Success Stories - Kentucky Extension Reporting System

Close Resources

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Cooperative Extension Service

Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment

Impacts

Craig Wood, Ph.D
Acting Associate Dean & Director
UK Cooperative Extension Service

S-107 Ag. Science Center North Lexington, KY 40546-0091

+1 (859) 257-4302

craig.wood@uky.edu

Fiscal Year: 2025

2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
2024
2025

Jul 1, 2024 - Jun 30, 2025

Success StoriesKentucky Extension Reporting System

Cattlemen's Annual Meeting Educational Program

Author: Matthew Chadwick

Major Program: Beef

Cattlemen's Annual Meeting Educational Program

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

Full Story

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.

Full Story

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

Full Story

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.

Full Story

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

Full Story

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

Full Story

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

Full Story

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

Full Story

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

Full Story

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

Full Story

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

Full Story

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

Full Story

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

Full Story

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

Full Story

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

Full Story

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

Full Story

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

Full Story

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

Full Story

Showing 1 to 18 of 44 entries

Show entries

Acting Associate Dean & Director — Craig Wood, Ph.D.
S107 Ag. Science Center North
Lexington, KY 40546-0091
+1 (859) 257-4302

© 2024 University of Kentucky, Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment