The University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and the Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council (KFGC) will host the Eastern Kentucky KFGC Field Day at Old Homeplace Farm in Clay County on October 3, 2023.
The event will feature a tour of the Bowling family's 90-acre pasture-based farm, a cookout, and presentations on sustainable farming practices. The field day is an opportunity for farmers, livestock producers, and consumers to learn about the benefits of forage-based agriculture and the importance of supporting local food systems.
Old Homeplace Farm is a multi-generational family farm that raises cattle, sheep, and goats on a mix of bottomlands and steep hillside pastures. The farm is known for its innovative pasture management practices, which include using a multi-species grazing system and novel tall fescue varieties.
The field day tour will include stops at grazing paddocks, where participants will see the multi-species grazing system in operation. Participants will also learn about the family's use of novel tall fescue varieties and native warm-season grasses.
The event concludes with dinner grilled by local landowners. The meal provides an opportunity for participants to connect with the Bowling family and learn more about the benefits of locally grown meats.
The Eastern Kentucky KFGC Field Day is open to the public, but organizers recommend preregistration. The event costs $10 per person to cover the meal. Participants should bring lawn chairs.
To preregister, visit https://EastKyForageTourOctober23.eventbrite.com or contact Kate Adams at Kate@nurturedlands.com or 513-470-8171.
For more tour information and a list of other forage- and livestock-related events, visit the UK Forages website at https://forages.ca.uky.edu/Events.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-harvepino
Categories: Kentucky, Sustainable Agriculture