Student Run Farm
Overview
Kentucky State University Urban and CEA Agriculture student research assistants and summer interns work together under leadership to operate a Student-Run Farm on the Harold Benson Farm in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Student-Run Farm has traditional agriculture field plots and several raised beds for annual crop production. They produce a wide array of crops throughout the seasons including varieties of tomatoes, cucumbers, summer squash, winter squash, herbs, peppers, leafy greens, carrots, pumpkins, watermelons, and many more vegetables and fruits.
Missions
The students that work on or visit the Student Run Farm learn about agriculture and obtain many practical skills through hands on experience such as using: farm tools, drip irrigation, seeding, planting, pest management, weed management, tillage conservation, and composting systems. They also learn how to raise plants using sustainable and organic production principles, including practicing cover cropping, crop rotation, composting, and using natural fertilizers. They seldom use harmful pesticides and herbicides, and instead determine when and how to use natural product versions when relevant. The Student-Run Farm staff and students take pride in using sustainable agriculture methods to raise fresh vegetables for their Kentucky State University campus body and community.
Community & Campus Donation & Outreach
The Student-Run Farm produces thousands of pounds of produce each year. They ensure that their harvest do not go to waste and donate fresh fruits and vegetables to the Kentucky State University staff and students, and the local community. They hope that these foods can enhance the nutritional status of people, decrease food insecurity, and promote local food movements in their community. They also provide educational outreach materials alongside their produce donations such as fact sheets, recipe cards, tip sheets, and research publications. The aim of this outreach material is to provide information to consumers about of different types of vegetables. This way they can learn how to use these products in a healthy cooking and grow fruits and vegetables themselves. The urban agriculture department strives to provide outreach and extension demonstrations for students and the public through interactions, workshops, and displays involving urban agriculture topics.
Learn more about our Student Run Farm Summer 2025 Highlights in the Video Below:
