Extension
It Starts With Us
Author: Kristen Stumbo
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Produce Best Practices Training educates producers about FSMA requirements and the latest on produce safety and is a basic training requirement for All Samples certificate from KDA. So, if Farmer's Market Vendors want to offer their customers samples this is a training they must complete. Vendors expressed interest in expanding their products and offering samples to help promote sales of their products, so we offered several PBPT workshops at the Magoffin County Extension Office. This t
Author: Paul Andrew Rideout
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Henderson Ag is strong and the local business community understands the importance of agriculture in our community both as an economic driver and for it’s cultural importance. The local Chamber of Commerce organized an Agriculture Committee to help promote and support local producers. They called on Extension to help. The Chamber Ag committee is responsible for planning and organizing the annual Farm to Table Dinner that highlights local produce growers.
Author: Matthew Chadwick
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Issue or Situation:Initial Issue: A local producer who owns a slaughter facility and imports mature/cull sheep for processing was missing out on potential profits due to improper feeding and handling of sheep prior to slaughter. The sheep, which were held for a short period, were not being evaluated for health or nutritional needs, leading to missed opportunities for weight gain and thus higher profit margins on the mutton. The lack of proper care during the holding period resulted in lower yiel
Author: Chadwick Conway
Major Program: Local Food Systems
After the 2022 catastrophic flood, many family gardens suffered significant loss of rich nutrient soil. Fortunately, during the spring of 2024, Grow Appalachia, a sustainable-based gardening program funded through Berea College, returned to the Hindman Settlement School. As the need for locally grown foods began to rise, the Knott County Agriculture Agent, with the help of Grow Appalachia and the Hindman Settlement School was able to reach new families. Together, they enrolled sixty-four familie
Author: Amanda Potter
Major Program: Local Food Systems
The Rowan County Farmers Market has been in affect in Rowan County since the 70's and has survived several moves and reiterations over the years. However, within the last few years it has been brought to my attention by both previous vendors and customers that there is a lack of variety within the market. The goal was to establish another market within Rowan County that could include a variety of different producers, crafters, and home bakers, and be more accessible to those throughout the c
Author: Benjamin Prewitt
Major Program: Local Food Systems
In Whitley County, Kentucky, located in the foothills of Appalachia. There is not a shortage of individuals who are still utilizing manual labor to grow a successful garden. Often times, being able to afford mechanized equipment that could make life easier is simply not an option for most. Thanks to the addition of the Shared Use Equipment program at the Whitley County Extension Office, folks in the community now have access to some mechanized equipment that was not an option
Author: David Hull
Major Program: Local Food Systems
As a result of the fact that the farmers' market in Sparta, KY was not going to reopen, the Gallatin County Extension Service and the Gallatin County Free Public Library started meeting during the fall of 2023 to discuss the potentiality of forming a new farmers' market in Warsaw, KY. Other organizations that got involved in the planning stages were the Gallatin County Health Department, Gallatin County Tourism, and the Gallatin County Family Resource Center.It was decided that the name
Author: Adam Huber
Major Program: Local Food Systems
On August 28, 2024, the Allen County Cooperative Extension Service and the Farm to Fork Committee co-hosted the second Kentucky Proud Farm to Fork Fundraising Dinner. The event aimed to promote Kentucky Proud foods and support the Allen County 4-H Program. The dinner featured a delicious Kentucky Proud meal by a local caterer, Allen County Homemakers, and 4-H students. This provided an opportunity to enjoy local food while contributing to a good cause. The dinner, was held at Peach Tree Farm and
Author: Lori Bowling
Major Program: Local Food Systems
In Boyd County there are neighborhoods that are considered to be food desserts due to the lack of local grocery stores close by. This has posed a problem for some of the community members that are elderly or not able to drive to stores that are outside of their immediate area. A local vendor at the county farmers market worked with the horticulture agent to look into alternative ideas for food items that would have a fairly long shelf life but be a nutritional meal options for those who li
Author: Jason Phillips
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Fresh food accessibility can be minimal when operating on a limited budget. This can be especially true without knowledge of how to properly grow and prepare fresh food products. Residents of the Franklin Housing Authority expressed an interest in learning more about growing fresh vegetables, proper gardening techniques and utilization of fresh vegetables in recipes. In response, the Simpson County Extension Agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources and Simpson County NEP Ass
Author: Steven Musen
Major Program: Local Food Systems
The recognition of the benefits of locally grown foods in terms of superior flavor, food safety and availability of heritage vegetable varieties has caused the popularity of Farmers Markets to steadily increase, especially in urban and sub-urban areas. Jessamine County enjoys two vibrant and growing Farmers Markets, the long-running Wilmore Market and the the more recently established , Nicholasville Farmers Market. The two Farmers Markets are filling a growing demand for locally-grown, health a
Author: Jason Vaughn
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Seniors and Farmers in Powell County value the Senior Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program. The program provides residents who meet economic threshold and age guidelines, market vouchers worth 48 dollars. Seniors use the vouchers as cash at the Powell County Farmers’ Market and the farmers return the vouchers to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture for reimbursement. The program is a win-win providing seniors access to locally produced nutrition while supporting our
Author: M. Elizabeth Coots
Major Program: Local Food Systems
In most counties, farmer’s markets are located in the same location during certain days, and Shelby County is no different. There are a few farmer’s markets open one day a week in specific locations. To reach underserved communities in the county, the Shelby County Extension Agent for Family & Consumer Sciences partnered with the Shelby County Health Department to host a trial run of a monthly pop-up farmer’s market. The markets were held in July, August, and September, eac
Author: Shane Bogle
Major Program: Local Food Systems
Downtown Princeton was bustling with activities on Saturday September 7 during the annual Black Patch Heritage Festival as well as providing an opportunity for free farmer’s market produce, provided by Black Soil, a community-supported Agriculture organization.Thanks to a grant from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Ashley Smith, co-founder and CEO of Black Soil, and 103.3 WPKY collaborated with Caldwell County Agriculture Agent Shane Bogle to enlist local farmers in bringing their s
