The ANR Equine Agents Working Group, Extension Specialists and Associates, planned the annual Pastures Please! Workshop. This was the 16th year for the workshop and typically takes place at one of the extension offices in central KY. As a result of efforts from the working group, this year the workshop was held in two locations - Fayette County and Livingston County. In the future the group would like to add a location in eastern KY. This workshop typically focuses on horse pasture management and throughout the years the topics have varied a little bit while still being centralized around pasture management. The focus is always on delivering timely information for horse farm managers and owners in the area. The program this year focused on offering equine producers knowledge of the best management practices as they relate to pastures, forages and equine health, in turn making their operations more profitable and sustainable. After a year like 2022 with two significant drought periods, it was important to address pasture nutrient levels, pasture health and weed control. Even with the longevity of this program we continue to see a diverse range of first time attendees and those who have attended multiple Pastures Please! workshops with this year being attended by over 230 people. Over 90% of attendees indicate they plan to use the information presented on their farms and increased their knowledge in topics presented. In addition, they gave suggestions on future topics that the working group will utilize to plan this event in the future and other equine extension programs organized by the group.

The problem

Pasture management issues and multiple drought years

The educational program response

Provide expertise from agents and specialists related to observed issues and issues identified by equine producers

The participants/target audience

Members of the equine community, horse owners and farm managers and consultants

Other partners (if applicable)

Equine extension working group

Program impact or participant response.

Surveys showed a high impact from the program with participants planning to enact many of the suggestions that were presented at the meeting.  Many of the participants have attended the program multiple years and continue to provide high evaluations for the pasture please program.