Kentucky Cow-Calf Event will Addresses Industry Challenges

By Blake Jackson

The University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service, part of the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, will host the first Kentucky Cow-Calf Summit on Thursday, October 29, 2026, at the L.D. Brown Ag Expo Center in Bowling Green.

The event is designed to give cattle producers practical strategies for strengthening their operations and preparing for future growth.

With the theme “Building Opportunity,” the summit will focus on issues affecting cow-calf producers, including financing, access to land, succession planning and business development. Organizers say the program is intended to provide useful information while creating opportunities for producers to exchange ideas and learn from industry professionals.

“We built an agenda that we felt really tried to address the challenges identified at the leadership conference, such as land availability, getting the next generation involved and really addressing some of the barriers to entry within the beef industry,” said Katie VanValin, Ph.D., assistant Extension professor of beef cattle nutrition at Martin-Gatton CAFE.

The summit was developed following the 2025 Mid-South Beef Leadership Conference. During that event, producers, county agents and industry representatives from Kentucky and Tennessee identified land access and engaging younger generations as major challenges facing the beef sector.

Speakers will include Steve Isaacs, Ph.D., a UK Extension farm management specialist, who will address goal setting and how it can guide everyday business decisions.

Chris Cooper of Central Kentucky Ag Credit will discuss financing, business expansion and challenges facing producers entering the industry. John Genho of Eldon Farms in Virginia will share approaches to improving efficiency and building sustainable opportunities.

The agenda also includes a producer panel, interactive producer exchange sessions, an Operation Opportunity workshop and the UK Beef Extension Awards Luncheon.

While the summit is geared toward cow-calf operations, all Kentucky cattle producers are welcome. The event may be particularly valuable for beginning farmers, first-generation producers, families planning succession and cattle operators looking to expand or secure additional land.

Registration and coffee begin at 8:30 a.m. CT, with the program starting at 9 a.m. The summit ends at 4 p.m. Registration costs $30 per person or $50 per couple and includes lunch.

For registration, visit https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kentucky-cow-calf-summit-tickets-1997451069920.

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