2017-Now
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Extension Specialist, UK Agricultural Economics, CES
Center for Crop Diversification KY Sustainable Agriculture, Research & Education (SARE)
I provide support and resources to Cooperative Extension personnel, other agriculture outreach professionals, and producers in Kentucky as well as the Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States.
At the Center for Crop Diversification we generate, aggregate, and host regional specialty crop production and marketing resources. These include specialty crop overviews, budgets, production resources, marketing guides, economic decision tools, and price reports. I spearheaded a redesign of our website and Facebook pages in 2016. My current priorities are promoting the site, strengthening our regional partnerships, and developing resources relevant to our clients. Working with my colleague, Christy Cassady, I produce a monthly newsletter, manage a Facebook Page, develop curricula, and regularly deliver lectures and workshops throughout the region. |
I coordinate a team of price reporters and student employees to assemble weekly Farmer's Market and Produce Auction price reports in Kentucky, Illinois, Tennessee, Indiana and West Virginia. I travel nationwide to promote the CCD, and to find better ways to help our growers. Grant writing has become an important part of my position. In the last 2 years, we have led or collaborated on 6 grant-funded projects worth more than $595,000, saving the college more than $121,000 in salary for me any my colleagues.
In my KY SARE duties, I facilitate sustainable agriculture programming throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. I have written, managed, and reported on 12 grants (>$170,000 total). I assist in the delivery of the Kentucky State University Third Thursday Thing program, facilitate funding for sustainable agriculture projects across the state, and work to evaluate our programming. I frequently collaborate with university faculty, extension personnel, and members of the community. I travel regularly throughout the region supporting numerous grant programs and educational events covering topics such as cover cropping, community nutrition, local food system development and food safety.
In my KY SARE duties, I facilitate sustainable agriculture programming throughout the Commonwealth of Kentucky. I have written, managed, and reported on 12 grants (>$170,000 total). I assist in the delivery of the Kentucky State University Third Thursday Thing program, facilitate funding for sustainable agriculture projects across the state, and work to evaluate our programming. I frequently collaborate with university faculty, extension personnel, and members of the community. I travel regularly throughout the region supporting numerous grant programs and educational events covering topics such as cover cropping, community nutrition, local food system development and food safety.
2015-2017
Senior Extension Associate, UK Agricultural Economics
In August 2017, I was promoted from Senior Extension Associate to Extension Specialist in recognition of my performance and to reflect my numerous additional responsibilities. The Specialist position description above includes the duties from my Senior Associate role as well as the extra responsibilities and accomplishments that led to the promotion.
"Brett keeps the Extension Associate productivity bar extremely high. But he works in such a way that inspires others around him to work harder and be better. He is the consummate professional communicator and program planner...Brett's initiative is hard to over state… He holds himself to the highest standards of self-improvement, but prioritizes these opportunities with a view toward what can help grow the programs and industry around him…The newsletter, Facebook and other media are highly effective and growing in reach and quality. The webinars and the website itself are of excellent quality that represent our UK programming in the most professional way possible…He manages a complex program, including complex funding and programming across multiple departments and institutions, and I cannot stress enough his excellence in assuring that the Kentucky SARE program remains well-regarded throughout the southern region."
-2016 Year-End Performance Review Comments
“Brett has been enormously productive…His efforts have been widely acclaimed by administrators, Extension professionals, and producers…Brett has been a superior professional. I can’t imagine anything more that anyone can do in this position…I have a lot of confidence to put him in any potentially sensitive situation professionally…Hard to overstate how easy it is to work with Brett. Mostly I'm trying to keep up with his energy and ideas myself to make sure he has the resources he needs. Brett is a solid self-starter and very creative.”
-2015 Year-End Performance Review Comments
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2012-2015
Research Analyst, University of Kentucky Department of Horticulture (2012-2015)
This position demanded equal parts back-breaking labor in extreme conditions, focused time-sensitive laboratory and computer-based tasks, and organization and facilitation of a diverse team. I managed multiple complex projects grant funded in excess of $500,000 and coordinated a team of 3-8 members depending on the time of year. The blend of agricultural and human variables necessitated immense flexibility, organizational aptitude, and time management skills. The cyclical nature of agricultural work required me to provide very different things to a variety of clients at different times of year. During the summer season, I taught dozens of undergraduate apprentices about how our system works and how to complete necessary tasks for growing success. I was responsible for mechanical and structural maintenance of 6 large greenhouse structures and various equipment.
We worked heavily with season extending structures called "high tunnels" (or hoop houses) to grow vegetables during times of year when traditional outdoor growing is impossible. Besides the constant opportunities to learn new information and skills, my favorite part of this job was helping producers, students, and the general public understand how to apply the technologies we were researching. In support of this goal, I gave educational tours, spoke at grower association meetings, and developed educational resources. Examples are the videos below and websites for my work team, the Jacobsen Lab, and our facility the University of Kentucky High Tunnel Research Facility. I developed these resources after spearheading a project to identify producer needs through survey and focus group research.
This position demanded equal parts back-breaking labor in extreme conditions, focused time-sensitive laboratory and computer-based tasks, and organization and facilitation of a diverse team. I managed multiple complex projects grant funded in excess of $500,000 and coordinated a team of 3-8 members depending on the time of year. The blend of agricultural and human variables necessitated immense flexibility, organizational aptitude, and time management skills. The cyclical nature of agricultural work required me to provide very different things to a variety of clients at different times of year. During the summer season, I taught dozens of undergraduate apprentices about how our system works and how to complete necessary tasks for growing success. I was responsible for mechanical and structural maintenance of 6 large greenhouse structures and various equipment.
We worked heavily with season extending structures called "high tunnels" (or hoop houses) to grow vegetables during times of year when traditional outdoor growing is impossible. Besides the constant opportunities to learn new information and skills, my favorite part of this job was helping producers, students, and the general public understand how to apply the technologies we were researching. In support of this goal, I gave educational tours, spoke at grower association meetings, and developed educational resources. Examples are the videos below and websites for my work team, the Jacobsen Lab, and our facility the University of Kentucky High Tunnel Research Facility. I developed these resources after spearheading a project to identify producer needs through survey and focus group research.
“[Brett] sets an inclusive tone for our entire group, and provides a lot of social cohesion within the team and in our interactions with other faculty and staff…[He presents] a high standard of ethical behavior and conducting [himself] in a highly professional manner…His leadership of the graduate students and other staff has led to marked improvements in facilities and our capacity as a group…[Brett is] identifying key issues in our organizational structure and infrastructure that are limiting the quality of work that we do, and finding creative and effective solutions for all manners of problems. [His] ability to identify issues, and determine root causes, and apply solutions is impressive.”
- 2013 Year-End Performance Review Comments
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Instructor, University of Kentucky Department of Sociology (2013-2014)
I worked as a Part Time Instructor in the UK Department of Sociology teaching evening courses. I loved helping students perform better in my class, choose their academic path, and understand complex topics that directly affect their lives. This work complements my student service and education experience at the farm. Classroom teaching requires public speaking, facilitation, writing, and one-to-one interpersonal student service. In taking on this challenge, I have found that I have both natural and cultivated skills necessary to serve students effectively.
I worked as a Part Time Instructor in the UK Department of Sociology teaching evening courses. I loved helping students perform better in my class, choose their academic path, and understand complex topics that directly affect their lives. This work complements my student service and education experience at the farm. Classroom teaching requires public speaking, facilitation, writing, and one-to-one interpersonal student service. In taking on this challenge, I have found that I have both natural and cultivated skills necessary to serve students effectively.
"Excellent! I really enjoyed this class and learned a lot about sociology. Easily one of the best classes I have taken at UK."
"I really enjoyed the emphasis on learning in this class rather than the emphasis on grading."
"The style of class material made content easily relatable to real-world scenarios."
"Thoroughly enjoyed the professor and the way he taught the class. Looked forward to coming to class because he made things interesting."
"He’s got a nice beard."
- Student evaluations (2013 & 14)
2010-2012
M.A. Sociology, University of Kentucky Department of Sociology
Research Focus: Meaning from method: An investigation of United States food security measurement tools
Research Assistant, University of Kentucky Department of Sociology
Supervised by Dr. Keiko Tanaka
Co-Authored:
My research focused on agricultural and food related issues including production, distribution, and consumption. I received training in quantitative and qualitative research methods as well as social theory. I prepared and submitted research materials to the Institutional Review Board, assisted in planning 3 national conferences, and travelled to Indonesia to pilot an international education program.
Research Focus: Meaning from method: An investigation of United States food security measurement tools
Research Assistant, University of Kentucky Department of Sociology
Supervised by Dr. Keiko Tanaka
Co-Authored:
- "Food Insecurity and Obesity in Rural America: A Paradox of the Modern Agrifood System" published in Rural America in a Globalizing World (2014)
- "Who's Hungry: Food Security in the United States" published in Understanding Diversity (2014)
My research focused on agricultural and food related issues including production, distribution, and consumption. I received training in quantitative and qualitative research methods as well as social theory. I prepared and submitted research materials to the Institutional Review Board, assisted in planning 3 national conferences, and travelled to Indonesia to pilot an international education program.
2006-2010
B.A. Sociology, University of Kentucky Department of Sociology
Authored:
The Writing on the Stall: Graffiti, Vandalism, and Social Expression published in Kaleidoscope (2010)
Project Supervised by Dr. Cynthia Leedham
B.A. Spanish, University of Kentucky Department of Sociology
German minor
Research Assistant, University of Kentucky Department of Sociology (2010 only)
Supervised by Dr. Keiko Tanaka
Authored:
The Writing on the Stall: Graffiti, Vandalism, and Social Expression published in Kaleidoscope (2010)
Project Supervised by Dr. Cynthia Leedham
B.A. Spanish, University of Kentucky Department of Sociology
German minor
Research Assistant, University of Kentucky Department of Sociology (2010 only)
Supervised by Dr. Keiko Tanaka
2002-2006
H.S. Diploma, St. Xavier High School, Louisville, KY
Customer Service Associate, Pets Galore Pet Shop, Lexington, KY
Customer Service Associate, Pets Galore Pet Shop, Lexington, KY