UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1707
Page 1 of 2
XXXX 1/24/2024 8:59 AM Jacketed
A RESOLUTION honoring Dr. Marion Simon upon the occasion of her retirement. 1
WHEREAS, Dr. Marion Simon retired in September 2023 after a career as a state 2
specialist for small and part-time farmers from 1984 to 2023. During that time, she held 3
professorial and administrative roles at Kentucky State University; and 4
WHEREAS, Dr. Simon consistently aspired to secure agriculture funding for the 5
training of Kentucky State University employees and farmers. Well-known for her skill at 6
writing and obtaining grants, Dr. Simon was involved in securing about 300 grants 7
totaling several million dollars for Kentucky State University's Land Grant Program and 8
the small farmers it serves; and 9
WHEREAS, one of Dr. Simon's greatest achievements was establishing the Third 10
Thursday Thing program, a monthly sustainable agriculture workshop which began in 11
1997. Still active, the workshop's goal is to improve the sustainability of agriculture on 12
Kentucky’s small and limited-resource farms, as well as its female and minority-owned 13
farms. While originally started as a training program for extension agents, the program 14
quickly gained popularity and expanded to educate other members of the community; and 15
WHEREAS, Dr. Simon was instrumental in beef cattle workshops hosted 16
throughout the year and at the Small, Limited-Resource, Minority Farmers Conference 17
hosted annually by Kentucky State University; and 18
WHEREAS, Dr. Simon earned many professional awards and recognitions at the 19
state and national level. In 2013, she received the 1890 Excellence in Extension Award 20
from the Association of Public and Land-Grant Universities. She was then awarded the 21
Mack Whitaker Outstanding Service Award for a State Level Career Professional in the 22
Kentucky Extension System in 2017. She also received the Agricultural Heritage Award 23
at Kentucky State University’s 2022 Heritage Assembly. Dr. Simon has also been 24
honored by the United States Department of Agriculture on several occasions; and 25
WHEREAS, Dr. Simon retired in September 2023 after nearly 40 years of service 26
to Kentucky State University and small farmers across Kentucky; and 27 UNOFFICIAL COPY 24 RS BR 1707
Page 2 of 2
XXXX 1/24/2024 8:59 AM Jacketed
WHEREAS, Dr. Simon's service to the agriculture community and her lasting 1
impact on Kentucky State University are worthy of public recognition and acclaim; 2
NOW, THEREFORE, 3
Be it resolved by the Senate of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of 4
Kentucky: 5
Section 1. The members of the Senate join Senator Reginald Thomas in 6
applauding the accomplishments of Kentucky State University's Dr. Marion Simon for 7
her nearly 40-year career with the university and the agriculture community, 8
congratulating her on her retirement, and wishing her good fortune in all future 9
endeavors. 10
Section 2. The Clerk of the Senate shall transmit a copy of this Resolution to 11
Senator Reginald Thomas for presentation to Dr. Marion Simon. 12