Sustainable pasture, and grazing, management is critical to a thriving landscape in Kentucky. Over 4 million acres in the state are occupied by pastureland which supports the largest supply of beef cattle east of the Mississippi river and a growing number of sheep and goat farms. Extension staff at Kentucky State University are partnering with Extension staff at the University of Kentucky to create pasture management learning opportunities catered to historically underserved audiences.

A series of pasture management workshops and field days was organized in 2023 to provide information to historically underserved audiences on topics such as: pasture planning and soil testing, no-till seed drill setup and use, native warm season grass establishment and management, novel endophyte tall fescue varieties, red clover establishment, and basic grazing management. These workshops are paired with working demonstrations on partner farms and KSU's Research and Demonstration Farm and will be continued in following years.

Average attendance for workshops in 2023 was 12, which was determined to be an ideal number because it enabled a more personalized learning experience with hands-on learning opportunities. Three follow-up farm visits have resulted from these workshops wherein Extension staff are providing additional support for implementing new management practices.

Participants shared with Extension staff that more hands-on, small group, learning opportunities are needed for beginning farmers in particular. Additional comments were focused on how grateful they were for the learning opportunities provided to them by Cooperative Extension. One participant was so eager to learn more about this topic that he drove from three counties away to attend. Many participants were from nearby counties.