The problem is the lack of accessibility to agricultural education for the Hispanic community in Whitley County, Kentucky.  The Hispanic community faced significant barriers, including language and cultural differences, which hindered their participation in traditional English-language agricultural programs held at venues like the Whitley County Extension Office or libraries.

Additionally, there was a lack of engagement from the Hispanic community due to the language barrier, making it difficult for them to fully benefit from the available agricultural resources and knowledge. This disconnect resulted in a missed opportunity to involve a significant portion of the community in agricultural activities and education.

The Kentucky State University Small Farms Program, Laura Rogers, Area Agriculture Agent and Andrea Munoz, Program Assistance, recognized this problem and took proactive steps to address it by organizing bilingual agricultural education sessions at the Si Senior Mexican Restaurant. By bringing the program directly to the Hispanic community and providing content in Spanish, the initiative aimed to overcome these barriers and make agricultural education more accessible and inclusive.

The participants/target audience the Hispanic community residing in Whitley County, Kentucky. This community represented a minority demographic in the county, comprising only 1.4% of the population. By offering bilingual agricultural education sessions at the local Si Senior Mexican Restaurant, the program sought to provide accessible and inclusive opportunities for this target audience to learn about farming practices, soil management, and other agricultural topics in their native language.

Other partners (if applicable): University of Kentucky Whitley county Extension Office, Stacy White, ANR Agent and Ben Prewitt.

Program impact or participant response. 

The impact of the Kentucky State University Small Farms Program on the Hispanic community in Whitley County was significant and multifaceted:

Increased Participation: The program successfully engaged a substantial number of Hispanic individuals, with 49 out of 101 attendees being Hispanic over two meetings. 

Enhanced Accessibility: By offering bilingual agricultural education sessions at the Si Senior Mexican Restaurant, the program addressed language and cultural barriers that had previously prevented many Hispanic individuals from accessing agricultural resources and knowledge. This increased accessibility ensured that a wider range of community members could benefit from the program's offerings.

Positive Feedback and Satisfaction: Participants expressed satisfaction with the program, highlighting the value they found in learning about agricultural topics in their native language. Comments such as "I actually learned something" and "Very good. Very impressive" underscored the effectiveness of the bilingual approach and the relevance of the content presented.

Cultural Understanding: Beyond providing agricultural education, the program fostered cultural understanding and appreciation among participants. Attendees like Elmer Pralier noted that the sessions were not only informative about agricultural practices but also provided insights into different cultures, enriching the learning experience and promoting cross-cultural dialogue and appreciation.

Overall, the program's impact was evident in its ability to break down barriers, empower community members, and foster a sense of inclusivity and belonging among the Hispanic population in Whitley County. By tailoring its approach to the specific needs and preferences of the target audience, the program successfully demonstrated the transformative potential of accessible and culturally sensitive educational initiatives.