On February 15th, the state was hit with historic flooding. Unlike in 2022, this flooding impacted almost the entire state. Farmers were heavily impacted, losing miles of fencing.

Extension is a family with many partner organizations that come together not just in programming, but in outreach and aid. In the aftermath of the flooding, those partners quickly stood arm-in arm with Extension in helping. Among them were Kentucky Farm Bureaus at the county, region and state level, Meridzo Ministries, and Tri-County Fence. Extension put out the call and facilitated the collection, distribution and notification of the program.

Forty different farming operations spread across southeastern Kentucky from Whitley, Bell, Harlan, Letcher, Pike and Johnson Counties, each directly impacted by the flood, were aided with fencing supplies and the knowledge that Extension and the farming community stand behind our neighbors. 

As a result of the outreach, Over 4000 treated posts, t-posts, barbed wire, high tensile wire and insulators were distributed. This program has led to 6.4 miles of restored fencing to livestock producers in eastern Kentucky.