Farm management relies heavily on understanding the costs of production, proper management and utilization of technology and research. For the second year agriculture and natural resource agents from the counties of Hopkins, Muhlenberg, and Webster have worked cooperatively with the Madisonville-Hopkins County Economic Development Corporation to plan and host the Roots to Riches Agri-preneurial Conference in hopes of promoting increased risk management as well as providing a one-stop shop for local producers to gain production and management knowledge.

The program was a showcase of agriculture diversity in western Kentucky. Agriculture producers from eight West Kentucky counties gained knowledge on  infrastructure improvements for cattle operations, feedstuffs management, grain crops production and marketing as well as an update on hemp production. This day long program allowed producers to increase their knowledge as well as network with people from the business community as well as some elected officials.

Organizers from both Extension and the Economic Development Board received positive comments  from producers, local business people and elected  officials. The 114 % participation increase over the 2017 conference shows that the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service provides relevant traditional programming while utilizing untapped resources and collaborations.    

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