TITLE: The Salad Man Jerry Wyatt  

Level Long Term: 

Benton, Kentucky is a rural area of Marshall County. The residents have a rich heritage in agriculture development, & culture. Jerry Wyatt which has constructed KY Hydro Farm to produce, the best in agriculture products in greenhouses, for over 50 years. Jerry Wyatt owner of KY Hydro Farm offers locally grown, high quality produce. They grow products year round in greenhouses which offer many environmental benefits over traditional agriculture. Hydroponics is the cultivation of plants in nutrient rich water solutions, rather than in soil. Jerry Wyatt has worked many years to grow in the controlled environment of greenhouses, offering a product that is produced consistently in a safe manner Jerry Wyatt operates his farm operation with his son Matt and preparing to put his grandsons in work which demonstrates three generations of farmers. 

Target Audience (Courtesy Of City Data.com) 

Marshall County has a population of 31,213 Median age is 44.8 Poverty rate is 10.5% The population of Marshall County, KY is 96.9% is Caucasian, 1.34% is Hispanic. Marshall County is the 34^th largest county in the Commonwealth Of Kentucky. Average size of farms 134 acres, Average value of agriculture products sold per farm $29,946 Average value of crops sold per acre for harvested crop land $169.87 Nursery, greenhouse, and sod as percentages of the total market value of agricultural products sold: 5.42%, Family operated farms 94.46%  

Partnership

The Kentucky State University Small Farms Agent for the Christian County Extension Service partnered with Jerry Wyatt to expand distribution growth, development, marketing campaigning, and technology education for farming. Austin Wright has advised, consulted Jerry Wyatt to provide small farmers, schools, restaurants, and new small farmers market distributors across Western Kentucky.  

Outcomes

Jerry Wyatt produces lettuce, tomatoes, strawberries, peppers, eggplants, and has applied to produce hemp. Jerry Wyatt produces products which are year round. At Jerry Wyatt has diversified his heating practices which he warms now the green houses with biomass boilers utilizing sawdust and wood chips as our fuel sources. Our heating system allows us to use renewable energy. The green energy has turned out to be a major advantage economically, and a win-win for the environment. Growing food locally helps raise awareness and appreciation for food production. Many people have no ties or relationship to agriculture so he provides the benefit of educating the consumer on the benefits of food production. Small farmers, teachers, transitioning professionals, students, and businessmen have toured his site to know how small production can be so strong in agriculture.