Whole-Farm Education in Kentucky.

The Berry Center Farm & Forest Institute offers farmers an education in agrarian thought and practice. We provide affordable workshops, short-courses, and field days that accommodate busy lives. Hands-on classes focus on:

  • Livestock on grass production

  • Low-impact forestry

  • Cooperative economics, thought, and rural leadership

As one of the four branches of The Berry Center, our Kentucky-based program applies Wendell Berry’s writing to learning. It serves early career and experienced farmers, generational farm families, woodland owners, and rural community members.

Why are we offering these opportunities? We want to keep farmers on the land. We want to help more farmers experience what Wes Jackson calls, “an education in homecoming,” so they can stay home or return home or dig in and make a home somewhere.

Learn more…

            About the Institute

            Courses and Workshops

            FAQ

Berry Center Journal, Vol. 7, Fall 2024

Berry Center Newsletter, Spring & Summer 2025

two black cows with ear tags stand in a field beside a round bale; a clear blue sky is behind them
Photo by Ben Aguilar. 4 people in orange woodland protective gear (hardhats with ear muffs and movable visors, kelvar chaps, and gloves) are gathered around a recently felled tree to examine the chainsaw cuts on the stump
A group of 10 people stand on the bank of the Kentucky River. Closest to the river, a woman with her back to the water, reads from a book. The others face the water, some sitting and some standing, and listen.
Photo by Ben Aguilar. A tractor with a front loader is in the distant horizon. A man with a hard hat stands next to the tractor. The sky is cloudy, and it is foggy.
Photo by Ben Aguilar. Two grey percheron horses in harnesses are guided by two women, one with the horse on the left and one with the horse on the right. A man standing in foreground between the two horses smiles at the camera.
photo by Ben Aguilar. A person holds a cell phone that displays a black and white photo of several people standing. There are papers and books behind the cell phone.
Photo by Ben Aguilar. People walking in an open field, woodlands are in the background against a blue sky with some white clouds
A woman in woodland safety gear holds a chainsaw against the limb of a felled tree and assesses the next cut
photo by Ben Aguilar. From foreground to background, two young people use axes to hew a log; furthest back, a younger fellow has his hands in his pockets and watches the work.
photo by Ben Aguilar. Two people work on chainsaw blade sharpening. Another man is standing next to the work bench and instructs them in their task

Woodland Workshop Series

Workshop dates, details, and registration for Fall 2025 coming soon!

Draft Horse Series

Workshop dates, details, and registration returning Winter/Spring 2026!

Cooperative Economics, Thought, and Rural Leadership Series

Reading in Place “A Good Scythe”: Traditional Hay Making. Registration now open! (course full; waitlist option)

Write Your Rural Story

2024 Participant Essay, submitted by Darlene Hawkins Tipton

Future Educational Opportunities

Livestock and Pasture Management

Farm & Forest Institute T-Shirts

Head over to The Bookstore at The Berry Center for an FFI T.