The Beginning Farmer High Tunnel Production Basics Webinar and In-Person Workshop Series was created based on discussions and feedback received at the 2023 KY Fruit and Vegetable Conference. I worked with UK Dept. of Horticulture faculty to develop this series for those new to or interested in high tunnel production. The series was comprised of a two-part webinar series, followed by three in-person workshops held throughout the state (Central, Eastern, and Western regions). Both the webinars and in-person workshops were free and open to beginning farmers, county agents, and anyone interested in high tunnel production. I created a Qualtrics survey that led to a registration for both webinars. I developed a second Qualtrics survey for registration for one of three in-person workshops. I created a promotional flyer for advertising the event and promoted it through online newsletters including the UK Center for Crop Diversification (CCD) newsletter, KVGA newsletter, and KY Pest News weekly newsletter. I also sent the flyer and registration information to county ANR and HORT agents and USDA-NRCS staff. 

The first webinar was held on March 23 via Zoom and had 41 participants. The hour and 30-minute webinar featured presentations from UK Extension Specialists Dr. Rachel Rudolph (Dept. of Horticulture) and Dr. Jonathan Larson (Dept. of Entomology) discussing high tunnel structures, site selection, production basics, and pest management in a high tunnel system. I set up and coordinated the session, recruited the speakers, moderated the session, and sent out poll questions during the webinar. 

The second webinar was held on March 30 via Zoom and had 27 participants. The hour and 30-minute webinar featured presentations by UK Extension Specialists Dr. Rachel Rudolph (Dept. of Horticulture), Dr. Nicole Gauthier (Dept. of Plant Pathology), USDA-NRCS Supervisory District Conservationist Tony Burnett, and USDA FSA Farm Loan Officer Daniel White. The presenters discussed weed and disease management in a high tunnel production system, as well as an overview of the USDA-NRCS EQIP program, application, and funding process. I set up and coordinated the session, recruited the speakers, moderated the session, and sent out poll questions during the webinar. 

Both webinars were recorded and are available for viewing on the Kentucky Vegetable Crops Extension and Research YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@kentuckyvegetablecropsexte98/featured). Attendance or viewing of both webinars was required in order to attend one of the hands-on workshops. 

The first workshop was held in Central KY on April 12 at producer Tony Silvernail’s Beyond the Bridge Organic Farm in Franklin County. The two-hour workshop was attended by 14 people. UK Extension Specialists Dr. Rachel Rudolph, Dr. Nicole Gauthier, Dr. Jonathan Larson, and Extension Associate Delia Scott discussed crop production, soil management, weed management, disease control, and integrated pest management (IPM) techniques, and irrigation basics. I contacted the producer, secured the event site, visited the site prior to the event, coordinated speaker presentations, registered participants, emailed participants/answered questions, provided relevant UK publications at the event, and discussed irrigation basics to the group.  

The second in-person workshop was held in Eastern KY at producer Courtney Jenkins’ Worth the Wages Farm in Morgan County. A total of 28 people attended the two-hour workshop, including representatives from Grow Appalachia, USDA-NRCS East Region, and USDA-FSA (Morgan County office). UK Extension Specialists Dr. Rachel Rudolph, Dr. Nicole Gauthier, Dr. Jonathan Larson, and Extension Associate Delia Scott discussed crop production, soil management, weed management, disease control, and integrated pest management (IPM) techniques, and irrigation basics. USDA-NRCS and USDA-FSA discussed the EQIP program and answered questions about funding. I contacted the producer, secured the event site, visited the site prior to the event, coordinated speaker presentations, registered participants, emailed participants/answered questions, provided relevant UK publications at the event, and discussed irrigation basics to the group. Sarah Fannin, Morgan Co. ANR agent, assisted with coordination of the event. 

The third in-person workshop was held in May in Western KY at Abbott Acres Farm and Greenhouse in Muhlenberg County. ANR agent Darrell Simpson assisted with coordination of the event. A total of 18 people attended the two-hour workshop, including representatives from USDA-NRCS Western Region. UK Extension Specialists Dr. Rachel Rudolph, Dr. Nicole Gauthier, Dr. Jonathan Larson, and Extension Associate Delia Scott discussed crop production, soil management, weed management, disease control, integrated pest management (IPM) techniques, and irrigation basics. USDA-NRCS discussed the EQIP program and answered questions about funding. I contacted the producer, secured the event site, coordinated speaker presentations, registered participants, emailed participants/answered questions, provided relevant UK publications at the event, and discussed irrigation basics to the group.