Author: Laura Rogers
Planning Unit: Whitley County CES
Major Program: Small Farm Diversification
Plan of Work: Develop stronger, more sustainable agricultural economy and conserve natural resources.
Outcome: Initial Outcome
On May 20, 2022, One hundred and four Small Limited Resource farmers and beginning farmers attended Agriculture Weekend. They learned information from "How to Grow Mushrooms," presented by Beth Wilson, UK Pulaski County Horticulture Agent, to "Creating Your Winning Business Plan" by Dr. Gary R. Stratton, Kentucky State University.
On May 21, 2022, eighty-four small limited resources and beginning farmers attended Agriculture Workshop 101, day two, and learned information from "Add Value to Your Garden" by Babette Overman, of Overman's Bluegrass Fruits and Vegetables to "Study of Reclaimed Surface Mine Lands" by Whitney Tara Maynard, Kentucky State University.
In collaboration with the University of Kentucky, Kentucky State University's Small Farm Program and Beginning Farmer Project presented Agriculture Workshop 101 at the Woodstock Community Center in Pulaski County, Kentucky.
Farmers learned fact-based information about Birds of Prey from the Liberty Nature Center. Information provided the farmers to remember the native behavior of birds such as hawks, owls, and turkeys.
A complete bee track was offered, from queen production to better hive management, with additional information on beekeeping. A Business planning tract provided to educate the farmer on record keeping better, hiring employees, and digital presence.
A complete horticulture track was offered on Herb planting and cooking of herbs, fruit and nut tree care, to Understand the Food Safety Modernization Act.
A USDA Tract offered to teach about the different programs offered by the USDA, such as Farm Service Agency 101 by Lindsey New of the Farm Service Agency to USDA and YOU: Food Safety from the 1890s USDA Training.
Comments from the workshop were as follow:
"Best Value Added presentation I've attended!
"Loved the herb pots."
"Relaxed Atmosphere"
"Loved the information provided."
"Each of the sessions were great"
"I'm not sure how, but I needed to do both the business and the education. So the way was set up I had to choose.--So I wasn't able to do both."
"Great Variety of information!!"
The workshop was provided at no cost to the farmers who participated. Several have contacted back, wanting to know when the next Agriculture Workshop 101 is planned.
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