In Whitley County, Kentucky, located in the foothills of Appalachia. There is not a shortage of individuals who are still utilizing manual labor to grow a successful garden. Often times, being able to afford mechanized equipment that could make life easier is simply not an option for most. Thanks to the addition of the Shared Use Equipment program at the Whitley County Extension Office, folks in the community now have access to some mechanized equipment that was not an option in the past. 

     A local farmer, Mr Pete Lambdin is a man who I have the upmost respect for. Pete lost one of his legs in a logging accident and has struggled with labor-intensive potato farming, relying solely on manual methods. After finding out about the Shared Use Equipment program being offered and having access to the Potato Equipment, in 2024 Pete experienced a transformation in his gardening endeavors. By using the Potato Planter, Pete's efficiency of planting increased dramatically, reducing his planting time from weeks to just days. Not only was Pete able to greatly reduce the time it took to plant these potatoes, he also was able to plant a much greater volume of potatoes on the property. At Harvest Time, Harvesting became equally streamlined, allowing Pete to harvest his crop in a fraction of the time. Ultimately, Pete boosted his yield and profits for the Whitley County Farmers Market, while minimizing physical strain on his body. 

     Pete had an excellent year at the Whitley County Farmers Market and has credited a lot of his success to having access to mechanized equipment. Modern technology has came a long way in Agriculture. I have no doubt that the power of mechanized equipment, in this case, the Potato Equipment can help pave the way for future growth and success in his farming endeavors by not only Pete, but other community members as well.