SCKA FIELD DAY AND ANNUAL GATHERING RETURN TO KENTUCKY 2026

After a terrific event in 2025, the South-Central Katahdin Association is returning to Munfordville, Kentucky in 2026 for a field day and elite sheep sale on September 18th and 19th. The SCKA has once again partnered with the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association for a weekend packed with speakers, vendors, food, and fellowship. This year the board of directors has also voted to hold the annual business meeting during the field day. Again, the SCKA will host an elite Katahdin sale with sheep consigned from some of the nations most respected producers. The SCKA board of directors would like to cordially invite you to this exciting event that will be held at the Hart County fairgrounds in Munfordville, Kentucky.

Events begin Friday afternoon with a Fecal Egg Count presentation and hands on demonstration. Jeri Pettig will discuss different parasites that affect sheep and how to help identify specific parasites through a fecal egg count. There will also be a hands-on demonstration where attendees will be able to perform a fecal egg count test on their own and learn what to look for in order to determine potential treatment plan.

Dr. Jessie Lay, University of Kentucky, will discuss Livestock Guard Dog (LGD) care and husbandry. What is required to have a successful LGD on your operation and potential “tools of the trade”. Dr. Lay will also discuss the impacts of mineral in your sheep and what it does biologically within the animal.

Warren Beeler, Kentucky Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture, will be there to talk about the impact of sheep on the Kentucky agriculture industry and how it continues to grow and improve.

The SCKA annual meeting will take place Friday evening where we want to encourage all members to be present and active. The board of directors WANTS to hear your opinions and suggestions on how to take the SCKA into the future! Stay for dinner because the local Amish community will be back this year to serve us a fantastic home cooked meal.

Saturday morning attendees are encouraged to come visit our terrific vendors that will be located outside, and be sure to stop by the food truck for some breakfast. There will also be a producers panel and a round table discussion where producers are encouraged to ask questions and discuss management strategies. This year's producer panel will consist of three guests discussing diversification for Profits. The panel speakers are Harry Frederick from Winding Creek Farms, Zack Schwartz from Schwartz Show Stock and Meat Company, and David Gleaves, DVM. We will wrap up our event on Saturday with a sheep auction at 1 p.m. We hope you will join us.

Our speakers:

Jeri Pettig is a senior research biologist with Boehringer Ingelheim. She received her bachelors in agriculture with an emphasis in animal science from Lincoln University Missouri and will finish her masters in veterinary parasitology from Cornell University in New York in May. She and her husband raise Katahdins in central Missouri.

Dr. Jessie Lay, DMV- Dr. Jessie Lay is from central Kentucky. She received a Bachelors in Agriculture from EKU and attended Auburn University College of Veterinary Medicine. After Vet school, she spent several years in mixed animal practice in Central Kentucky. She joined Kentucky State University in 2017. She is currently the Animal Health Extension Veterinarian for the University of Kentucky. In this role, she is the State Specialist of Small Ruminants and Extension Liaison for the UK One Health Center.

Warren Beeler is a long-time supporter of Kentucky small ruminants and is a sheep producer in Grayson County. Warren and his family live on 220 acres raising livestock. Warren currently serves as the Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture for Jonathan Shell. He graduated from Western KY University in 1977 with a BS degree in animal science where he continues to teach students and 4-H/FFA members livestock judging across the state. In fact, Warren has judged livestock shows for 47 years in 43 different states.

Harry and Katie Fredrick of Winding Creek Farms. Located at Tompkinsville, KY The Fredricks manage a 500+ commercial ewe operation. Harry is president of the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association.

Zack Schwartz resides in Flemingsburg, KY with his wife Margaret and 3 children. Zack serves as president of the KY Sheep and Wool Producers. He and his brother Taylor and his family raise Ile De France and Hampshire based crossbred sheep. They supplement their lamb crops by purchasing an additional 400-500 feeder lambs and sell those into the ethnic market. They utilize artificial insemination in their ewe flock and keep production records to assist their ram customers in purchasing decisions.

David Gleaves, DVM of Gleaves farm in Pleasant View, Tennessee is a Katahdin breeder focusing on and applying the most basic principles of breeding selection and management.

Field Day & Sale details will be added on our web-site and Facebook page as they come available. Please contact any board member for any information. We look forward to seeing you in September!

George Pettig: Secretary

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