The Bullitt County Cooperative Extension office has been without an Agriculture and Natural Resources agent for two years. Since being hired at the start of 2020, the new ANR agent, Marlee Kelley, has conducted or attended Ag Development Council, Cattleman’s Association, Young Farmers, Farm Bureau and Soil Conservation meetings in Bullitt County to promote involvement in extension. 

Farmers from these organizations, expressed a need for educational programs and the following were conducted: Beef Quality and Care Assurance and CAIP trainings. A monthly Agriculture Newsletter is also being sent out to keep local farmers updated with current events and programs in the county and across the state. 

Over the past 3 months, the attendance for Bullitt County farmers/ residents at extension events has increased across the state. Local farmers have traveled to the State Cattlemen’s Convention, Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference and Cow-Calf Profitability Conference. Also, the new ANR agent traveled to the Regional FFA Speech Contest to help judge for Bullitt Central High School. 

Farmers in Bullitt County have voiced their appreciation for the new programs and have made suggestions for future programs. They are interested in having more agriculture programs held at the Bullitt County Extension office such as guest speakers, private pesticide training and Ag field/ safety days. They are also interested in learning more about lab grown meat, meat processing, pasture fertilization, pasture rotation and animal nutrition.