Pest Management Training Set for November 4-6 in Lexington

By Blake Jackson

For more than 50 years, pest management professionals from Kentucky and surrounding states have convened each fall in Lexington to enhance their skills, explore new tools, and connect with industry experts.

This November, the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment will host the 54th annual UK Pest Control Short Course, making it one of the longest-running training events of its kind in the nation.

The 2025 program will be held Nov. 4-6 at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Lexington. Organized in partnership with the Kentucky Pest Management Association, the three-day course provides education, networking, and professional development opportunities for pest control operators, public health officials, housing authorities, and others in the field.

National speakers will address topics ranging from rodent management to regulatory updates and the latest pest control methods.

“Pest control isn’t just about comfort, it’s about protecting public health,” said Zachary DeVries, The Bill Gatton Foundation Early-Career Professors associate professor of urban entomology and one of the event’s organizers.

“Cockroaches can trigger asthma, mosquitoes and ticks spread disease, termites destroy structures and bed bugs cause severe stress. The Short Course makes sure the people fighting these pests have the best training possible, so they are prepared to tackle these issues and keep folks in Kentucky and the surrounding states safe.”

The course combines large lectures with breakout sessions and features a full exhibit hall showcasing innovative products and technologies. Attendees can also earn continuing education units (CEUs), which are necessary for maintaining pest management certifications and licenses.

A hallmark of the Short Course is its connection between research and practice. Students in UK’s Department of Entomology help organize the event and present their research, giving them hands-on experience while offering professionals access to the latest findings.

“Our students aren’t just watching from the sidelines,” DeVries said. “They’re sitting shoulder-to-shoulder with professionals from Kentucky and beyond, learning from them and sharing their own research. It’s a unique opportunity to prepare them for their careers while helping the industry stay ahead of emerging challenges.”

Early-bird registration ends Sept. 30 at $290, increasing to $340 afterward. Exhibitor opportunities are also available, with more than 40 vendors expected. Details and registration are available at kyshortcourse.ca.uky.edu.

Photo Credit: istock-fotokostic