Educational programs that strengthen agriculture production skills are a continued priority identified by the Oldham County Extension and Agriculture Councils.  In Oldham County, pasture makes up one-third of available farmland and provides grazing for livestock.  Livestock are important to Oldham County’s economy, with cattle alone representing over 2.4 million dollars in sales in 2012, according to the last Census of Agriculture.  Cattle numbers have remained steady since then, with 7,500 head of cattle and calves in Oldham County, according to the National Ag Statistics Service January 2018 report.

Because of the economic importance of cattle production in this area, agriculture extension agents in Oldham, Trimble, Henry and Shelby Counties have organized and held Regional Beef Field Days for farmers annually since 2005. These field days offer farmers an opportunity to see how production practices work on other farms. Field days also promote the use of new practices that improve production efficiency while protecting natural resources, which are goals outlined in the county plan of work.

Regional Beef Field Day was held at a Henry County farm in October 2018. During the field day, 272 area producers attended and learned about:

- Bull Selection (field demonstration)
 - Heifer Selection and Development (field demonstration)
 - Using Hoop Barns as Reduced Cost Multi-Purpose Structures (field demonstration)
 - Alfalfa Establishment and Management (field demonstration)

- Fescue Endophyte Toxicity (dinner presentation)

- Farm Herd Overview and Goals (dinner presentation)
 - KY Cattlemen’s Association Update (dinner presentation)

Presenters included Shelby County Ag Agent Corinne Belton; University of Kentucky Beef Specialist Les Anderson; University of Kentucky Ag Engineering Specialist Steve Higgins; University of Kentucky Forage Specialist Jimmy Henning; Henry County Summer Intern Jaycie Heath; Farm Owner John Allison; and Kentucky Cattlemen's Association President Bobby Foree.  

Area Agriculture Extension agents identified topics of interest and benefit to producers; contacted speakers; and led tours during the field day. Local cattlemen’s association members prepared the field day meal.  Agents and volunteers also set up and cleaned up following the field day.  

Field day topics were chosen to educate producers about practices that are eligible for cost-share through Kentucky Ag Development Funds.  The goal of this is to make sure these dollars continue to have significant impact for each producer's farm production and income.  Feedback received from Oldham County cattle producers included, "I understand now that the kind of bull I select for my herd should be based on my production practices and management."