House committee advances Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative to pilot urban agricultural education

The House Agriculture Committee on an unspecified date voted to pass House Bill 356 as amended, creating the Kentucky Urban Youth Agriculture Initiative, a pilot program designed to expand agricultural education and workforce pathways for urban youth.

Sponsor Representative Neema Kulkarni, who introduced the bill, told the committee the revised measure "strengthens the educational opportunities" and broadened the program beyond hands‑on farming to include agribusiness, advocacy and efficient land‑use practices. She said the committee sub lowered the eligible age from 6 to 5 and removed a requirement that participants have access to farmland, to reduce barriers for youth in urban counties.

The bill as amended establishes a pilot implementation timeline and includes expanded program opportunities such as formal internships and apprenticeship programs and age‑appropriate experiential activities. Mike Meyer, identified as "associate 4‑H Kentucky program leader," told the committee the goal is to "remove any barriers" to participation and reach youth in densely populated counties; he listed Fayette, Kenton, Campbell, Boone, Hardin and Jefferson as likely pilot areas.

A Harrison County 4‑H member, Delaney Cook, told the committee 4‑H "has given me the opportunity to take on many roles" and described experiences in horticulture, sewing and public speaking. Representative McPherson and other members praised the bill as a way to raise awareness of agriculture among urban students and to broaden pipelines into agricultural careers.

Committee members asked whether the bill would cover community gardens or small urban plots; Kulkarni and Meyer said the committee sub removed minimum farmland requirements so programming can include urban sites and community gardens. Representative Kim King said she had initially worried the bill might direct 4‑H curriculum, but she said conversations with the sponsor and local 4‑H agents alleviated those concerns.

The committee adopted the committee substitute and later passed a title amendment. The committee recorded a roll call in favor of the amended bill; the chair announced, "House Bill 356 as amended by the committee sub does pass." The bill will proceed with its committee amendments to the full House.

Votes at a glance: Committee adopted the committee substitute to House Bill 356 (motion recorded with proponents on the record) and passed House Bill 356 as amended; a separate title amendment also passed.