Success Stories By MajorProgram FY2025Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025
Small Ruminant Boot Camp
Author: Hunter Carroll
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
On Saturday June 1, 2024 the Wolfe County Extension Office hosted a regional Small Ruminant Boot Camp for sheep and goat producers. Participants traveled from as far as Grant County on the North, as far south as McCreary County and as far Southeast as Knott County. Ms. Kelly Yates from the Sheep and Goat Producers Association coordinated the event with the Wolfe County Extension Office and Dr. Ken Andries presented the information. Sheep were provided by the Jackson County FFA, brought by Hunter
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Moving From the Past to the Future Field Day
Author: Gregory Drake
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Increased prices have recently caused some enthusiasm in beef cattle markets. Producers are looking to improve their management practices and boos profitability. This year’s weather pattern caused difficulty getting crop protection chemicals applied in a timely manner. Several farmers turned to drone operators for chemical application. A field day was planned to address these diverse topics and more. A large percentage of Butler County’s 150,000 acres of
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2024 Ag field day
Author: Robert Amburgey
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Describe the Issue or Situation.As margins continue to tighten on farm enterprises, it becomes even more important to adopt new technologies and participate in programs that help farmers improve efficiency and improve on-farm profitability. Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).Extension and NRCS provide technical expertise to assist farmers to become more efficient in their farm enterprises which can lead to an increase in overall profitabilit
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AG Field Day
Author: Andy Mills
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Describe the Issue or Situation.Farmers and landowners need to continually be shown proven land management practices for the health of livestock, forages, grain crops, and the soil. New innovative technology and practices that research has shown to work needs to be presented in an unbiased manner so that individuals can make good proper decisions.Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable).University of Kentucky specialist were secured for presentations af
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Improving Reproduction of the Beef Herd Through Proper Nutrition
Author: Roger "Darrell" Simpson
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Describe the Issue or Situation. Increasing conception rates and ultimately the number of calves born and sold is needed to increase the profit for beef cattle farmers.Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable). An educational program was held to educate producers regarding proper nutrition for replacement heifers and mature cows regarding the nutritional plane needed for conception and calving.Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/T
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Legacy Luncheon Program
Author: Brittany Brewer
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
As the average age of farmers continues to increase more families are faced with the struggle of estate planning. Families in Scott County have expressed wanting to learn more about estate and succession planning to better prepared them and their families for it. To combat this issues Scott County ANR Agent partnered with Elder Caw Law of Kentucky. Together they constructed a program that encompassed 4 separate programs. These programs would be monthly from September to December. Each progr
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2024 Annual Farm Field Day
Author: Lindsay Arthur
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
On September 24th, the annual Farm Field Day at Resting Acres Angus in North Middletown, Kentucky, proved to be a tremendous success, despite the looming threat of Hurricane Helene. The event, attended by over 90 people, demonstrated the resilience and dedication of the local farming community and showcased the strength of partnerships between agricultural experts and healthcare providers.Participants enjoyed an educational tour of the farm led by experts in the field. Dr. Jimmy Henning, a Unive
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Cumberland County Ag Safety Day
Author: Chelsey Anderson
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Cumberland County is a rural county in south central Kentucky with the Cumberland River flowing through and Dale Hollow Lake on the southern border. Students in the county have a lot of access to water whether it be a river, lake, creek, or pond. In 2023, the ANR agent applied to the Progressive Agriculture Foundation to host a safety day in 2024 and it was awarded. The event was held on October 3, 2024 at the Burkesville Baptist Church for fourth and fifth grade students. Students were able to
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Helping Young Farmers Succeed on the Farm
Author: Linda Hieneman
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture the number of Kentucky farms has dropped by 6,500. With there being far fewer small farms which are under 180 acres. Farm shortage can be related to fewer young families continuing to farm. The land is then sold and purchased for development.It is a struggle to be a young farmer in the state of Kentucky. The cost to purchase and operate a family farm is extremely expensive to due the rising cost of land prices. Not to me
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Farmer's Heart Health/Farm Field Day
Author: Karen Denniston
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
On September 24th, the annual Farm Field Day at Resting Acres Angus in North Middletown, Kentucky, proved to be a tremendous success, despite the looming threat of Hurricane Helene. The event, attended by over 90 people, demonstrated the resilience and dedication of the local farming community and showcased the strength of partnerships between agricultural experts and healthcare providers.Participants enjoyed an educational tour of the farm led by experts in the field. Dr. Jimmy Henning, a Unive
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Todd County Farmer Outreach
Author: Traci Johnson
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Todd County is home to many types of agriculture enterprises. According to the 2022 Census of Agriculture, crop and livestock sales are nearly equal, with marketed crop value at 124 million dollars and marketed livestock value at 100 million dollars. Top enterprises include grain crops, tobacco, poultry and eggs, cattle and milk, vegetables, and nursery/greenhouse crops. Strengthening the local food and agriculture industry is one of the top three issues identified in Universit
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2024 Jessamine County Agriculture Tour Highlights the Diversity and Vitality of Jessamine County Agriculture
Author: Steven Musen
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Members of the Jessamine County Extension Agriculture Advisory Council has identified the need to conduct and Agriculture Tour of Jessamine County to highlight the diversity and vitality of Jessamine County Agriculture. Plans for the proposed Agriculture Tour were presented to the Jessamine County Farm bureau Bord, who voted to contribute $1,700 to help cover the cost of bus transportation, and to Central Kentucky Ag. Credit, who offered to cover the cost of participants' lunch. On Sept
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Extension Minute
Author: Carol Hinton
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Describe the Issue or Situation. Breckinridge County is a vast county in area, occupations and lifestyles. We reach clients in numerous avenues, but improvements can always be made. This became apparent when recruiting individuals for Annie’s Project. The program brought in families that were not on our mailing lists, approximately 25% of the participants had not visited the Extension Service. Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Respo
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PLAN - Preparing to Leave Assets for the Next generation
Author: Daniel Carpenter
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Describe the Issue or Situation. The top two priorities listed in the Hardin County assessment survey were "sustainability of family farms" and "preserving/managing agricultural land". Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable). Promotion of the program was shared mostly through newspaper articles and social media. Flyers were put up at local farm stores in various parts of the county. Information about the program was also shared
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Lake Cumberland Area Cattle A.I./Pregnancy Check Schools
Author: Trent Adkins
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
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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Farm School For Women
Author: April Wilhoit
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
The Farm School For Women program is an annual program hosted by the Buffalo Trace County area Cooperative Extension Offices, consisting of Bracken, Fleming, Lewis, Mason, and Robertson Counties. The program addresses agriculture/farm topics that are of expressed interest by the group or realized topic of interest based upon the issues of the year. The 2024 topics included: Beekeeping 101, with a hands-on activity of making candles and Chapstick with beeswax; Pond Management; P
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Will & Heirship Clinic
Author: Chad Allen
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Transformative Will & Heirship Clinic Empowers Eastern Kentucky ResidentsThis fall, a transformative opportunity came to Floyd County, Kentucky, at the Floyd County Extension Service, in collaboration with LIKEN's Land & Revenues Program and the Kentucky State University Community Development Office, hosted a free Will & Heirship Clinic at the Floyd County Extension Office. The event provided local residents with a chance to sit down with experienced attorneys and draft or revise
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Farm School For Women
Author: Kennedy Cannon
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
The Farm School For Women program is an annual program hosted by the Buffalo Trace County area Cooperative Extension Offices, consisting of Bracken, Fleming, Lewis, Mason, and Robertson Counties. The program addresses agriculture/farm topics that are of expressed interest by the group or realized topic of interest based upon the issues of the year. The 2024 topics included: Beekeeping 101, with a hands-on activity of making candles and Chapstick with beeswax; Pond Management; P
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Farm School for Women 2024
Author: Samantha Saunders
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
The Farm School For Women program is an annual program hosted by the Buffalo Trace County area Cooperative Extension Offices, consisting of Bracken, Fleming, Lewis, Mason, and Robertson Counties. The program addresses agriculture/farm topics that are of expressed interest by the group or realized topic of interest based upon the issues of the year. The 2024 topics included: Beekeeping 101, with a hands-on activity of making candles and Chapstick with beeswax; Pond Management; P
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Securing Kentucky’s Agricultural Future: Farm Management and Succession Planning
Author: Kendal Bowman
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Describe the Issue or SituationOver the last 20 years, Kentucky has faced a significant decline in farmland and farming operations, losing 1.4 million acres of farmland and seeing the number of farms drop by 17,000. In 2002, Kentucky had 86,541 farms; by 2022, this number had decreased to just 69,425. These trends present critical challenges to the sustainability of agriculture in Kentucky, highlighting the urgent need for solutions to preserve farming operations and support farm families.Descri
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Master Cattleman Success
Author: Linda Hieneman
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
According to the 2022 National Beef Audit, large improvements in quality assurance of Beef Cattle since the previous beef audit. However, there are still lost opportunities in marketing cows and bulls which are the foundation of the herd. The audit lists areas of improvement to help sustain the cattle industry which include managing cattle to minimize defects, observing the overall health of cattle and marketing cattle in a timely manner. The extension agents in Boyd, Carter, Gr
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Rockcastle County Agriculture Fall Field Day
Author: Garrard Coffey
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
The recent Fall Field Day event, a collaboration between Rockcastle Extension, Conservation, Farm Bureau and USDA office, proved to be a resounding success, leaving a significant impact on participants and advancing sustainable practices in beef cattle management and soil conservation. With 78 attendees, the event facilitated the exchange of knowledge and practical skills essential for enhancing agricultural sustainability. One notable achievement of the day was the Beef Quality Assu
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New & Small-Scale Farmers Learn Startup Skills
Author: Brian Jeffiers
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
More and more individuals and families are choosing to venture into agriculture for self-sufficiency and/or income. Because many of these new farmers have little or no experience, they often reach out to Extension for assistance. To meet the needs of this population, ANR agents from ten counties hosted the Beginning and Small Farmer Conference. The Johnson County ANR agent opened the day with a presentation on the basics of getting started with a farm. These included mapping and measuring t
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Phase I Money's
Author: Ricky Arnett
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Describe the Issue or Situation.Phase I funding continues to play an integral part of the agriculture of Green County. The Green County Agricultural Development Board helped to administer over $300,000 to the agriculture producers of Green County.The council funded producers with the C.A.I.P. program that included: genetics, fencing, on farm water development, cattle handling, hay storage, diversification, technology, dairy diversification, and forage improvement. Several different educational o
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Laurel County Farm Tour 2024: Bridging the Knowledge Gap in Laurel County Farming Enterprises
Author: Victor Williams
Major Program: Farm Management, Economics and Policy
Laurel County Farm Tour 2024Bridging the Knowledge Gap in Laurel County Farming EnterprisesIn Laurel County, a growing interest in agriculture and horticulture was met with a significant challenge: a lack of public knowledge about the day-to-day operations of local farming enterprises. Residents were curious about where their food and agricultural products came from, but opportunities to connect with local farms and gain firsthand insight were scarce.To address this gap, the Laurel County Extens
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