Coming Soon: Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center
May 2024
Cow Country | Media Contact: Katie Pratt | [email protected]
The Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center will soon help producers find answers to challenges in an evolving industry thanks to Kentucky General Assembly appropriations made in this year’s House Bill 1.
The General Assembly gave the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association $22 million for the construction of the center that will be located at the University of Kentucky’s C. Oran Little Research Center in Woodford County.
“We are so excited to be able to provide this valuable resource to our livestock farmers,” said Dave Maples, executive vice president of the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association. “We want to thank Rep. Dan Fister, Sen. Amanda Bledsoe and the entire General Assembly for seeing the positive impact that this center can have on producers in this state and the region. I also want to thank our KCA board of directors for their unwavering support over the past five years as we have worked toward this goal.”
The Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center will serve as a coordinating point and valuable educational resource for the livestock industry in Kentucky and the eastern U.S. Some of the center’s major goals include increasing producer marketing opportunities, providing economic resources, and improving the sustainability of the industry.
“The prospects that the Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center bring to state and animal protein production are almost beyond comprehension for some,” said Jeff Pettit, president of the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association and Webster County cattle producer. “I can easily see through the work that comes out of this facility that the commonwealth of Kentucky will become known as the go-to location in the eastern U.S. for all matters concerning animal protein production.”
Agriculture remains a critical part of Kentucky’s economy. The 2022 Census of Agriculture showed that Kentucky’s agricultural receipts totaled $8 billion, which was a 40% increase since 2017. Livestock production makes up a large part of those figures. The 2022 Census reported the market value of Kentucky livestock and poultry sold that year was $4.2 billion.
However, livestock producers face numerous challenges including an increased competition for land, an aging farmer population, increased pressure to improve efficiency and finding ways to remain profitable.
“The livestock industry is rapidly changing, and producers are being asked to produce more with fewer resources,” said Nikki Whitaker, KCA director of operations and policy. “The center will work with producers to develop innovative solutions to these issues.”
The center will also house a Culinary Training Center, which will help increase consumer demand for value-added products and educate employees in food processing, manufacturing, restaurant and retail industries through workforce development opportunities. It will also allow for consumer preference studies and nutrition education for animal proteins and create a more seamless relationship between producers and consumers.
The idea of the center began five years ago with the completion of a long-range plan by the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association. Grassroot efforts led by Kentucky livestock producers have been critical in advancing the center’s mission and advocating for its need.
“When I first learned of the Livestock Innovation Center, I knew this project could be transformational for Kentucky agriculture,” said James Coffey, chairman of the center’s steering committee, Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation treasurer and Lincoln County cattle producer. “Just as the Ag Development funds were in the early 2000’s, this project is another step forward and gives Kentucky agriculture a platform to be a leader on many fronts. Agriculture producer education, agriculture and food industry workforce training, research knowledge dissemination to end users, and many yet-to-be-determined goals can be achieved in this facility and through the people that will work in it.”
Cow Country | Media Contact: Katie Pratt | [email protected]
The Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center will soon help producers find answers to challenges in an evolving industry thanks to Kentucky General Assembly appropriations made in this year’s House Bill 1.
The General Assembly gave the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association $22 million for the construction of the center that will be located at the University of Kentucky’s C. Oran Little Research Center in Woodford County.
“We are so excited to be able to provide this valuable resource to our livestock farmers,” said Dave Maples, executive vice president of the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association. “We want to thank Rep. Dan Fister, Sen. Amanda Bledsoe and the entire General Assembly for seeing the positive impact that this center can have on producers in this state and the region. I also want to thank our KCA board of directors for their unwavering support over the past five years as we have worked toward this goal.”
The Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center will serve as a coordinating point and valuable educational resource for the livestock industry in Kentucky and the eastern U.S. Some of the center’s major goals include increasing producer marketing opportunities, providing economic resources, and improving the sustainability of the industry.
“The prospects that the Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center bring to state and animal protein production are almost beyond comprehension for some,” said Jeff Pettit, president of the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association and Webster County cattle producer. “I can easily see through the work that comes out of this facility that the commonwealth of Kentucky will become known as the go-to location in the eastern U.S. for all matters concerning animal protein production.”
Agriculture remains a critical part of Kentucky’s economy. The 2022 Census of Agriculture showed that Kentucky’s agricultural receipts totaled $8 billion, which was a 40% increase since 2017. Livestock production makes up a large part of those figures. The 2022 Census reported the market value of Kentucky livestock and poultry sold that year was $4.2 billion.
However, livestock producers face numerous challenges including an increased competition for land, an aging farmer population, increased pressure to improve efficiency and finding ways to remain profitable.
“The livestock industry is rapidly changing, and producers are being asked to produce more with fewer resources,” said Nikki Whitaker, KCA director of operations and policy. “The center will work with producers to develop innovative solutions to these issues.”
The center will also house a Culinary Training Center, which will help increase consumer demand for value-added products and educate employees in food processing, manufacturing, restaurant and retail industries through workforce development opportunities. It will also allow for consumer preference studies and nutrition education for animal proteins and create a more seamless relationship between producers and consumers.
The idea of the center began five years ago with the completion of a long-range plan by the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association. Grassroot efforts led by Kentucky livestock producers have been critical in advancing the center’s mission and advocating for its need.
“When I first learned of the Livestock Innovation Center, I knew this project could be transformational for Kentucky agriculture,” said James Coffey, chairman of the center’s steering committee, Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation treasurer and Lincoln County cattle producer. “Just as the Ag Development funds were in the early 2000’s, this project is another step forward and gives Kentucky agriculture a platform to be a leader on many fronts. Agriculture producer education, agriculture and food industry workforce training, research knowledge dissemination to end users, and many yet-to-be-determined goals can be achieved in this facility and through the people that will work in it.”