Success Stories By MajorProgram FY2025Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025
Improving Feeder Calf Management
Author: Nick Roy
Major Program: Beef
In the Fall of 2023, the Adair County Agriculture Advisory Council identified practices to reduce risk as one of their top three priorities for the upcoming plan of work. Activity monitoring systems for cattle have the ability to detect when animals may be experiencing a health event. These technologies can alert farmers of health concerns sooner than they may be able to detect them on their own. In response, the Adair County Cooperative Extension service secured funding thr
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Transforming Beef and Dairy Farming Through Artificial Insemination
Author: Nick Roy
Major Program: Beef
Beef and dairy farming make up a large portion of the agriculture revenue in south central Kentucky. Farmers who adopt artificial insemination in their herds can access the best genetics in the world and improve cattle production while also decreasing injuries to employees often associated with running a herd bull. In July of 2024, the Adair Count Cooperative Extension Service collaborated with a local AI cooperative to teach producers how to AI cattle. The artificial insemina
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Beef Quality Care to Stand the Test of Time
Author: Tyler Miller
Major Program: Beef
Describe the Issue or Situation.Kentucky is the largest beef cattle producing state east of the mississippi river and Lincoln County is the fith largest beef producing county in KY. That means one thing, we have a lot of beef cattle producers and those producers need certain trainings. Thats where i step in. I held a BQCA training for those beef producers that were in need. I worked with the local livestock market and utilized their facilties and cattle they had on hand so we could offer a hands
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Cattlemen's Annual Meeting Educational Program
Author: Matthew Chadwick
Major Program: Beef
Issue or SituationDuring previous educational meetings, capacity limitations of the extension meeting space created an uncomfortable environment for participants, with overcrowded seating and poor conditions for effective learning. This restricted interaction and reduced the overall quality of the educational experience, making it difficult for attendees to engage fully with the material.Outreach or Educational Program ResponseTo address the issue of overcrowding and improve the learning environ
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2024 Missouri Beef Production Tour
Author: John Tucker
Major Program: Beef
In Hickman County, cattle and calves accounted for 464 ($1,000) in sales according to the 2022 Census of Agriculture. ANR Agent John David Tucker, in partnership with the Purchase Area Cattlemen’s Association, took a trip to Southwest Missouri for a Beef Production tour. Five members/producers (5=male) were able to attend the auction at Joplin Regional Stockyard, visit with beef producers and stocker operations around Mount Vernon, Missouri, tour the Southwest Region Extension
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Campbell County Youth Learn the Importance of Agriculture at “Grow it, Eat it, Wear it”
Author: Michelle Simon
Major Program: Beef
Campbell County, Kentucky was once known for the numerous dairy cattle farms and rural living. In recent years, the economy has grown and so has the population causing the number of farms to decrease as they are developed into residential areas. One consequence of this growth and development is the number of citizens that reside in urban communities and are separated from the rural part of the county. This separation has led to a lack of understanding about agriculture and how important it is in
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Tri-County Beef Quality and Care Assurance Chute Side Training
Author: Taylor Graves
Major Program: Beef
According to the latest Agriculture Census (2017), Washington County has over 43,000 cows and calves. This makes hosting a yearly Beef Quality and Care Assurance training necessary for our area. Normally, ANR agents host trainings at the office, play the videos created by University of Kentucky beef specialists and then administer the required tests for each module. To offer a more interactive and new experience for producers the Marion, Nelson, and Washington County ANR agents teamed up to host
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Cattlemen's Association
Author: Kennedy Cannon
Major Program: Beef
Livestock production is prominent in Lewis County. According to the 2022 Agriculture Census there are over 9,000 cattle raised here in Lewis County ranking us 68th in the State. The Lewis County Cattlemen’s Association is a group of dedicated livestock producers that not only promote livestock production but are civic leaders in our community.Quarterly educational components are planned by the executive committee and the Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent. The recent speakers have bee
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Making the Most of this Year's Hay Crop
Author: Regina Utz
Major Program: Beef
Describe the Issue or Situation.This year, we had a wet spring which resulted in farmers taking longer to get out into the fields to harvest their first hay crop. Or they went to harvest and their hay crop was rained on. Then the summer progressed into being hot and extremely dry, lacking in hay field forage growth. Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).Trimble County Extension worked with Dr. Katie VanValin from the UK Beef Extension team to br
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Cattle Watering Systems Field Day
Author: Megan Wetenkamp
Major Program: Beef
Henry County, Kentucky is home to around 23,000 beef animals. The efforts of Henry County Agriculture Extension has successfully shifted focus to reflect the high number of beef operations. Henry County producers have shown a great interest in practical educational opportunity. This is demonstrated by the surprisingly high participation in summer field days. For the past three years, the Henry County Extension Office and Henry County Cattlemen’s Association have partnered on a June field d
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Bale Grazing with Cattle
Author: Lane Hall
Major Program: Beef
Imagine a hay feeding system where you did not have to use a tractor for months at a time and that allowed you to build up pasture fertility without applying commercial fertilizer. What if this same system also kept your cattle clean during the winter without coats caked in mud and manure, allowed you to creep graze fall-born calves, and built up the organic matter levels in your pasture soils. As far-fetched as this may sound, all these benefits are possible with an innovative winter-feeding te
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Wilderness Trail Area Bull Evaluation Program
Author: David Coffey
Major Program: Beef
Wilderness Trail Area Bull Evaluation Program The Wilderness Trail Area ANR agents developed a series of hands-on beef programs over the last year, including marketing, predator control, reproduction, and beef quality assurance. The most recent program was a collaboration between specialists and agents called the Bull Value Assessment Program. This is a two-week program where producers learn how to read EPDs of bulls and apply them to real-world situations in the first week. &nb
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Regional Beef Field Day
Author: Corinne Belton
Major Program: Beef
Educating local beef producers is a high priority in Shelby County. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, Shelby County sales of cattle/calves accounted for more than $10 million in annual sales, emphasizing the need for beef producers to take herd management and breeding decisions seriously. Field days serve to educate cattlemen regarding important production principles while demonstrating practices in a practical, on-farm setting. With these facts in mind, Agricult
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Wilderness Trail Area Bull Value Assessment Program
Author: Stacy White
Major Program: Beef
Wilderness Trail Area Bull Value Assessment Program The Wilderness Trail Area ANR agents developed a series of hands-on beef programs over the last year, including marketing, predator control, reproduction, and beef quality assurance. The most recent program was a collaboration between specialists and agents called the Bull Value Assessment Program. This was a two-week program where producers learned how to read bull EPDs and apply them to real-world situations. They
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Veterinary Pop-Up Clinic Continue to Improve Bullitt County Cattle Herd
Author: Nathan Rider
Major Program: Beef
Across Kentucky, limited access to large animal veterinarians has posed a significant challenge for livestock farmers. The few large animal veterinarians providing services in the Bullitt County area have limited time or longer travel distances and charge higher fees. To help reduce the cost and burden of finding a quality veterinarian, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service in Bullitt County partnered with Jewett Borden’s Cedar Creek Beef Company to establish a recu
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Wilderness Trail Area Bull Evaluation Program
Author: William Adkins
Major Program: Beef
The Wilderness Trail Area ANR agents developed a series of hands-on beef programs over the last year, including marketing, predator control, reproduction, and beef quality assurance. The most recent program was a collaboration between specialists and agents called the Bull Value Assessment Program. This is a two-week program where producers learn how to read EPDs of bulls and apply them to real-world situations in the first week. In the second week, they are given a cattle management scenario an
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Heat Stress Management in Livestock
Author: Kendal Bowman
Major Program: Beef
On August 21st, I hosted a Brunch & Learn session on "Heat Stress Management in Livestock" at the local stockyard. With around 20 attendees, the program aimed to equip farmers with practical strategies to manage their livestock during extreme heat events. Participants learned about the signs of heat stress, effective cooling techniques, and ways to adjust management practices to protect their animals.The timing of this session proved to be critical. The following week, temperatures
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WTA Bull Value Assesment Program
Author: Garrard Coffey
Major Program: Beef
The Wilderness Trail Area ANR agents developed a series of hands-on beef programs over the last year, including marketing, predator control, reproduction, and beef quality assurance. The most recent program was a collaboration between specialists and agents called the Bull Value Assessment Program. This is a two-week program where producers learn how to read EPDs of bulls and apply them to real-world situations in the first week. In the second week, they are given a cattle mana
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Group Purchasing Mineral Program
Author: Glen Roberts
Major Program: Beef
Collaborators: UK Beef IRM Nutrition Specialists, KY Farm Bureau Federation, Wayne County Farm Bureau Federation, ANR Agent Glen Roberts, KSU Small Farm Assistant, and Wayne County Cattlemen`s Association mineral committeeSituation: After attending Master Cattlemen and other beef nutrition educational sessions taught by University of KY Beef nutrition specialists Wayne County Cattlemen became aware of the need to purchase better minerals for their cowherds. They also learned that they could save
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Tri County Beef Quality and Assurance
Author: Robert Smith
Major Program: Beef
According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, Nelson County remains a top 20 producer of cattle in the state of Kentucky with more than 43,000 head and an annual sale of more than $20,000,000. This equals 25% of the total sales of agricultural products for Nelson County. As can be seen from the numbers presented, cattle represent a significant part of our agriculture economy. Therefore, it is of the utmost importance that we produce a high-quality animal for the food chain. &n
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Wilderness Trail Area Bull Evaluation Program
Author: Victor Williams
Major Program: Beef
The Wilderness Trail Area ANR agents developed a series of hands-on beef programs over the last year, including marketing, predator control, reproduction, and beef quality assurance. The most recent program was a collaboration between specialists and agents called the Bull Value Assessment Program. This is a two-week program where producers learn how to read EPDs of bulls and apply them to real-world situations in the first week. In the second week, they are given a cattle mana
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Back to Basics Beef Program in Lyon County
Author: Jay Stone
Major Program: Beef
The UK Extension Back to Basics Beef Production program was initiated to support and guide beef producers in implementing fundamental practices to improve production efficiency and profitability. The program focuses on educating producers about key aspects of beef production, including nutrition, genetics, health, and management. This program is being offered regionally Statewide and is supported in part by funding provided by the Kentucky Department of Ag Policy. Since the program's la
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Bull Evaluation Program
Author: Steven Mobley
Major Program: Beef
Wilderness Trail Area Bull Evaluation Program The Wilderness Trail Area ANR agents developed a series of hands-on beef programs over the last year, including marketing, predator control, reproduction, and beef quality assurance. The most recent program was a collaboration between specialists and agents called the Bull Value Assessment Program. This is a two-week program where producers learn how to read EPDs of bulls and apply them to real-world situations in the first week. &nb
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2025 Artifical Insemination PRactices
Author: Evan Tate
Major Program: Beef
Each year Kentucky Cattle Producers strive to further their cowherd genetics. The Kentucky Cost- share program and other university programs have allowed producers the financial help to adopt new practices. Artificial Insemination is a practice that is now readily available for producers to utilize.The Hancock County Cooperative Extension Service provides guidance and assistance to beef producers each year to conduct artificial insemination programs on their farm. This hands on progr
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Lake Cumberland Area Cattle A.I./Pregnancy Check Schools
Author: Tracie Goodman
Major Program: Beef
Describe the Issue or SituationIn rural areas of Kentucky, farmers face significant challenges in managing cattle reproduction. Limited access to large animal veterinarians and veterinary supplies hinders the ability to utilize modern reproductive technologies, such as artificial insemination (A.I.) and on-site pregnancy checks. Many farmers are constrained by time and financial resources, making implementing these essential practices that could improve herd productivity and overall farm profita
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Lake Cumberland Cattle Reproduction Series
Author: Kelsey Marcum
Major Program: Beef
Describe the Issue or SituationIn rural areas of Kentucky, farmers face significant challenges in managing cattle reproduction. Limited access to large animal veterinarians and veterinary supplies hinders the ability to utilize modern reproductive technologies, such as artificial insemination (A.I.) and on-site pregnancy checks. Many farmers are constrained by time and financial resources, making implementing these essential practices that could improve herd productivity and overall farm profita
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Raising the Steaks
Author: Matthew Futrell
Major Program: Beef
The Covid 19 pandemic showed us that food security could easily become an issue in the United States. With layoffs and shutdowns, we rapidly saw the grocery store shelves become bare. This was increasingly true at the meat counter. More often than not when approaching the meat counter at your local grocer you would find empty shelves. This led to an increased demand for local meat products. The result of the heightened demand for local meat products has led to more
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Ballards Back to Basics
Author: Robert Smith
Major Program: Beef
Most farmers have a lot on their plates, including full time jobs, and management can be a reaction versus a plan. The "Back to Basics Beef Program' is a Specialist lead program aimed at hitting the reset button on the cattle operation. Once a thorough evaluation of the land, feed stuffs, record keeping and herd are compiled by a team of specialist, the reset button can then be reset. This is begun by identifying the positives of the operation and identifying where imp
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Enhancing Opportunities for Calloway County Cattle Producers
Author: Matthew Chadwick
Major Program: Beef
Describe the Issue or SituationTraditionally, Kentucky's cattle industry has been predominantly focused on the cow-calf sector, a capital-intensive enterprise with the longest return on investment (ROI) period among mainstream agricultural ventures. This presents significant challenges for young producers, typically under the age of 45, attempting to establish themselves in the industry. Financial barriers, coupled with the slow ROI, often discourage entry and sustainability for new producer
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West 8 Master Cattlemen 2024
Author: Christopher Schalk
Major Program: Beef
Describe the Issue or Situation.According to the 2023 state Agriculture overview published by the National Agriculture Statistics Service, Kentucky is home to over 1.8 million head of cows and calves. This sector of the Ag industry in Kentucky is responsible for $1.08 Billion in Agriculture Revenue, according to the 2022 Ag statistics. Recently, livestock prices are trending very well for producers, which in turn is driving the desire to produce a better, more efficient product. &nbs
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Master Cattlemen Program
Author: Timothy Estes
Major Program: Beef
Describe the Issue or Situation.According to the 2023 state Agriculture overview published by the National Agriculture Statistics Service, Kentucky is home to over 1.8 million head of cows and calves. This sector of the Ag industry in Kentucky is responsible for $1.08 Billion in Agriculture Revenue, according to the 2022 Ag statistics. Recently, livestock prices are trending very well for producers, which in turn is driving the desire to produce a better, more efficient product. &nbs
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Lake Cumberland Area Cattle A.I./Pregnancy Check Schools
Author: Jonathan Oakes
Major Program: Beef
In rural areas of Kentucky, farmers face significant challenges in managing cattle reproduction. Limited access to large animal veterinarians and veterinary supplies hinders the ability to utilize modern reproductive technologies, such as artificial insemination (A.I.) and on-site pregnancy checks. Many farmers are constrained by time and financial resources, making implementing these essential practices that could improve herd productivity and overall farm profitability difficult. The lack of t
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Campbell County Herd Health Update Saves Farmers from Costly Mistake
Author: Michelle Simon
Major Program: Beef
Campbell County farmers have been challenged with the task of finding a large animal veterinarian for the last fifteen years when the last large animal vet practice closed. This has created even more challenges than farmers already face from unpredictable weather and economic changes, including but not limited to lack of access to antibiotics, emergency veterinary care and preventative health recommendations.In response to this issue, Campbell County ANR Agent collaborated with the Campbell Coun
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Master Cattlemen
Author: Gary Bell
Major Program: Beef
According to the 2023 state Agriculture overview published by the National Agriculture Statistics Service, Kentucky is home to over 1.8 million head of cows and calves. This sector of the Ag industry in Kentucky is responsible for $1.08 Billion in Agriculture Revenue, according to the 2022 Ag statistics. Recently, livestock prices are trending very well for producers, which in turn is driving the desire to produce a better, more efficient product. Agriculture Agents
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Master Cattlemen for West Regional Zone 8
Author: Jacob Hall
Major Program: Beef
Describe the Issue or Situation.According to the 2023 state Agriculture overview published by the National Agriculture Statistics Service, Kentucky is home to over 1.8 million head of cows and calves. This sector of the Ag industry in Kentucky is responsible for $1.08 Billion in Agriculture Revenue, according to the 2022 Ag statistics. Recently, livestock prices are trending very well for producers, which in turn is driving the desire to produce a better, more efficient product. Agriculture Agen
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Master Cattleman Participants Report Production Practice Changes
Author: Rebecca Konopka
Major Program: Beef
Describe the Issue or Situation.It’s a well-known fact that Kentucky is the largest cattle producing state east of the Mississippi River. The 2022 Census of Agriculture reported that Carter County had over $2.7 million in cattle sales annually. Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).The intensive educational program Master Cattleman aims to empower beef cattle producers with the knowledge and skills they need to thrive in this
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Master Cattlemen for West 8 Farmers.
Author: Tyler London
Major Program: Beef
Describe the Issue or Situation.According to the 2023 state Agriculture overview published by the National Agriculture Statistics Service, Kentucky is home to over 1.8 million head of cows and calves. This sector of the Ag industry in Kentucky is responsible for $1.08 Billion in Agriculture Revenue, according to the 2022 Ag statistics. Recently, livestock prices are trending very well for producers, which in turn is driving the desire to produce a better, more efficient product. Agriculture Agen
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Beef Quality and Care Assurance (BQCA) Certification for High School Students
Author: Kendal Bowman
Major Program: Beef
Describe the Issue or SituationIn an era where consumer confidence in agricultural products hinges on transparency and best practices, training future agricultural professionals in Beef Quality and Care Assurance (BQCA) is critical. BQCA certification equips students with the knowledge and skills necessary to improve the quality, safety, and marketability of beef while fostering responsible cattle handling and care. For high school agriculture students, obtaining this certification also enhances
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Multi-County Bull Value Assessment Program
Author: Gracey Moffitt
Major Program: Beef
Describe the Issue or Situation.For a beef producer, their income is dependent on the livestock that they raise. So, if the cattle that they purchase at the local auction doesn't end up fitting their operation type or objectives, then they are at more of a loss. To mitigate these issues before buying a bull or heifer, there have been tools developed through research to help accurately select livestock for your operation. This idea of using selection tools is still relatively new to many farm
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Wilderness Trail Area Bull Evaluation Program
Author: Robert Kirby
Major Program: Beef
The Wilderness Trail Area ANR agents developed a series of hands-on beef programs over the last year, including marketing, predator control, reproduction, and beef quality assurance. The most recent program was a collaboration between specialists and agents called the Bull Value Assessment Program. This is a two-week program where producers learn how to read EPDs of bulls and apply them to real-world situations in the first week. In the second week, they are given a cattle mana
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Beef Production Field Day
Author: Colby Guffey
Major Program: Beef
Describe the Issue or Situation.A Beef field day was scheduled for local producers on the topics of cow size as it relates to cow efficiency and herd health as indicated by producer calls and questions throughout the year. Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).In collaboration with Clinton County Extension Service and the Twin Lakes Cattle Association a beef field day was held at the Springhaven Farms in Albany.The beef production field day on t
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Interpreting EPDs and Making Genetic Decisions in Beef Cattle
Author: Allison Tucker
Major Program: Beef
Genetics are critical in a herd, along with other factors such as environment and nutrition. Making genetic decisions, such as determining which bulls to breed to the females, which heifers to keep as replacements, and which cows to cull are all genetic decisions that will impact the overall health and quality of your herd.This past fall I got to work with a producer in the county via farm visits and phone calls to help them navigate how to improve their herd through looking at different expecte
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Beef Production
Author: Ricky Arnett
Major Program: Beef
Describe the Issue or Situation.Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience.Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach.
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Cattlemen's Educational Beef Tour
Author: Andy Mills
Major Program: Beef
Describe the Issue or Situation.The Meade County Cattlemen's Association ask this ANR agent to help them plan a 3 day educational tour centered around beef cattle production. After having a discussion with the educational trip committee, it was decided to travel south in November when most of the grain harvest was complete and just prior to breeding season for fall calving cow calf producers. From other people experiences, 2 places a farm and a town, were the center of the tour.
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Cattlemen's Meeting/CAIP training
Author: Jessica James
Major Program: Beef
There was a need in the county for educational hours for CAIP (County Agriculture Improvement Program) applications. It is required that applicants receive educational hours to apply for Cost Share. This educational program covered topics in the beef industry including cattle handling and how to raise cattle in small confinement operations. Two different UK beef specialists discussed these topics with producers. This program was well attended and a lot of questions were asked by producers. The t
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Bull Evaluation success
Author: Adam Barnes
Major Program: Beef
Success Story: Bull Evaluation Series Empowers Livingston County FarmersLivingston County, located in western Kentucky, is home to a thriving agricultural community where cattle farming plays a vital role in the local economy. Recognizing the need for enhanced skills in bull evaluation, Livingston County ANR partnered with neighboring counties—McCracken, Marshall, Graves, and Calloway—to host a two-night Bull Evaluation Series. State specialists Dr. Darrh Bullock and Dr. Katie VanVal
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