The Third Thursday Thing is held at 10 a.m. on the third Thursday of each month, except for December.
Program agendas are available at www.kysu.edu/thirdthursdaything
The Third Thursday Thing Sustainable Agriculture Workshop series is a monthly event that aims to educate Kentucky's farming community on best practices, grant opportunities, new technologies, and more. The program celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2017 and has become a statewide community of small farmers, researchers, Cooperative Extension staff, and U.S. Department of Agriculture and state agencies who speak and share ideas freely and equally.
The goal of the Third Thursday Thing is to improve the sustainability of agriculture on Kentucky's small, limited-resource, female-operated, and minority farms.
“From the kitchen table to field meetings, everyone views the Third Thursday Thing as a relaxed, shared learning experience where all participants benefit from each other,” says Dr. Marion Simon, state Extension specialist. Dr. Simon founded the Third Thursday Thing in 1997.
specialist. Dr. Simon founded the Third Thursday Thing in 1997.
The workshop aims to strengthen and build support groups for small and minority farmers as they work, learn, and share together. At the Third Thursday Thing, small farmers are introduced to a wide range of alternative farm enterprises and sustainable production and marketing systems so that they can make informed decisions and help mentor other farmers. Agricultural professionals, paraprofessionals, and non-profits gain a better understanding of sustainable agriculture production and marketing systems, including the special needs of small farms.
Over the past two to four years, 70-90% of Third Thursday Thing participants have adopted a practice or new enterprise they have learned at a workshop and use it on their operations or in their programming.
Topics include grapes and wine, bees, goats, organic agriculture, AgrAbility, aquaculture, value-added, and more.
Location: Kentucky State University, Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm, 1525 Mills Lane, Frankfort, KY
“I don’t know of anyone who has done so much for so many small farmers as Kentucky State University has done with the Third Thursday Thing. Every farmer that I know has increased their income from coming.” —Dana Lear, Appalachian small farmer