BackgroundIn 2019, the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association completed a Long-Range Plan that assessed the challenges and opportunities facing the Kentucky beef industry. Out of those objectives came the idea to create a center that would foster education, innovation, marketing, and research by collaborating with other livestock partners across the state.
Over the course of several stakeholder meetings, the Kentucky Cattlemen's Foundation with members of the Kentucky Livestock Coalition drafted what would be included in the Livestock Innovation Center and how those elements would strengthen our collaborative efforts in advocating on behalf of farm families and Kentucky agriculture. |
Public-Private PartnershipThe University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment (MG-CAFE) was the obvious choice to create the public-private partnership with the Kentucky Cattlemen's Foundation. For over 130 years, MG-CAFE has improved Kentucky’s agriculture landscape through its land-grant mission of teaching, research and Extension.
The UK C. Oran Little Research Center in Woodford County was purchased by the Commonwealth of Kentucky in 1991 for the use and benefit of the UK College of Agriculture. After the Beef, Swine, and Sheep Research Units were finished in 1998, a “Learning Center” was proposed by then-Dean C. Oran Little. The Livestock Innovation Center will create a key resource for the livestock industry in Kentucky and fulfill the original “Learning Center” vision. |
Industry Support
The idea for an innovation center began with a strong statement of need from industry leaders.
Members of the Kentucky Livestock Coalition, agriculture groups, and county cattlemen's chapters across the state had several meetings between 2019-2024 to develop a combined effort of support for a Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center. A letter-writing campaign was launched during Kentucky's 2024 regular session, and over 60 letters indicating support were sent to all state legislators. In April 2024, $22 million was appropriated to construct the Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center on the C. Oran Little Research Farm. |
Industry Partners Involved in the Kentucky Livestock Coalition |