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 program and the entire application process.  KSU Area Small Farm Assistant works with small, limited-resource, and minority farmers, most of whom have not used Extension prior to his intervention.  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.

 Edwin Chavous, KSU Area Agent for Small Farm Program, received an email after the Kentucky State University webinar entitled "Celebrate Women in Agriculture Conference" from Mrs. JoJuana Greene, a farmer in Anderson County, Kentucky.  She requested to use Kentucky State’s plastic layer machine.  Mr. Cjhsvous coordinationated with me because Anderson County is in my service area. 

 A  three-way phone conversation was conducted with Mr. Edwin Chavous, KSU Area Agent for Small Farm Program, Mrs. Jojuana Leaver Greene and Myself.  We discussed preparing the land for laying black plastic for vegetables. 

 An on-farm demonstration was conducted to teach local farmers how to lay black plastic to grow vegetables on Mr. Vincent P. Greene and Mrs. JoJuana Greene’s farm in Anderson County, Kentucky.

The farmer will be able to plan for their diversified farm operation. The farmer will be able to operate their farm independently and produce income adequately to service his debts and maintain his farming operations and provide a reasonable standard of living for their family.

Mr. Trevor Claiborn, KSU Area Small Farm Assistant, mentors Mr. James Greene, on how to prepare to lay black plastic for vegetables.  He is the son of Mr. Vincent P. Greene and Mrs. JoJuana Greene.