Kentucky State Students Shine at 2026 SRSA Conference

By Blake Jackson

Researchers and students from Kentucky State University earned recognition during the 57th Annual Meeting of the Southern Rural Sociological Association (SRSA), held Feb. 1-2, 2026, in Louisville.

The conference, organized around the theme “Distilling Change: Rural Roots & River Currents in the New South,” gathered scholars and practitioners to discuss rural social issues, outreach, and Extension initiatives.

The Kentucky State delegation presented a total of 21 research contributions, including 13 session presentations and eight poster presentations.

The work highlighted both student and faculty research addressing topics such as regenerative agriculture, crop productivity, dairy production, access to capital, farmers markets, heirs’ property, and skin cancer awareness among rural farmers.

Student research played a major role in the university’s presence at the meeting. Undergraduate Sienna Stewart presented a study titled “Assessing the Influence of Farming Experience on Farmers’ Resilience to Weather-Induced Damages in the Caribbean.”

Graduate student Martha Ibans shared research on “The Economic Feasibility of Dairy Production for Small-Scale Farmers in Kentucky.”

Faculty and staff from the university’s College of Agriculture, Health, and Natural Resources also participated, demonstrating the institution’s growing impact in agricultural research, education, and rural policy discussions.

Kentucky State University had the highest number of student presenters, which was acknowledged at the SRSA General Business Board meeting and at the Presidential Luncheon, among institutions including the University of Kentucky, North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Oklahoma State University, and Louisiana State University," said Dr. Sait Sarr, senior research scientist.

"This achievement would not have been possible without the full commitment of our students, staff, and faculty, and the dedicated support of Dr. Gyawali through his encouragement and sponsorship with his NextGen project.”

One graduate student added, “I was so excited. This meeting not only gave me the opportunity to present my work on the dairy industry in Kentucky, but also better prepared me for doctoral study by connecting me with stakeholders in my area of interest who were willing to discuss opportunities after graduation from Kentucky State University’s MEST graduate program.”

Photo Credit: kentucky-state-university