Two young Mennonite ladies called me and said they were planning on growing strawberries in the fall and spring of 2020-2021. They were planning on growing strawberries through plastic mulch and drip irrigation and didn't have the equipment to do that agriculture practice.  Someone told these Mennonite ladies that the Wayne County Extension/ KSU Small Farm Assistant had equipment that could be used to demonstrated these agriculture practices. 

I told them we do have the equipment and production information to help you achieve this entrepreneurial venture.

These young ladies choose to grow 5000 double row strawberry plants in their 1/2 acre area. The young ladies used the KSU demonstration plastic mulch layer, the double wheel water wheel setter, and the plastic mulch lifter to grow their strawberries. 

The cost to purchase the equipment would be approximately $8000.00 that they didn't have to do to try their entrepreneurial idea out. 

I gave them Extension recommended growing production practices on strawberries. I help them with disease,insect and nutrient recommendations through out the year. I made several visits to the farm to help them with vole problems, disease and nutrient issues.

The Mennonite ladies were successful in growing around 3500-4000 quarts of strawberries with all of their efforts. They sold their strawberries through the local Mennonite store with success. 

I asked the young ladies what was their most difficult obstacle in this years strawberry production and they told me it was labor on harvesting their strawberries at the peak of production. I asked if they were planning on growing strawberries this season and they told me they have boyfriends and were hoping to get married and start a family. 

By these young Mennonite ladies not having to buy equipment to plant strawberries it allowed these ladies to try their entrepreneurial idea out and made a profit for their hard work. 

The KSU vegetable demonstration equipment allows a lot of small farmers to try their hand at agriculture practices without going in debt for equipment.