Design Development Advances for Livestock Innovation Center
Cow Country: March 2026 - Members attending the KCA Convention and Trade Show got their first look at exterior renderings for the Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center, marking a major milestone in a multi-year effort to bring the facility to life.
“It was an exciting day to see the unveiling of the new Livestock Innovation Center building design to our members,” said Don Pemberton, Christian County KCA member and Construction Oversight Committee member. “The new Center will be fundamental to the future growth, direction and development of livestock and agriculture industries in the state of Kentucky.”
That sense of excitement and anticipation was shared across the trade show as members stopped to study the renderings and reflect on the project’s long journey from concept to design. Many remarked on what the facility will mean for Kentucky’s livestock industry and expressed eagerness to see it realized. Nearly every conversation ended with the same question: “When will it be completed?”
“This has been a long time coming,” said Grayson County member J.H. Manion, who has been part of the Association through many stages of its growth. He reflected on how far the organization has come since the early days, noting the enthusiasm around what this next chapter will mean for future generations. “It’s exciting to think about what’s ahead.”
Supported by a $22 million investment from the Kentucky General Assembly and developed through stakeholder involvement, the Livestock Innovation Center reflects a long-term commitment to strengthening Kentucky’s livestock industry. Over the past year, the Construction Oversight Committee, along with Branscum Construction and architect/engineer Sherman Carter Barnhart, worked through the detailed decisions needed to move the project from concept toward construction. The final floor plan and exterior renderings were formally approved by the seven-member Committee in December.
A complimentary feature of the building’s design is its intentional connection to the surrounding landscape at the University of Kentucky C. Oran Little Research Center in Woodford County. Glass elements throughout the building will provide visitors with views of the working farm, reinforcing the Center’s agricultural setting and allowing the land itself to serve as an extension of the educational experience.
The 15-acre site was made possible through a public-private partnership between the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation and the University of Kentucky, placing the Center within one of the Commonwealth’s most productive and scenic agricultural settings.
With design development complete and approvals in place, the project now moves into final preparation for construction, expected to begin this Spring, with a projected completion in Fall 2027. More information and updates are available at livestockinnovationcenter.org.
“It was an exciting day to see the unveiling of the new Livestock Innovation Center building design to our members,” said Don Pemberton, Christian County KCA member and Construction Oversight Committee member. “The new Center will be fundamental to the future growth, direction and development of livestock and agriculture industries in the state of Kentucky.”
That sense of excitement and anticipation was shared across the trade show as members stopped to study the renderings and reflect on the project’s long journey from concept to design. Many remarked on what the facility will mean for Kentucky’s livestock industry and expressed eagerness to see it realized. Nearly every conversation ended with the same question: “When will it be completed?”
“This has been a long time coming,” said Grayson County member J.H. Manion, who has been part of the Association through many stages of its growth. He reflected on how far the organization has come since the early days, noting the enthusiasm around what this next chapter will mean for future generations. “It’s exciting to think about what’s ahead.”
Supported by a $22 million investment from the Kentucky General Assembly and developed through stakeholder involvement, the Livestock Innovation Center reflects a long-term commitment to strengthening Kentucky’s livestock industry. Over the past year, the Construction Oversight Committee, along with Branscum Construction and architect/engineer Sherman Carter Barnhart, worked through the detailed decisions needed to move the project from concept toward construction. The final floor plan and exterior renderings were formally approved by the seven-member Committee in December.
A complimentary feature of the building’s design is its intentional connection to the surrounding landscape at the University of Kentucky C. Oran Little Research Center in Woodford County. Glass elements throughout the building will provide visitors with views of the working farm, reinforcing the Center’s agricultural setting and allowing the land itself to serve as an extension of the educational experience.
The 15-acre site was made possible through a public-private partnership between the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation and the University of Kentucky, placing the Center within one of the Commonwealth’s most productive and scenic agricultural settings.
With design development complete and approvals in place, the project now moves into final preparation for construction, expected to begin this Spring, with a projected completion in Fall 2027. More information and updates are available at livestockinnovationcenter.org.
