Residential initiative at Kentucky State University connects high school students with agricultural pathways, industry exposure, and mentorship

FRANKFORT, Ky. — A summer offering at Kentucky State University will give high school-aged male students a firsthand look at agriculture as a field of science, business, technology, leadership, and service.

The Harvesting Potential Summer Agriculture Introduction Program will be held June 8–12 on the Kentucky State campus, offering a residential experience designed to introduce participants to career pathways across the agriculture industry. Students will take part in hands-on learning activities, industry site visits, workforce exposure opportunities, and mentorship across Central Kentucky.

“The Harvesting Potential Program is designed to bring students from across the country to Kentucky State University for a week of exposure, connection, and discovery. They will not only experience campus life but also engage directly with our student leaders and learn about the many career opportunities that exist within agriculture.” said Dr. Jamaal Jackson, associate athletic director for student success and principal investigator for the project.

Through Harvesting Potential, participants will explore agricultural education and workforce pathways while building relationships with Kentucky State faculty, staff, students, and industry partners. The program also reflects the University’s role as the Commonwealth’s only public HBCU and 1890 land-grant institution, with a mission rooted in educational access, applied learning, and service to communities across Kentucky.

Malik Thompson, a Kentucky State graduate student serving as program director, will help oversee implementation and day-to-day operations for the summer offering.

“For many students, a program like this can be the first step toward seeing agriculture as a place where they belong,” Thompson said. “We want participants to leave with new knowledge, new confidence, and a clearer sense of the academic and career opportunities available through Kentucky State and the broader agriculture industry.”

Recruitment efforts are now underway for students, families, school counselors, and community partners throughout Kentucky and surrounding regions.

The Harvesting Potential Summer Agriculture Introduction Program aligns with Kentucky State’s broader commitment to workforce preparation, youth engagement, and leadership in agriculture education. By introducing students to agricultural careers before college, the University is helping build a stronger pipeline of future professionals prepared to support Kentucky’s farms, food systems, communities, and economy.

The initiative is supported through a larger $450,000 U.S. Department of Agriculture Capacity Building Grant awarded to Kentucky State for agricultural recruitment through a summer immersion program. The award is part of $1.7 million in USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Capacity Building Grants received by the University to strengthen applied training, producer support, and interdisciplinary problem-solving in Kentucky agriculture.

For more information or to register, visit https://www.kysu.edu/academics/college-ahnr/school-of-anr/co-op/harvesting-potential-agricultural-introduction.php