THE PROPOSED PROJECT WILL INCREASE KENTUCKY STATE UNIVERSITY'S (KSU'S) CAPACITY TO OFFER EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING WITH A FOCUS ON IMPROVING AGRICULTURAL LITERACY, INCREASING ACCESS TO FRESH PRODUCE, AND IMPROVING DIETARY HABITS. THIS WILL BE ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH SIX OBJECTIVES. A STUDENT-RUN FARM WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO SUPPLY PRODUCE TO KSU DINING SERVICES, INCLUDING A STUDENT-RUN CAF&EACUTE;. FARM OPERATIONS WILL BE GUIDED BY AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND PRODUCTION WILL TAKE PLACE YEAR-ROUND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NATIONAL ORGANIC PROGRAM. DEMONSTRATION AND TEACHING GARDENS WILL BE ESTABLISHED TO SHOWCASE ORGANIC VEGETABLE PRODUCTION IN URBAN AGRICULTURE SETTINGS, SUCH AS BACKYARDS AND SCHOOL GARDENS. THESE GARDENS WILL BE THE CORNERSTONE OF URBAN AGRICULTURE EXTENSION PROGRAMMING WITH CONTENT ABOUT GROWING VEGETABLES, NUTRITION, FOOD SAFETY, AND FOOD PREPARATION AND PRESERVATION. THE FARM AND GARDENS WILL BE INTEGRATED INTO EXISTING COURSE WORK AND PROGRAMMING TO FACILITATE EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING. THIS WILL INCLUDE COURSES IN AGRICULTURE, FOOD SAFETY, NUTRITION, MARKETING AND ENTREPRENEURSHIP, AND EXTENSION PROGRAMS IN 4-H AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT. A DATABASE OF LOCAL PRODUCERS WILL BE CREATED AND RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN PRODUCERS AND KSU DINING SERVICES WILL BE FOSTERED TO PROMOTE LOCAL FOODS ON CAMPUS. THE EFFECTS OF PARTICIPATING IN STUDENT-RUN AGRICULTURAL ENDEAVORS ON FOSTERING BENEFICIAL CHANGES IN STUDENT DIETARY CHOICES AND METABOLIC HEALTH WILL BE EXAMINED. STUDENTS DIETARY ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS WILL BE ASSESSED THROUGH A SURVEY AND STUDENT METABOLIC HEALTH WILL BE MONITORED THROUGH SHAPE-UP KSU, AN EXISTING PROGRAM. A SURVEY WILL ALSO BE CONDUCTED TO INVESTIGATE COMMUNITY INTEREST IN URBAN AGRICULTURE IN LOW-INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS IN FOOD DESERTS IN FRANKFORT, KY.