Collaboration is “the act of working together with other people or organizations to create or achieve something” (Cambridge English Dictionary).  When people or groups of people come together with the same purpose it can have a positive change on the expected outcome.

In 2010 Webster County Cooperative Extension and the newly formed Webster County Cattlemen’s Association come together to plan, implement and evaluate the 1^st annual Webster County Extension/Cattlemen’s Association join annual meeting.  The purpose of this program was to bring beef producers together to learn, promote, network and to give back to the community in a fund educational way.  The educational component was provided through the Webster County Extension Service.   A cake auction was held as part of the program to raise money to support community events, youth organizations and extension programs.  Although the meeting is free of charge, participants were asked to bring a nonperishable food donation to be donated to the Providence Food Bank.  

Since 2010, twelve “joint meetings” have been held at the Webster County Extension Office with an average attendance of 100 beef producers, local businesses and guests.   Over the past thirteen years, $9000.00 has been awarded to 18 high school senior cattlemen’s association members.   $5000.00 has been donated to Webster County 4H Council and $1375.00 to Webster County FFA.  $850.00 has been donated to Webster County Youth Ag and Safety Days, a long standing extension program.  $6080.00 has been given in beef vouchers to help families in need.  The vouchers are redeemable at a local grocery store.  The Webster County Farm Bureau board matched the cattlemen’s association for the beef vouchers.  The families were identified through the partnership with Webster County Extension on the Family Resource Center.  

Each organization working together brought their expertise needed to make this collaboration a success.   The financial donations totally $22,305.00 has had a tremendous impact that is far reaching; however, leadership development, networking and reaching new extension clientele is a huge benefit that is difficult to quantify.

The Webster County ANR agent is working with Webster County Farmers’ Market vendors and the cattlemen’s association to supply locally grown KY Proud ground beef to the families in need in 2023.  The collaboration that started in 2010 continues to grow and become stronger.