Definitions for section -- Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative -- Requirements -- Program terms -- Applications
KRS 247.075
in effect247.075. Definitions for section -- Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative -- Requirements -- Program terms -- Applications
(1) As used in this section:
(a) "Extension service" includes the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service or the Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Service;
(b) "Initiative" means the Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative established in this section;
(c) "Program" means any educational program that is part of the initiative; and
(d) "Urban county" means a county with a population of one hundred fifty thousand (150,000) or more according to the most recent federal decennial census.
(2) There is hereby established the Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative, which shall be administered by the Uni versity of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service and the Kentucky State University Cooperative Extension Service and their individual offices within the Commonwealth in partnership with other organizations as appropriate. Beginning January 1, 2027, the ex tension service shall initiate a pilot program in one (1) or more individual offices. Beginning September 1, 2027, and as funding allows, the extension service may begin full implementation and evaluation of the pilot program in all appropriate offices thr oughout the Commonwealth, with potential program scaling and expansion to begin September 1, 2028.
(3) The initiative shall:
(a) Promote farming, agriculture, agribusiness, and the efficient use of land in urban counties;
(b) Educate program participants o n all aspects of farming, agriculture, and agribusiness in an urban environment and encourage the adoption of urban agriculture best practices;
(c) Develop participants' skills and knowledge to become informed agriculture consumers and advocates; and
(d) Advance age-appropriate, experiential, or work -ready agricultural and agribusiness programming, including formal internships and apprenticeships.
(4) The length of each program term shall be one (1) year and each term shall begin in September on a date specified by each extension service. Programs shall be available to applicants at each extension service office located within or serving an urban county of the Commonwealth. An office may work with an existing state or local agricultural organization to better provide for the administration of a program and the initiative.
(5) Each extension service office administering a program shall accept and review applications from eligible applicants. Program participation shall be at the discretion of each office and shall include as many participants as is practicable on an annual basis. To be eligible to participate in a program, a participant shall:
(a) Be at least five (5) years of age and no more than eighteen (18) years of age;
(b) Have obtained parent or guardian permission to participate in accordance with the extension service's youth protection policies; and
(c) Be available to participate in the program for the full duration of the term.
Effective: April 17, 2026
History: Created 2026 Ky. Acts ch. 187, sec. 2, effective April 17, 2026.
Source: Kentucky Legislative Research Commission (legislature.ky.gov)URL: https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/law/statutes/statute.aspx?id=57112Fetched: 10/20/2026