Student Run Farm

Urban/ CEA Ag Students and Kentucky State University student interns operate a student-run farm with outdoor plots on the Harold Benson Farm in Frankfort, Kentucky. The student run farm has traditional ag field plots and several raised beds for annual crop production including several varties of tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, winter squash, herbs, peppers, leafy greens, and many more veggies. The students learn many farm skills through hands on experience such as how to: use farm tools, install drip irrigation, planting, pest management, and composting systems. They learn how to riase crops using sustainable and organic production principles, including cover cropping, crop rotation, composting, and natural fertilizers. They seldom use pesticides and herbicides and determine when to use natural products when relevant. The student run farm takes pride in helping reduce food insecurity in their campus and community. They donate all of their the produce to the University staff, students, and local community to enhance nutritional status and decrease promote local food movements. They provide educational material such as fact sheets, receipe cards, and research publications with all of their donated veggies. The consumers of the student run farm produce can learn how to use these veggies in a healthy way and grow these types of foods in their own urban patios, homes, and backyards. The urban ag department ensures they provide urban grower information and farm demos throughout their outreach efforts.