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What is the Livestock Innovation Center?
Agriculture is a cornerstone of Kentucky’s economy, with livestock at the center. The Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center will be a hub for advancing livestock production, supporting economic growth, and promoting local food systems. As a central resource for producers and industry partners, the Center will drive coordination, innovation, and workforce development across Kentucky and the Eastern U.S., strengthening the livestock sector and positioning the region as a leader in agri-business. A Culinary Training Center within the facility will support value-added food production and expand Kentucky’s food processing, manufacturing, and retail industries. This transformational project will ensure long-term success for Kentucky agriculture and support the continued growth of the regional livestock industry.
Who are the primary participants in the project?
The primary administrators are the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation, who will work closely with the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, to enhance the educational mission and research partnerships between industry, government, and the university.
Additionally, the Kentucky Livestock Coalition, whose members include the Kentucky Pork Producers, Kentucky Soybean Board, Kentucky Poultry Federation, Kentucky Dairy Development Council, Kentucky Corn Growers Association, Kentucky Sheep & Goat Development Office, Kentucky Horse Council, and Kentucky Farm Bureau, as well as others, will serve as advisors in planning the center’s activities.
Additionally, the Kentucky Livestock Coalition, whose members include the Kentucky Pork Producers, Kentucky Soybean Board, Kentucky Poultry Federation, Kentucky Dairy Development Council, Kentucky Corn Growers Association, Kentucky Sheep & Goat Development Office, Kentucky Horse Council, and Kentucky Farm Bureau, as well as others, will serve as advisors in planning the center’s activities.
Why is this facility needed?
It has become increasingly apparent that livestock agriculture in Kentucky needs a centralized location from which its commodity groups can work as a cohesive unit to safeguard the future of Kentucky agriculture.
Agriculture has been an integral part of the Kentucky economy for centuries. In 2023, Kentucky generated a record high $8 billion in agricultural cash receipts with livestock and products accounting for 53% of that total. Compared to our neighbors in USDA’s Eastern Mountain Region, Kentucky boasts the largest number of farms (69,100) and largest area in farmland (12.4 million acres).
The value of Kentucky’s agricultural production and processing industries represents 6.1% of total state GDP, generates output worth approximately $25.1 billion, and employs 45,024 workers. Total output for the entire agriculture industry topped $31.6 billion and employment totaled 138,612 workers. Dollars generated by these industries are spent within the local economy, bringing additional value to the state.
Despite the clear economic justification, Kentucky currently lacks a facility that will retain, recruit, and advance the livestock industry sector. The Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center will provide a central location that focuses on all aspects of the production to consumer continuum - including animal handling and well-being, nutrition and health, food safety and security, value-added and culinary collaboration, and producer profitability.
Agriculture has been an integral part of the Kentucky economy for centuries. In 2023, Kentucky generated a record high $8 billion in agricultural cash receipts with livestock and products accounting for 53% of that total. Compared to our neighbors in USDA’s Eastern Mountain Region, Kentucky boasts the largest number of farms (69,100) and largest area in farmland (12.4 million acres).
The value of Kentucky’s agricultural production and processing industries represents 6.1% of total state GDP, generates output worth approximately $25.1 billion, and employs 45,024 workers. Total output for the entire agriculture industry topped $31.6 billion and employment totaled 138,612 workers. Dollars generated by these industries are spent within the local economy, bringing additional value to the state.
Despite the clear economic justification, Kentucky currently lacks a facility that will retain, recruit, and advance the livestock industry sector. The Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center will provide a central location that focuses on all aspects of the production to consumer continuum - including animal handling and well-being, nutrition and health, food safety and security, value-added and culinary collaboration, and producer profitability.
What is included in the facility?
The Livestock Innovation Center will be a dynamic, multi-disciplinary, high-traffic building that integrates teaching, demonstration areas, and workspaces, all designed to enhance collaboration and support the building’s core activities.
Large Meeting Room
The facility will provide instructional space to accommodate educational events for a maximum occupancy of approximately 200-300 people, with a flexible, divisible layout to accommodate both large conferences and smaller groups. Emphasis should be placed on moveable seating, audio-visual systems, acoustics, and lighting.
Culinary Kitchen
The culinary kitchen will have two separate spaces.
One space will accommodate up to 50 people and support a variety of functions, including teaching, demonstrations, and hands-on training. The layout should include multiple cooking stations (6-10) with various cooking methods and equipment, such as ovens, range tops, and refrigeration space. Additionally, the kitchen should be equipped with advanced audio-visual technology, including overhead cameras, projection capabilities, and dedicated spaces for filming and photography. This will enable the capture and broadcast of activities, ensuring high-quality media production for educational purposes, demonstrations, and events.
The second space will include a small-scale commercial kitchen that will be used for training smaller groups but will also be utilized for catering and as a prep kitchen and include walk-in freezers and coolers.
Open Areas
The facility will provide a large open welcome lobby area that includes exhibit space for both alternating and permanent educational and promotional exhibits and displays. The welcome area will be designed to be welcoming, spacious, and visually engaging, telling the story of Kentucky agriculture. Additionally, the open lobby area will include flex space to provide additional open seating, offices and conference areas that can accommodate between 5 and 25 people.
Outdoor
An outdoor patio area will be strategically located close to meeting spaces, with weather breaks, wind protection, and scenic views to create an inviting environment for breaks and social gatherings. Additionally, the patio should be connected to the building, with convenient access to the kitchen, restrooms, and a grill for outdoor cooking and demonstrations.
Studio
The facility will feature a dedicated studio space designed for high-quality media production, including filming and photography for recipe development, instructional content, and promotional materials. The studio will be equipped with advanced cameras, lighting, and sound equipment to capture cooking demonstrations, interviews, and other agricultural-related digital content.
Large Meeting Room
The facility will provide instructional space to accommodate educational events for a maximum occupancy of approximately 200-300 people, with a flexible, divisible layout to accommodate both large conferences and smaller groups. Emphasis should be placed on moveable seating, audio-visual systems, acoustics, and lighting.
Culinary Kitchen
The culinary kitchen will have two separate spaces.
One space will accommodate up to 50 people and support a variety of functions, including teaching, demonstrations, and hands-on training. The layout should include multiple cooking stations (6-10) with various cooking methods and equipment, such as ovens, range tops, and refrigeration space. Additionally, the kitchen should be equipped with advanced audio-visual technology, including overhead cameras, projection capabilities, and dedicated spaces for filming and photography. This will enable the capture and broadcast of activities, ensuring high-quality media production for educational purposes, demonstrations, and events.
The second space will include a small-scale commercial kitchen that will be used for training smaller groups but will also be utilized for catering and as a prep kitchen and include walk-in freezers and coolers.
Open Areas
The facility will provide a large open welcome lobby area that includes exhibit space for both alternating and permanent educational and promotional exhibits and displays. The welcome area will be designed to be welcoming, spacious, and visually engaging, telling the story of Kentucky agriculture. Additionally, the open lobby area will include flex space to provide additional open seating, offices and conference areas that can accommodate between 5 and 25 people.
Outdoor
An outdoor patio area will be strategically located close to meeting spaces, with weather breaks, wind protection, and scenic views to create an inviting environment for breaks and social gatherings. Additionally, the patio should be connected to the building, with convenient access to the kitchen, restrooms, and a grill for outdoor cooking and demonstrations.
Studio
The facility will feature a dedicated studio space designed for high-quality media production, including filming and photography for recipe development, instructional content, and promotional materials. The studio will be equipped with advanced cameras, lighting, and sound equipment to capture cooking demonstrations, interviews, and other agricultural-related digital content.
Where will the facility be located?
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This facility will be located at the University of Kentucky C. Oran Little Research Center (LRC) in Versailles, Kentucky. The LRC location is easily accessible from both I-75 and I-64 and is centrally located in the beef and forage belts of Kentucky.
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Who will maintain the facility?
The overall operation and annual maintenance of the facility will be managed by the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation, a Kentucky-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in 1993. Groups that rent or use the building—including the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association and its entities, which will be headquartered in the Livestock Innovation Center—will pay a prorated annual fee to the Foundation to cover shared maintenance and utilities. Additionally, recurring programmatic costs will be supported through state and federal resources, including industry checkoffs.
What is the University of Kentucky’s role in this facility?
It has been shown that university-industry partnerships are essential to grow the next generation of a highly trained workforce, resulting in economic benefits (job growth, business growth, and profitability).
The 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.
As part of this unique partnership, the University of Kentucky and the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation have entered an 80-year land-lease to site the Livestock Innovation Center on 15 acres of the C. Oran Little Research Center farm in Woodford County.
The 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.
As part of this unique partnership, the University of Kentucky and the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation have entered an 80-year land-lease to site the Livestock Innovation Center on 15 acres of the C. Oran Little Research Center farm in Woodford County.
Who is funding The construction of this facility?
In April 2024, the Kentucky General Assembly awarded the Kentucky Cattlemen's Foundation $22 million over two years for the construction of the center. This appropriation was passed in House Bill 1, which funded several one-time infrastructure projects from the state's budget reserve trust fund across the state.
Timeline
- April 2019
- The Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association completes a long-range plan with an objective to create a center dedicated to beef (or livestock) in Kentucky by 2025.
- Sept 2020
- Dr. David Williams presents to the KCA board of directors a list of strategic objectives that will advance the socioeconomic benefit of agriculture to Kentucky by fostering collaboration in research, education and marketing. The board unanimously approves the objectives and gives KCA the authority to pursue a center.
- April 2021
- A nine-member task force is formed to determine the location of the center. They select the University of Kentucky C. Oran Little Research Farm in Woodford County.
- August 2021
- The Kentucky Livestock Coalition forms a working group to discuss industry needs and goals and sponsors $10,000 for a Preliminary Architectural Report for the center.
- October 2021
- The Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation signs a Memorandum of Understanding with the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment to enter a long-term lease at the C. Oran Little Research Farm to locate the center.
- May 2022
- The Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation submitted an application to the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board to secure funding for the construction of the center. Although the application was not approved, the board recommended that the Foundation consider presenting the proposal to the Kentucky General Assembly in the upcoming budget session for potential funding opportunities.
- March 2023
- The Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation appoints a four-member Funding Steering Committee to oversee and guide the efforts to seek funding for the center through the Kentucky state budget.
- April 2024
- At the conclusion of the 2024 Legislative Session, the Kentucky General Assembly appropriates $22 million in House Bill 1 to fund the construction of the Livestock Innovation Center at the UK C. Oran Little Research Farm.
- May 2024
- The Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation appoints a seven-member oversight committee to spearhead the center’s construction efforts.
- November 2024
- The Construction Oversight Committee selects Branscum Construction (Russell Springs, KY) as Construction Manager for the Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center.
- February 2025
- The Construction Oversight Committee selects Sherman Carter Barnhart (Lexington, KY) as the Design Team for the Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center.
- Summer 2027
- Projected completion date.
