Kentucky State University’s Small Farm Program and Beginning Farmer Project, in collaboration with the University of Kentucky and Cedar Ridge Ministry, worked together to distribute seven tons of Yukon Gold seed potatoes to the beginning and minority farmers across Kentucky to plant in the spring of 2019.  

Susan and George Miller, Lincoln County, wanted to produce potatoes to sell at the farmers’ market.  They had funds to purchase seed potatoes to plant, but money for this limited resource family was tight. With one child in college, the family of four, funds has minimal resources.  The Millers received a portion of the seed potatoes.  Mrs. Miller stated that the harvested Yukon Gold potatoes gave her a little something extra to put on her table for sale at her local farmer's market. Plus, a little something extra for her family to eat.  In the Spring of 2020, Mrs. Miller called to request additional potatoes. She stated they were a big help to her farmer's market stand.

Another farmer, Eli Russell, Shelby County, stated that he had the only Yukon Gold potatoes for sale at his farmers’ market. He made "a little money from the potatoes and his yield was good". He sold the potatoes for 99 cents per pound, which is equal to $9.90 for 10 pounds.  At the same time, Kroger Supermarkets are selling 10 pounds of Idaho potatoes for $4.29 per 10 pounds.  His locally grown potatoes averaged $5.61 more for every 10 pounds harvested then the local supermarket received.

The amount harvested across the state varied. Some reported harvesting as few as 4 pounds of potatoes per 10 pounds of potatoes planted. Others stated they received as many as 13.5 pounds of potatoes per every 10 pounds planted. The most significant amount reported harvested came from the Massey Farm in Warren County who produced 675 pounds of potatoes per 50 pounds planted.  

Warren County alone, which received less than 1,000 pounds of the seed potatoes to plant, produced over one ton of potatoes (results from the farmers who reported).

 This project depended on the farmers' knowledge and ability to take care of their potatoes. It provided the different Kentucky State University Extension Small Farm Agents with the bases to write fact sheets, hold classes and do one-on-one farm visits with farmers to increase their knowledge about how to plant, tend to, and then harvest the potatoes.