Describe the Issue or Situation.

Kentucky State University’s Cooperative Extension Program hosted its 26th annual Small, Limited-Resource, Minority Farmers Conference. This year theme was Connecting Our Farmers, and Communities, located at the Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm on Nov. 21-23, 2024.

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).

The purpose of the Small, Limited-Resource, Minority Farmers Conference is fourfold.

First, the conference provides a forum for underserved farmers to interact with USDA, State, Research, Extension, and other professionals, to learn about their programs and opportunities, and how to access these programs and opportunities. A strong part of this is for underserved farmers to gain trust and confidence in these opportunities and professionals, and to know how to access them.

The second purpose is to provide an opportunity for farmers across Kentucky to meet each other and to network across the state. Because of this, the conference has become the largest of African American farmers in Kentucky.

Third purpose is to provide education for small, limited-resource, minority, and underserved farmers on numerous topics related to production, economics, health, and land stewardship.

The final purpose of the conference is to provide small, limited-resource, and minority farmers from across Kentucky opportunities to see and learn about Kentucky State University and to network with University employees. This also provides a forum for farmers to share ideas with the University.

Our partners organizations for the conference were as follows: Alcorn State University – Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Research Center, The Berry Center Farm & Forest Institute, Black Soil Kentucky, Bluegrass Land Conservancy, Center for Crop Diversification – University of Kentucky, Central Kentucky Ag Credit, Community Farm Alliance, Feeding Kentucky, The Food Connection (University of Kentucky), Grow Appalachia, Kentucky Black Farmers Association, Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky Farm Bureau Foundation, Kentucky HEARS (Funds by the Heuser Hearing Institute), Kentucky Horticulture Council, National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), Organic Association of Kentucky (OAK), Southern Risk Management Education Center, USDA – Farm Service Agency, USDA National Agricultural Statistics Service, and USDA – Rural Development.

Our sponsors for the conference were as follows: Natural Resource Conservation Service USDA, Alcorn Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers Policy Center, Southern Sare Sustainable Agriculture Research & Education, USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture, University of Kentucky The Food Connection, The Berry Center Farm and Forest Institute, Farm Credit Mid-America, Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development, University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture Food and Environment, Cooperative Extension Service, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and Central Kentucky Ag-Credit.

Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience.

A total of 222  small farmers registered for three-day conference, which aims to provide small farmers and producers the opportunity to learn from and network with Kentucky State personnel, industry professionals and other farmers.

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach.

The conference consisted of 46 concurrent agricultural risk management sessions.

This information will benefit undeserved communities, families, farmers, individuals, and youth to improve their quality of life with state- of-the-art, research-based agricultural educational information and increase overall farm income.  

Authors: Edwin W. Chavous, KSU Small Farm Outreach Training and Technical Assistance Coordinator, Kentucky State University.