Campbell County has not had a large animal vet in the county since 2013 (12 years ago) when Grants Lick Vet Clinic stopped practicing and moved to their new small animal facility. At that time, Grants Lick Vet decided to sell their large animal practice (book of business) to Dr. Glaza from Licking Valley Vet in Pendleton County. Approximately 5 years ago, Dr. Glaza stopped accepting new large animal clients and stopped the majority of farm visits and required existing clients to haul livestock to his office and treat on the trailer (he only has a horse stocks and no cattle or other livestock handling equipment). The number of beginner farmers in Campbell County (and Northern Kentucky) is increasing along with the population in Campbell County which means all of the new farmers to the county were without a large animal vet. Additionally, the Veterinary Feed Directive Law was put into place in 2017 requiring farmers to obtain a prescription from a vet to purchase antibiotics. That put Campbell County farmers in a terrible position- limited to no access to a large animal vet and no way to get a prescription for antibiotics to use for sick livestock, medicated mineral to prevent anaplasmosis, or a simple scours medicine to prevent young calf death. 

The Campbell County ANR Extension Agent, Michelle Simon, has worked for Extension for 15 years and has always been taught to be involved in the local community groups and commodity groups and develop advisory councils to gain knowledge of what the county needs and provide programming in those areas of need to stay relevant and keep Extension at the heart of the county. The Campbell County ANR Agent has always made it a habit at every meeting to ask for feedback from the participants. This question is simply asked, “what would you like to see from Extension?”. The lack of a large animal vet has been mentioned every time since coming to Campbell County. One of the Campbell County Cattleman’s Association board members went to the extent to suggest that the CAIP funds allocated to Campbell County be used to hire or subsidize a large animal vet. Please keep in mind that CAIP in Campbell County is highly competitive due to the small amount of funds and the small number of farmers that get funded so that statement exemplifies how dire the situation is. 

Currently, farmers are required to haul their livestock over an hour away (an hour and half in most cases) to get to a large animal vet to receive care. They also have to drive that far to access agricultural lime and a USDA inspected processing facility. All of these challenges are what inspired the Campbell County ANR Agent to take on the challenge of developing a facility to bridge the gaps in the community so farmers can have access to the basic services they need to stay in business. This project has had unending support from the ag community because they finally feel supported and feel that Extension is trying to work to help the farmers. It has been the main priority at every council and advisory meeting, so it is, in every sense, taking the needs of Campbell County and responding with this Agriculture Complex. The Campbell County ANR Agent has been working on this project since 2023 when the need and proposal was first presented to the District Board to see if they were interested in funding a project like this. The ANR Agent had overwhelming support from the EDB because they had been saving for a project like this for the last 20 years and were waiting for an agent who was willing to spearhead the project. The ANR Agent started researching properties after that and meeting with county officials (planning and zoning and fiscal court) to find a property that would accommodate the needs of the project. Campbell County planning and zoning director, Cindy Minter, suggested reaching out to Dr. Mike Crowley at Grants Lick Vet because their old facility was not being used since they had moved. The property was not listed online for sale but the ANR Agent reached out based on the recommendation. In December of 2023 the ANR Agent met with Mike at the facility and did a walk through and discussed her vision for the project. Mike and his family were thrilled when the EDB purchased the property for the Ag Complex because it was allowing his father’s mission to be carried on. His father, Dr. JC Crowley, was a large animal vet for over 50 years serving Campbell County farmers and made a huge impact on the ag community. He started that vet practice to help farmers and continued until he passed. 

The ANR Agent understands the importance of keeping good relations with the county and local businesses and UK and put a lot of thought into the dynamics of how this facility would operate to follow UK policies and focus on filling in the gaps and not providing any competition to local businesses. To achieve this goal, the facility will be open to any vet to practice out of and open to any Campbell County farmer to use. The goal is to provide a safe facility with proper equipment for vets to be able to practice and have a facility where farmers have access to vets to be able to provide the care their livestock need. Currently, 5 vets have agreed to practice out of the facility- Dr. Stanfield from Maysville, Dr. Fromme from Union, Dr. Huck from Cynthiana, Dr. Luke Trapp in Wisconsin and Dr. Prather from Florence and the ANR Agent is reaching out to others to provide a personal invitation to come and work out of the facility. This approach eliminates the issue of showing bias or favoritism to any one vet and by only allowing them to sell antibiotics and prescription medications, it does not provide competition to any of the local farm supply stores. Farmers have been encouraged to invite their vets to come and practice at the facility and have been requested to send suggestions of vets so invitations can be made to everyone. Farm Service Agency and Conservation has also been invited to work out of the facility, so they have office spaces to meet with farmers to complete crop reports, apply for farm serial numbers and get information for grant funding opportunities. This is in addition to the growers’ coop where Campbell County farmers will have the opportunity to sell their farm products out of the facility by way of online orders, and eventually, home delivery.  

This facility is designed to allow for a safe working environment for farmers to have access to safe, appropriate handling equipment to prevent any injuries to vets, farmers and/or animals. Extension is building the infrastructure to allow the ag community to flourish. In the ANR Agent’s previous position in Boone County, the EDB provided funding to the county fiscal court to assist financially with installing fioptics lines throughout the county, so everyone had access to internet. This project is doing the same thing, building the infrastructure. While the ANR Agent was there, they also hosted an annual bull testing clinic in conjunction with Kenton County and the Northern Kentucky Cattle Association at the Kenton County fairgrounds. They averaged 30 bulls a year which were handled through a temporary system that was not sturdy or safe. There were many times that something could have easily gone wrong. The Campbell County ANR Agent took all of the potential hazardous situations and plans from other facilities across the state (Laurel and Hardin counties) and met with Dr. Josh Jackson and Dr. Bob Coleman to design a facility at the Agriculture Complex that eliminates the risk and reduces the potential for accidents. The ANR Agent also attended a certification training at the Mobile Processing Unit at Kentucky State University to learn what construction the facility would require to mimic the MPU and offer a USDA inspected facility to farmers to process rabbits, fish and poultry and legally sell to consumers. 

Michelle Simon, the Campbell County ANR Agent, single handedly took on the role of project manager to renovate the property and transform it into its new role as the Campbell County Agriculture Complex. This was no small task being that the building had been built for a different purpose and then sat vacant for the last 13 years and saved the EDB around $200,000. She worked with contractors to renovate the structure, identify any issues that needed addressed and designed the building to meet the new purpose. She also designed plans for the other two structures on the property and built them to last.  After many discussions with the EDB, the ANR Agent worked diligently to locate local contractors to complete the work at the Agriculture Complex to keep the money spent within Campbell County since the facility was purchased with Campbell County tax dollars. 

The Campbell County Agriculture Agent is very proud of what she has accomplished, and the best is yet to come! Serving her home county as the ANR Agent has been rewarding, but building this Agriculture Complex that will serve Campbell County farmers for many years to come has been the most rewarding project she has been a part of in all of her time in Extension. She’s grateful for the support to make this project happen and thankful for the opportunity to provide this opportunity for the ag community. 

Dr. Joyce Hamberg, Extension Horticulture volunteer, Extension District Board member:

 “You certainly deserve accolades!”

“You've done an outstanding job getting the Ag Complex going.  It certainly looks promising.”

“Prior to the meeting, Michelle Simon gave a tour of the Campbell County Extension Ag Complex, which is located at 13169 Alexandria Pike, Butler, KY. It is amazing how much Michelle has accomplished in only three months since the Extension Service finalized the purchase of the facility.   It is truly a site that will benefit Campbell County farmers and owners of livestock and will serve as a model site for other agencies that may be interested in providing similar services. The Board extends sincere appreciation to Michelle for bringing her vision to life, and we look forward to supporting her in her implementation efforts.”

“This is truly amazing!!”

Dr. Mike Crowley, Grants Lick Vet Clinic, previous property owner:

“This project carries on the mission that Dad started all those years ago.”

“Congratulations! You’ve completely transformed the place; it looks great. You should be proud of yourself, Michelle. I know its been a long journey! Dad would be pleased!” 

https://linknky.com/news/2025/07/13/new-ag-complex-brings-large-animal-vet-care-back-to-campbell-county/?fbclid=IwQ0xDSwLg7kdleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHgflC8R5KwXxVYhUJ8W6-GS0fH9YhOCSJBA3HuakGPpHN21-ZA8N-6-hQFGa_aem_1HdYb-v_DuU3ETHQAvvGIg