Kentucky State event builds on annual Small Farmers Conference model while bringing
practical, research-based education directly to producers
FRANKFORT, Ky. 鈥� In Whitley County, the future of small farming was measured in seedlings,
shared knowledge, family stories, and practical skills producers could take home.
More than 275 farmers, producers, and community members gathered April 10鈥�11 for the
麻豆直播 Small Farm Conference 鈥� Eastern KY Style, a two-day event
focused on agricultural resilience, farm sustainability, and stronger rural communities.
Modeled after Kentucky State鈥檚 annual Small Farmers Conference held at the University鈥檚
Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm in Frankfort, the Eastern Kentucky
conference brought that same emphasis on practical education, producer support, and
land-grant service directly to the region.
Whitley County offered a fitting setting. Located along the I-75 corridor in southeastern
Kentucky, the county is home to rolling grasslands, river-bottom farmland, beef cattle
operations, forestry resources, and natural landmarks tied to Cumberland Falls and
the Daniel Boone National Forest.
The conference offered five educational tracks each day, with sessions focused on
agriculture and horticulture, honeybees, farm business, livestock, marketing and technology,
value-added products, cheese making, pawpaw production, climate change, disaster preparedness,
and other topics tied to small farm success.
Sessions also addressed everyday farm needs such as small farm tractor basics, shared-use
equipment, rural housing, farm grants, wildfire safety, pollinator protection, pesticide
stewardship, online marketing, and protecting farm assets.
One featured session focused on pawpaw production, led by Dr. Kirk Pomper, a nationally
recognized Kentucky State pawpaw specialist, and Sheri Crabtree, horticulture research
and Extension associate. Participants learned about pawpaw grafting, care, and marketing,
and received pawpaw tree seedlings, along with black cherry seedlings, to take home.
Another session focused on value-added cheese making, showing how producers can use
traditional dairy production to create profitable products and expand farm-based business
opportunities.
The conference also highlighted the Rice Family of Whitley County, who shared the
story of maintaining their family farm since 1904. Their presentation reflected the
resilience, dedication, and generational strength that continue to shape small farms
across Eastern Kentucky.
Additional components included research poster displays by Kentucky State graduate
students, an agriculture photography contest, and meals prepared by the Whitley County
4-H program in partnership with Kentucky State, highlighting agricultural innovation,
community creativity, and youth involvement.
Participant feedback was overwhelmingly positive, with attendees describing the conference
as 鈥渁bove & beyond鈥� and 鈥渋nvaluable.鈥� Many said they planned to apply new skills in
areas such as beekeeping, pollinator support, crop production, and value-added processing.
Laura Rogers, the 麻豆直播 Small Farm Area Agent in Whitley County,
helped organize the event and said the conference demonstrated the continued need
for accessible agricultural education across the region.
鈥淔armers came ready to learn, connect, and take information home that they could use
right away,鈥� Rogers said. 鈥淭his conference showed the strength of Eastern Kentucky鈥檚
small farm community and the value of bringing research-based education directly to
producers.鈥�
Dr. Tyrell Kahan, associate Extension administrator at Kentucky State, said the conference
reflected the purpose of Cooperative Extension and the University鈥檚 1890 land-grant
mission.
鈥淐ooperative Extension is at its best when it brings practical, research-based knowledge
directly to the people who can use it,鈥� Dr. Kahan said. 鈥淔or Kentucky State, that
is central to our 1890 land-grant mission. We are here to support farmers, families,
youth, and communities with information, partnerships, and programs that help them
build resilience and opportunity where they live.鈥�
From seedlings and farm business strategies to student research and family farm stories,
the Small Farm Conference 鈥� Eastern KY Style reflected Kentucky State鈥檚 1890 land-grant
mission in action: meeting producers where they are, sharing knowledge they can use,
and helping rural communities build strength for the next generation.
