KRS 247.075: 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 University 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.