SARE 1999 Highlights

Paraprofessionals Flock to Field Days Geared Toward Limited-Resource Farmers

Extension educators attending a "Third Thursday" demonstration at Kentucky State University examine fescue grown as part of a legume/grass rotational grazing system for beef cattle. Photo by Donna Dixon Woodall

Monthly field days in Kentucky that have become virtual "must-sees" for extension educators and area producers have demonstrated - and increased adoption of - a slew of sustainable agriculture practices. "Third Thursday" at Kentucky State University, which showcases work at the experiment station and in the agricultural community on marketing, economics and production issues, has drawn close to 500 since KSU received a SARE Professional Development Program (PDP) grant. Kentucky's small farm assistants, paraprofessionals recruited by the historically black 1890s university system to help extension agents reach limited-resource farmers, regularly attend. The assistants, as well as numerous producer attendees, say the workshops are changing the way some small producers farm in Kentucky. Since 1997, nearly 30 farmers attending Third Thursdays have improved their crop rotations, introduced compost, planted legumes to improve pastures or added cover crops. KSU-trained paraprofessionals have helped more than 2,000 farmers incorporate sustainable agriculture methods. The field days have proven great for networking, too. A group of producers attending a session on alternative marketing later organized to work toward relaxing constraints to direct-marketing animal products. [South/ES97-015]

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