Success StoryMy First Small Farms Grant Recipient



My First Small Farms Grant Recipient

Author: Lindsay Heyvaert

Planning Unit: KSU Administration

Major Program: Small Farm Management

Plan of Work: Unrelated to a specified County Plan of Work

Outcome: Long-Term Outcome

On Saturday, January 28th I visited the Community Farmers Market in Bowling Green Kentucky and met a produce vendor, Chad Dewitt. Chad moved to Kentucky about fourteen months ago to start his farm in Allen County. Farming has been a dream of his, but his previous home of Colorado was short on water resources. Chad had already been involved with the Allen County Extension Office but had no experience with Kentucky State University Extension. During our first encounter, I mentioned to him our Small Farms Grant and gave him my contact information. Chad emailed me that night with many questions on the grant and what KSU resources he could benefit from. After emailing back and forth, answering his questions, and reviewing his grant application, he turned in his application for the Small Farms Grant right on time. And in March he notified me that he received that grant! I went back to the farmers market on April 1st where Chad and I went back through the basic details of his plan now that he has been awarded the funding for his project. He plans to open a market on his farm and needed a cooler for his produce. His neighborhood is a food desert and there is no fresh produce outside of the store. His market will be a great resource for many people in his area. The cooler will keep his produce fresh for his farm market and give him the ability to go to the farmers market still. He sent his plans to the Amish community last week and I will be visiting his farm on May 10th to see the progress.






Stories by Lindsay Heyvaert


Making Local Connections

about 1 years ago by Lindsay Heyvaert

Western Kentucky University stands about 2 blocks from the Kentucky State University West Regional O... Read More


Water Quality Lab is Making Strides

about 1 years ago by Lindsay Heyvaert

A few months back, Dr. Tope assigned the Kentucky State University West Regional Center the task of ... Read More


Stories by KSU Administration


GeoSpatial Technology Enhances Decision Making on Small Farms

GeoSpatial Technology Enhances Decision Making on Small Farms

about 1 years ago by Jeremy Sandifer

Farming can be tough and the economics of agricultural land management can be difficult to balance a... Read More


Direct Marketing to Ag Expo Youth

Direct Marketing to Ag Expo Youth

about 1 years ago by William Crawford

Agriculture is an ever-evolving industry. The ways in which commodities are marketed too are changin... Read More


Stories by Small Farm Management


Beginning Farmers, Market Gardeners, and Landowners Series

Beginning Farmers, Market Gardeners, and Landowners Series

about 1 years ago by Nathan Rider

Beginning farmers, market gardeners, and landowners frequently find themselves overwhelmed by all of... Read More


GeoSpatial Technology Enhances Decision Making on Small Farms

GeoSpatial Technology Enhances Decision Making on Small Farms

about 1 years ago by Jeremy Sandifer

Farming can be tough and the economics of agricultural land management can be difficult to balance a... Read More