September 2021 Success Story

Before and During a Pandemic: Kentucky State University Small Farm Area Extension Agent Assisted a Limited-Resource Minority Farmer with Technical Assistance for USDA Farm Service Agency and Rural Housing in Franklin County, Kentucky

COVID -19 has altered our daily lives and well-being.  The Kentucky State University Small Farm Program has rapidly made changes to be sure that extension programs continue during these uncertain times. 

The Kentucky State University (KSU) Small Farm Program is an Extension program designed to help farm families with decision-making skills to solve farm and home problems. It includes educational programs that emphasize farm production, farm management, and marketing.  It also includes the use and understanding of local county programs and USDA agencies and their programs, plus providing technical assistance in completing applications for the programs and the entire application process.  The KSU Small Farm Program’s Area Agent for Small Farms works with small, limited-resource, and minority farmers, most of whom have not used Extension prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.  He targets minority farmers, farmers who are new to Extension, or farmers who think that Extension is not for them.  First he has to gain their confidence.  Then he has to show them that he can help them to meet some of their needs. 

This is his experience with one family that requested technical assistance.

Mr. John Clay and Mattie Clay have been enrolled in Kentucky State University Small Farm Program since the early 1990’s. During June 1997 they requested technical assistance for an operating loan with Farm Service Agency for their tobacco crop.  Edwin Chavous, KSU Area Agent for Small Farms, assisted the Clay’s with the operating loan application, and it was approved in amount of $10,000 dollars. Mr. and Mrs. John Clay say their 1997 tobacco crop is the best crop raised by them in four or five years.  

Then the farmer in Franklin County requested technical assistance in filling out a USDA rural housing application in December 2020.   The KSU Area Agent for Small Farms communicated in December 2020 with the farmer and his daughter given them recommendations for getting the application completed including the supporting documents.  First the KSU Area Agent for Small Farms recommended that they get the cost estimate completed, then an appointment would be scheduled to fill out the application. The application was completed on August 11, 2021 by Edwin Chavous, KSU Area Agent for Small Farms, and Mr. Trevor Claiborn, KSU Small Farm Assistant.

The KSU Area Agent for Small Farms recommended to the farmer an agency program entitled the United State Department of Agriculture, Rural Housing Section 504 Home Repair program.  This program provides loans to very-low-income homeowners to repair, improve or modernize their homes or grants to elderly very-low-income homeowners to remove health and safety hazards. 

The items that normally give applicants the most problems with the section 504 application process includes supporting documentation of evidence of ownership: Copy of Deed, or other documentation, for example life estate deed or regular deed and repair estimates including an itemized description of repairs, material, labor, and a copy of Contractor’s license, if applicable.

 Many times the KSU Area Agent for Small Farm has to assist individuals’ in providing these documents. Then, after income verification documentation are within guidelines, assets, credit, other documentation is gathered and the application is normally approved.

On August 11, 2021 the KSU Area Agent for Small Farms scanned and sent the application to the credit manager in Jessamine County.  Then, on August 12, 2021, the KSU Area Agent for Small Farms hand delivered the original application to the USDA office in Jessamine County that covers Franklin County, and is waiting to see if applicant is approved for funding.   

With the technical assistance provided by Kentucky State University, the farmer was able to operate his farm independently and produce adequate income to service their debts, maintain his farming operations, and to supplement the family’s expendable income.  Additionally, when the home repair loan is approved, the home owner will have the home hazards removed from the home which will provides a reasonable standard of living for the family.

On picture from left to right, John Clay, home owner in Franklin County, Edwin Chavous KSU Small Farm Area Agent II and Joan Turner home owner daughter. On August 11, 2021 a USDA rural housing 504 application was completed for home repairs.