The topography of northern Kentucky is will suited for the production of forage & livestock.  As farmers look to diversify their farming operation, many logically consider the expansion of their cattle production.

The Grant County Cooperative Extension Service in collaboration with the University of Kentucky Beef Integrated Resource Management Program, the Kentucky Beef Network, and Extension Service Offices in Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Gallatin, Carroll, Pendleton, and Owen counties conducted the Master Cattlemen Program.  Agriculture agents facilitated 6 educational programs focusing an all aspects of cattle production and marketing.  It is designed to provide cattleman with vital, cutting-edge information that will allow them to maintain profitability in the very competitive cattle industry.

The program consisted of sixty-two farmers with an interest in beef production from the area.  Programs were team taught by Extension specialists and Agriculture agents.  

Participants graduating from the Master Cattlemen program were asked to complete surveys initially after attending the sessions, immediately following the producer’s graduation and a follow-up on what practices that they had applied in their own cattle production enterprise.

Initially all producers demonstrated that they had an understanding of basic cattle needs and care, the impact their actions has on the animal and the final end product, and the impacts cattle production has on the environment. Participants also indicated that they comprehended safe and effective cattle handling procedures.

Individual Grant County farmers that participated in the program were polled 3 months following their graduation to gauge if principles covered had been placed into practice.  Producers that indicated that they would apply one of the practices or change a current practice was came in at a tremendous 90% with one individual expressing that they plan to apply one practice but currently were just getting started and did not have any animals currently.  56% of the farmers that they had put at least 3 of the principles covered into practice on their farm.  24% of the farmers indicated that they had put into practice 5 or more of the principles covered.   One farmer indicated that by applying the marketing and animal health backgrounding principles on his farm that his calf crop grossed 225% more in 2025 than the same number of animals that sold in 2024.