Describe the Issue or Situation:
Kentucky’s specialty crop producers need timely market data and business support to stay competitive. Meanwhile, undergraduate students in agriculture often lack hands-on experience. The Center for Crop Diversification (CCD) created a program to address both needs through experiential student learning that supports producer-focused data and outreach.

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable):
In response, CCD developed the Undergraduate Fellows Program, now in its third year (2025), with support from the Kentucky Horticulture Council and the USDA Specialty Crop Block Grant Program. The program provides paid summer fellowships for University of Kentucky undergraduate students to work directly with CCD staff on data collection, analysis, outreach, and Extension projects supporting Kentucky's specialty crop producers. Fellows:

• engage in weekly price reporting from farmers markets and produce auctions
• Conduct original research
• develop Extension and outreach publications
• assist with program evaluation efforts. 
• receive professional development including
  • Direct weekly mentorship
  • shadowing opportunities with Extension professionals and state agency partners
  • Opportunities to publish and improve their resumes/CVs

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

• 4 UK undergraduate students (2 in 2025) have completed or are actively participating in the CCD Fellows Program since 2023.
• Target Audience Reached Through Student Work:
  • Over 100,000 price reports downloaded by Kentucky farmers and market stakeholders since 2016, supported by data collected by Fellows.
  • Over 3,000 recipients (farmers, Extension agents, service providers) reached through newsletters and educational articles authored by Fellows.
  • More than 350 stakeholders attended presentations where Fellows shared research findings, such as at the Franklin County Farm City Field Day.

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact:
Students reported increased understanding of local food marketing systems, improved data literacy, and enhanced communication and professional skills. All fellows develop:

• CCD & AEC newsletter articles
• Publications
• Presentations
• Social media
• Research including direct data collection, literature reviews, Interviews & Surveys
• Professional Shadowing
• Final Report
• Weekly meetings Fellow present original economic analysis to an audience of 350, while another co-authored a forthcoming Extension publication on agritourism management practices based on field interviews and literature review.

The program strengthens the specialty crop community's access to timely market data while preparing the next generation of agricultural professionals with hands-on experience, mentorship, and applied research opportunities.