Kentucky State University Small-Scale Farm Grant Program reapproved for $990,000

Kentucky State University Small-Scale Farm Grant Program reapproved for $990,000


Kentucky State University’s Small-Scale Farm Grant Program, which provides assistance to small and limited-resource farmers in Kentucky, was recently reapproved with an additional $990,000 in funding. In partnership with the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, the program was founded in 2012 and has been funded an additional four times since then.  

This program helps farmers who want to improve their farming operations, improve the marketability of their products with value-added enterprise, or further their farming and agricultural knowledge through educational training.  

As of June 2021, a total of $3,323,616 has been awarded for 899 proposals across the six categories: 49 for aquaculture and aquaponics, 123 for certified organic agriculture, 421for value-added products, 132 for food insecure area production, 17 for agroforestry, and 157 for farmer education assistance.  

The grant has given assistance to recipients such as Kenya Abraham, Kentucky State’s Small Farmer of the Year 2020 and the co-owner of SlakMarket Farm, where she runs a herdshare; Warm Blessings Soup Kitchen in Elizabethtown to help purchase a new freezer; and the Russellville Urban Gardening Project, a community garden that aims to get young people involved in agriculture. The Franklin County Farmers Market has received two grants through the program. The second, awarded in 2020, funded the purchase of a bigger trailer and crates for preparing pick-up orders. Vendor and board member Connie Lemley said receiving the grant was “wonderful” and helped the market adapt to COVID-19 to keep its vendors and customers safe.  

For eligibility requirements and to apply, visit here: https://bit.ly/3ALDj7X. The next deadline for applications is Feb. 1, 2022. For more information, contact Joni Nelson at joni.nelson@kysu.edu