Laurel County has seen a significant increase in sheep production in recent years.  According to the NASS Census of Agriculture, Laurel County jumped from ranking 77^th in Kentucky for sheep production in 2012 to the rank of 49^th in 2017. As production has increased, so has the need for local educational opportunities regarding animal health; farm financial management and record keeping; and marketing strategies.

In Fall 2019, a small group of farmers approached the agriculture agent at the Laurel County Extension Office for help in organizing a sheep producers’ organization.  The agent hosted an organizational workshop with the representatives where they discussed and prioritized the group’s goals.  The agent also assisted with drafting the constitution/bylaws and developing educational programs.  After officers were elected, the group reached out to sheep producers and Extension offices in other counties.  The organization, incorporated as the Southeast Kentucky Sheep Producers Association, grew rapidly and currently has over two hundred members representing thirty counties in Southern and Eastern Kentucky.

The sheep producer’s association has conducted several workshops at various sites throughout the area.  The most recent workshops have included Sheep Production Basics; Predator Control and Animal Guard Management; Record Keeping and Organization; and Weaving, Spinning and Dyeing Wool (in partnership with Pine Mountain Settlement School).  The March 2023 annual meeting was held at the Laurel County Extension Office, with over 175 individuals in attendance.  The program included presentations by specialists from the University of Kentucky, Morehead State University, and Kentucky State University.  The group is currently planning a breeding sheep sale to be held in July at the Wilderness Trail Marketing Alliance in London. The sale will feature animals raised by association members and will highlight the quality of animals available in Southeast Kentucky.