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KY Farm Launch Update June 2026



The KY Farm Launch program began the second round of cohorts in March. The program is designed for beginning farmers who have land and not sure what to do with it, or people who are still looking for property but want an enterprise in mind before purchase.


Cohort started the first 6 weeks learning about business structure, record keeping, tax filing, marketing, business plans, and basic requirements for vegetable, beef, and small ruminant production. In May the participants broke out into their main program areas- vegetable/fruit and livestock production.


Livestock participants received a fencing and beginning grazing school, and toured Ox Bow meats before starting their small ruminant track. 


The small ruminant track covers:

  1. Lambing Clinic at Sue Churchill’s Thistles End Farm in Versailles. There we discussed parturition, dystocia, facilities, new born care, and bale grazing. 

  2. Marketing basics with a panel of producers who market in a variety of different ways- Jim Mansfield- retail lamb, Susan Bell- farmer’s market with goat milk products, Jeff Rice- Kiko goat seedstock, Gary Downs- farmers market lamb, and Harry Frederick- commercial feed lot.

  3. Harry and Katie Frederick gave the basics of using working dogs and conducted a demonstration.

  4. Dr. Jessie Lay taught about guardian dog care.

  5. June 2nd was parasite day where participants met at the Harold D Benson Research Farm to learn about low stress handling, proper drenching, FAMACHA, body condition scoring, and how to perform fecal egg counts.

  6. June 8th was health day where once we again we met at the KSU research farm to practice hoof care and hoof trimming, proper injection sites for vaccinations, and record keeping. We also discussed common disease diagnosis and prevention, and all participants earned their KY/NC small ruminant quality assurance certifications.

  7. June 15th we toured the UK Diagnostic Lab

  8. June 22nd was wool day where participants learned about wool production and processing at Reclaimed Ranch Farm and Mill.

  9. On June 29th we will learn about nutrition and reproduction 101, as well as record keeping using the free spreadsheet given to all KSWPA and KGPA members. 


In July, we will work with the UK Beef team to further discuss nutrition and genetics.


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