Project Overview
The goal for this project is to bring military veterans and underserved limited resource populations
in Kentucky and surrounding areas a realistic plan for becoming a farm with a sustainable product
and income. The project recruited from KY military bases, Fort Knox and Fort Campbell, and
National Guard posts. Help has been enlisted from the VFW, American Legion and other veteran
organizations in order to contact as many veteran participants as possible. For the non-military
populations contact has been made through the state’s 120 county extension offices, local technical
schools and county agencies that assist the underserved, limited resource populations in their area
by utilizing county mailing lists, newsletters, radio and TV media. The educational classes for
business management, including writing a business plan, informational classes on products that are
successful in their area and financial options open to them, grants, low cost loans, etc. have been included in workshops and as reference materials on the newly created website. Sites for these educational and informational workshops will be held in three locations though out the state
to make travel easier. Farm specialists have provided technical assistance on specific areas
of farming for example livestock, grains, forestry, etc. This targets the workshops to topography,
soil conditions and marketing available in the area. Workshops have been presented where the greatest
concentration of military veterans and limited resource farmers are located. Smaller workshops will
be held at working farms within these areas. Mentors are being enlisted to help the participants
become successful and able to sustain the productivity of the farm. All Extension personnel and specialists have been introduced to the
BFRDP program and encouraged to help in recruitment of participants. Veterans served 17.
Number of Participants: 230
Promotional Materials
There are no promotional materials available for this project.
Educational Materials
There are no educational materials available for this project.
Reports & Evaluations
There are no reports or evaluations available for this project.
Describe any unexpected results of the project:
How would you improve the project if you were to do it again?
What were the keys to success for your participants?
Individual Stories / Examples of Success