Success StoryStudy and Outreach of Food Production Methods in an Amish Community in Western Kentucky



Study and Outreach of Food Production Methods in an Amish Community in Western Kentucky

Author: Raul Villanueva

Planning Unit: Entomology

Major Program: Integrated Plant Pest Management

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

In this project there was a collaborative effort between the faculty of the Department of Entomology from Princeton (Villanueva), Lexington (Bessin), County Extension Agents from Trigg two Entomological graduate students (Izabela Gomez and Yaziri Gonzalez), and Amish farmers in Cerulean, Trigg Co. The initial contact was to help in the control of sugarcane aphid, In 2016 and 2017 farmers in this community were successful in controlling this aphid species and obtain good yields. This has became a trustful relationship, that is giving an opportunity to educate this community and provide technological support. The two student mentioned above and Villanueva were awarded a grant to work with them for two year and  develop a program to support them including the development of a program for a field day. This field day will be completed in July 2018. The organization, and planning is being done by the students and they have the support so far of several faculty from Lexington and the REC-Princeton. All these are giving the students to be trained in Extension with a "real hands on" experience. At the same time these two master students are learning of other disciplines as they consult the faculty of the diverse issues the Amish community is asking them.