Success StoryUniversity of Kentucky Provide Worldwide Leadership in Forages and Grasslands



University of Kentucky Provide Worldwide Leadership in Forages and Grasslands

Author: Samuel Smith

Planning Unit: Plant and Soil Sciences

Major Program: Forages

Outcome: Intermediate Outcome

In 2015 I was elected Chair of the International Grassland Congress (IGC) Continuing Committee and will continue through 2020. Although this takes considerable time and effort, I am honored to be in this position and for UK to have this voice on the international stage. I worked closely with the International Rangeland Congress Continuing Committee so that the next Congress in Kenya will be a joint IGC/IRC Congress, only the second time this has occurred. I am traveling to Kenya regularly to assist the Kenyan organizing committee. As IGC Chair I have been fortunate to work with representatives from FAO, ILRI, UNEP (UN Environment Program), and related agencies on international forage/grassland/rangeland initiatives. I worked with the American Forage and Grassland Council in their bid to host IGC in the U.S. in 2023 and I am working with Grassland Researchers in Europe on a potential bid to host the 100th Anniversary IGC meeting in 2027 (first was Germany 1927). The 2023 IGC Congress has been awarded to the U.S. and will be held in Covington, KY with tours to UK and our research farms and forage and livestock operations throughout the state.






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