With over 36,000 acres of pastureland and close proximity to several stockyards, USDA slaughter facilities and urban direct-marketing opportunities through specialty grocery outlets and farmers’ markets, Jessamine County is uniquely positioned to expand and enhance its already strong beef cattle industry. According to the USDA Census of Agriculture, Jessamine County has 238 farms producing beef cattle with a total of 15,570 cattle and calves sold with a total value of over $15 million each year.

Over the past 17 years the Kentucky Beef Conference has been held annually at the Fayette County Extension Office. It has been planned mainly by Agriculture Agents from District 4 Extension Area with a few from other Districts along with Beef Cattle and Economic Specialist from the University of Kentucky’s College of Agriculture. This regional program has mainly focused on marketing overviews and looking at long term trends of the industry. With the support of several long time Business Community Sponsors we have been able to bring nationally known experts in Beef Cattle marketing to speak at the conference.

Attendance for this Regional Program has averaged at 200 or more per year. Evaluations from the 2018 Kentucky Beef Conference show that 30% of the participants were first-time attenders while 50 % have attended four or more of these conferences. Topics included an update on the Beef Industry, Pinkeye and Fly Control Challenges, Trade Issues, Sustainable Beef Systems and Marketing Strategies. 95 % of the participants who responded to surveys found the topics to be very helpful and 60% plan to make changes based on what they have learned at this program. Of those respondents who have participated in past programs, 73% indicated that decisions implemented as a result of attending Kentucky Beef Conference have resulted in increased profits and reduced risk in their beef enterprises. A total of nine Beef Cattle producers from Jessamine County attended the conference.