K entucky State University purchased 203 acres on Mills Lane in Franklin County, Kentucky, in 1986 under the leadership of Land Grant Director Harold R. Benson. Later, in 2009, Kentucky State acquired additional acreage, making the total size of the farm nearly 300 acres. The farm hosts a variety of research projects, including small ruminant research, soil management research, organic agriculture research, ornamental horticulture research, livestock nutrition research, honeybee research, conservation biological control and beneficial insect research, and urban agriculture research. Additionally, the USDA National Clonal Germplasm Repository (Gene Bank) for pawpaws has been housed here since 1994; this collection includes more than 2,000 trees from 16 states.
The Center for Sustainability of Farms and Families is also located at the Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm. The center is a multifunctional building with a commercial kitchen that can be used for both processing and food preparation. The conference space can be used for conferences, workshops, and other events.
For more information about the use of the Center for Sustainability of Farms and Families and about farm tours and field trip opportunities, please contact Megan Goins at megan.goins@kysu.edu.
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