2026 KSWPA Field Day Fun!

By Katie Frederick

KSWPA held a field day in Franklin, KY on August 15th hosted by New Slate Land Management. Producers first visited a solar site where there were discussions of temporary fencing, solar grazing, and parasites. We then all made a quick trip through new solar site development to Katie and Brad Carothers barn where we had the most delicious lunch. Lamb was provided by Schwartz Meat Company and prepared by Brad Carothers. It was a hot day but the afternoon was spent in the shade of a tent listening to Dr. Nicole Kopetzky and Dr. Camren Maierle. Nicole shared her research project on ewe lamb development and improving feed efficiency. Cam spoke on improving productivity and NSIP rams - including five live ram examples for us to look at and discuss. There was a lot of learning jam packed into one hot day. We had producers travel from Ohio and Tennessee for this event! We appreciate all the producers that came and participated.

Katie Frederick, is the Education Coordinator for the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office. Katie has her degree in Marketing and runs a sheep farm in South Central Kentucky with her husband. Katie's role with KSGDO is to help create, facilitate, and conduct small ruminant education in Kentucky.