The Kentucky State University (KSU) Small Farm Program is an Extension program designed to help farm families with decision-making skills to solve farm and home problems. It includes educational programs that emphasize farm production, farm management, and marketing.  It also includes the use and understanding of local county programs and USDA agencies and their programs, plus providing technical assistance in completing applications for the program and the entire application process.  The KSU Small Farm Program’s Area Agent for Small Farms works with small, limited-resource, and minority farmers, most of whom have not used Extension prior to his intervention.  He targets minority farmers, farmers who are new to Extension, or farmers who think that Extension is not for them.  First he has to gain their confidence.  Then he has to show them that he can help them to meet some of their needs. 

 This is his experience with one family in his service area, Lincoln County, Kentucky.

A first generation, African American female home owner in Lincoln County received USDA rural housing application assistance from KSU Area Agent for Small Farm Program in April 29, 1997. The KSU Area Agent for Small Farm Program assisted the first generation home owner applicant to fill out a USDA rural housing 504 grant application for roof, bathroom and ceiling repairs.  The application was approved in the amount of $ 7, 375 dollars. Then in March 30, 1999 the KSU Area Agent for Small Farm Program assisted her to fill out a USDA rural housing 504 loan application for roof repairs, the application was approved in the amount of $ 5000 dollars. She is now deceased, but she ensured that the house deed to the property was recorded in her daughter’s name.  The benefit of having the KSU Area Agent for Small Farm Program assist her was that he ensured that the application packets were complete with all supporting documents.  This is important because many times the home owners will not turn in all of the required documents.  For example, the home repair estimate list with material and labor and the house deed, are the major items that will often be missed from the application packets.

Recently, her second generation home owner daughter called the KSU Area Agent for Small Farm Program to request assistance for home repairs on the home.  She needed a new septic tank and front house repairs. The KSU Area Agent for Small Farm Program filled out her USDA 504 grant housing application on June 27, 2019 and emailed the application to the London, Kentucky USDA Service Center office. The total repair cost estimate is $6,462.24 dollars. The applicant and the KSU Area Agent for Small Farm Program will wait to see if the application is approved.