The Orlando Brown House, also designed by Shryock, and Liberty Hall, built by statesman John Brown, served as meeting places for such famous figures as Zachary Taylor, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, and Theodore Roosevelt. These two houses, along with the Glen Willis House, provide the city with beautiful areas for public receptions and with formal gardens along the river.
Today, offices of state government, the University, and local organizations join together to provide the city with places and events of interest. Beautifully planted gardens at the new State Capitol and throughout the city establish pleasant and congenial surroundings. The Frankfort Arts Foundation brings nationally recognized talent to Frankfort for musical and theatrical productions. Art galleries show works by the widely known late local painter Paul Sawyier along with shows by other nationally and locally known artists. The Game Farm, established in 1944 by the State Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, is only three miles from downtown Frankfort. In addition to its woods and lakes, which serve as rest and feeding areas for migratory birds, almost all of Kentucky's native animal species are in residence. Frankfort is a diverse community that offers Kentucky State University students a variety of opportunities for recreation and personal growth. Students can choose to be a part of this community in a variety of ways. It offers access to a rich cultural and historical perspective while providing avenues for involvement in civic and community affairs.
Kentucky State University is one of seventeen 1890 Land Grant institutions that are mandated by the Morrill Act of 1890 to conduct research, extension, and teaching in the food and agricultural sciences. The Kentucky State University (KSU) Land Grant Program works to uphold the mission of the University through its commitment to research, extension, and teaching in the food and agricultural sciences. The KSU Land Grant Program is committed to resolving agricultural, educational, economic, and social problems of the people of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, especially to serve the underserved in rural and urban settings. The Land Grant Program at KSU receives a significant portion of its funds from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), which provides programmatic oversight, regulation, and guidance. Such USDA mission areas as the cooperative extension and research are dedicated to assisting stakeholders across the nation and in implementing strategic initiatives of the USDA through programs that enable such universities to conduct research, teaching, Extension and outreach.
The Land Grant Program research and extension activities enable KSU to offer many opportunities for students interested in learning more about a wide range of disciplines, including food and agricultural sciences, environmental science, natural resources, family science, consumer science, rural sociology, and community development. A U.S. Department of Agriculture Liaison Officer is located on the campus to counsel Land Grant administrators and students on national initiatives, and opportunities for partnerships with the USDA. This person also works with high school and college students by exposing them to career opportunities in the food and agricultural sciences. College students are eligible for internships while enrolled in undergraduate and graduate degree programs. Additionally, the Liaison Officer promotes and accepts applications for the USDA 1890 Scholars Program, which offers a full scholarship package (tuition and a computer as well as room and board) to high school graduates who are interested in working for the USDA after completion of their undergraduate studies.
The Land Grant Program at KSU currently has four programs. The traditional sections are the Community Research Service (CRS) and Cooperative Extension Program (CEP) and the two academic divisions, the Division of Aquaculture and the Division of Agriculture, Food, and Environment.
The Community Research Service (CRS) is focused on three main research areas: Aquaculture, Organic and Sustainable Agriculture and Human Health, Nutrition, and Food Safety. The KSU Land Grant Program has nationally and internationally recognized research programs in Aquaculture or fish farming to bring new economic opportunities to Kentucky.
The Aquaculture Program, KSU's "Program of Distinction," is widely recognized as being a Top 5 program in the nation in aquaculture. The program is a national and international leader in the areas of water quality, disease diagnostics, aquaponics, pond development and management, fish meal replacement research, as well as paddlefish culture, freshwater prawn and saltwater shrimp culture, Koi breeding, production of largemouth bass on-feed, catfish and hybrid striped bass production. New organic food markets continue to grow and alternative crops and production methods are desired by farmers. The KSU Land Grant Program's Organic Program is nationally ranked in the top 20 amongst institution previously attended.
Learning to organize and carry out independent research is an integral part of a university liberal studies education. Paul G. Blazer Library, located at the northeast end of the campus, provides comprehensive and current research materials and facilities for students and faculty. The university community is also encouraged to use Blazer Library for personal enrichment and leisure reading.
Blazer Library's collection of more than 600,000 volumes includes such materials as books, journals, eBooks, DVD's, and other resources to aid students in their course work and research. As a member of the Kentucky Virtual Library (http://www.kyvl.org), Blazer Library has access to more than sixty databases including: Academic Search Complete, AGRICOLA, Business Source Premier, CINAHL Full text, Education Full text, Health Source: Nursing Academic Edition, Newspaper Source, MLA and PsycINFO to name a few. Other electronic resources such as our JSTOR Collections are available online for research and information. Blazer Library uses OCLC Worldshare Management Services as its library management
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