Southern
State: Kentucky
State Coordinators:
Dr. Timothy Woods
University of Kentucky
Co-Coordinators:
Jerusha Lay, DVM
Kentucky State University

Commodities

No commodities identified

Practices

No practices identified

Proposal abstract:

This funding will support the Program Assistant in executing this year's training plan. This project will support the ongoing development of a Sustainable Agriculture Community of Practice among Agriculture Outreach and Technical Assistance Providers in Kentucky. This will be accomplished through quarterly convenings of agricultural professionals to receive education from experts in the field, as well as ample structured and unstructured networking time for these professionals to learn from each other and build stronger partnerships to better serve Sustainable Agriculture producers and marketers across the commonwealth. We will also encourage attending professionals to seek outside additional sustainable agriculture professional development through travel scholarships. Scholarship recipients will be expected to report back on their experiences and expanded knowledge at a quarterly meeting. 

Project objectives from proposal:

Our focus for this year is on strengthening relationships between sustainable agriculture outreach and technical service providers as well as increasing their knowledge AND their ability to communicate that information to their clientele. We will accomplish this through 4 in-person intensive lecture and networking workshops. We plan to focus on programming related to:

  • Soil health
  • Balancing Environmental Sustainability with Economic Profitability
  • Climate Resilience
  • Water Conservation and Management.

While we have identified the general topics at the time of this proposal, specific topics within the above categories will be further developed in collaboration with our advisory committee. We will also support professionals in pursuing other professional development through attendance at an event or conference of their choosing. The Program Assistant will manage the call for proposals for that support. 

Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the view of the U.S. Department of Agriculture or SARE.