Author: Kevin Bullock
Planning Unit: Animal and Food Sciences
Major Program: Beef
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
This is an update on a program that was initiated in 2016, reported in 2018, and continues due to its success. This is an innovative program providing educational programming for beginning beef farmers and educational experience for Animal and Food Sciences students at the University of Kentucky. A collaborative educational program was developed by the Animal and Food Sciences’ Beef Cattle Science instructors (Darrh Bullock, Jeff Lehmkuhler and Les Anderson), Dr. Michelle Arnold and local ANR agents to assist inexperienced beef cattle farmers by utilizing students that had just completed the Beef Cattle Science course (ASC406) at UK. The students are divided into groups of 4 and assigned a county to work with; each student is responsible for one of 4 topics – genetics, nutrition, reproduction or health. The students work with the local agent to develop a specific targeted program that would best benefit that county, coordinate logistics and assist with advertising. The students work with the instructors and Dr. Arnold to develop their specific presentation. The students make their presentations to the targeted farmers and then field questions; at least one instructor and the agent are at each presentation to assist with questions that are beyond the scope of the students. After six years of the program, students, agents, producers and instructors have indicated that the program very impactful. Feedback indicates that farmers are very impressed with the ability of the students to present the material and their knowledge of beef cattle management; and students relate that it is a very positive experience for them even though there initial reaction is dread.
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