Wayne Riley, head of the African American Museum in Laurel County, strived to achieve a more leadership role within the Laurel County community. 

    Riley had goals of a location in which people could go and learn about gardening, farming, beekeeping, and pastured poultry. Riley strives to have a place people could processing their products through a commercial kitchen. 

    In order to encourage and support Riley in achieving his goal Kentucky State University Small Farm Project and Beginning Farmer Grant and a collaborative program with the University of Kentucky Extension Riley received several educational opportunities.

    Kentucky State University Extension staff has taught numerous classes at the museum and also at the new commercial kitchen. For example, beekeeping, goat, rabbit, pasture poultry production, and gardening classes. Numerous field visits provided to Riley upon request. 

“Finding USDA funds for individuals of minorities” organized for by KSU Extension and held at the African American Museum. The workshop attended by 25 people of the Eastern Ky community.

    Aquaponics of KSU has provided Riley with fish, and he has developed a market to sell his fish. Also, Riley has had several classes on raising catfish.

    Through grants at KSU Riley has attended several out of state conferences. One on Urban Garden in Atlanta and National Goat Conference in Alabama. Riley has also attended the Kentucky Small Farm Conference in Frankfort for the past five years. The different conferences opened him to new ideas which he uses at his center for teaching.

    Riley has worked at building a structure so that the KSU Mobile Processing Unit can dock in for use by farmers within several counties for the processing of their rabbits and chickens. 

    Riley averages about 12 to 18 people of limited resources for all of his classes. The people within the community have given Riley their support of the center through donations and attending activities. Several grants have awarded to Riley through the Small Farm program.

I have worked with Wayne Riley for several years. As a Small Farm Area Agent, I helped build the bridge between him and the resources of KSU. It is through the joint workmanship of KSU we have been able to help Riley to achieve his goals of a leadership role within the community.