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What is the project?
The project will create a new facility on the 1,500-acre University of Kentucky C. Oran Little Research Center in Woodford County. This facility, the Livestock Innovation Center, will serve as a key resource for industry through continuing education and training as well as a culinary training center to teach proper techniques from the preparation and handling of meat. The center will also provide a large classroom and meeting space to fulfill its purpose and mission.
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 proposed facility will be an estimated 34,000 square foot building encompassing both public and private spaces.
Instructional Space (public space)
The facility will provide a large, sub-dividable, and flexible instructional space to create an environment that fosters educational opportunities to improve aspects of the production, food, and retail industries. The innovative nature of the center will develop technologies to support producers in improving sustainability, safety, traceability, agri-technology, and animal welfare along the entire food supply chain.
The instructional space will play a considerable role in the development of immersive education models to allow students of all ages to participate in developmental opportunities, foster a sense of shared learning and community, and pursue opportunities for personal growth in the agriculture and food industries.
This facility, with its advanced technological capabilities, meeting spaces, available parking and proximity to the state capital, will also provide a central location for the organization of statewide incident response.
Culinary Training Center (public space)
The facility will include a meat fabrication room with an attached walk-in freezer and cooler that allows for demonstrations and trainings for students, retail and foodservice professionals, processors, chefs, and producers who sell direct to market. The meat fabrication room will be fully equipped with an overhead rail and tables for meat carcass breakdown demonstrations. The demonstration kitchen will allow for food safety, preparation, marketing, and culinary training. The demonstration kitchen will also provide a place to market, promote, and educate the public on the benefits of animal protein, as well as demonstrate food safety through shelf-life research and proper handling and storage techniques.
Offices (private space)
The Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association (KCA) and the Kentucky Pork Producers Association (KPPA) will be headquartered at the Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center. Space is available for additional agriculture organizations to be headquartered at the facility.
Instructional Space (public space)
The facility will provide a large, sub-dividable, and flexible instructional space to create an environment that fosters educational opportunities to improve aspects of the production, food, and retail industries. The innovative nature of the center will develop technologies to support producers in improving sustainability, safety, traceability, agri-technology, and animal welfare along the entire food supply chain.
The instructional space will play a considerable role in the development of immersive education models to allow students of all ages to participate in developmental opportunities, foster a sense of shared learning and community, and pursue opportunities for personal growth in the agriculture and food industries.
This facility, with its advanced technological capabilities, meeting spaces, available parking and proximity to the state capital, will also provide a central location for the organization of statewide incident response.
Culinary Training Center (public space)
The facility will include a meat fabrication room with an attached walk-in freezer and cooler that allows for demonstrations and trainings for students, retail and foodservice professionals, processors, chefs, and producers who sell direct to market. The meat fabrication room will be fully equipped with an overhead rail and tables for meat carcass breakdown demonstrations. The demonstration kitchen will allow for food safety, preparation, marketing, and culinary training. The demonstration kitchen will also provide a place to market, promote, and educate the public on the benefits of animal protein, as well as demonstrate food safety through shelf-life research and proper handling and storage techniques.
Offices (private space)
The Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association (KCA) and the Kentucky Pork Producers Association (KPPA) will be headquartered at the Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center. Space is available for additional agriculture organizations to be headquartered at the facility.
Where will the facility be located?
Who will maintain the facility?
The overall operation and annual maintenance of this facility will be managed by the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation, a Kentucky 501(c)(3) nonprofit incorporated in 1993. Currently, the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation maintains the headquarters of the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association.
All industry groups who rent or utilize the building will pay a prorated annual fee to the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation to cover shared maintenance and utilities, including the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association and its entities. Additionally, recurring programmatic costs will be supported through state and federal resources, including industry checkoffs.
All industry groups who rent or utilize the building will pay a prorated annual fee to the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Foundation to cover shared maintenance and utilities, including the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association and its entities. 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). Universities provide industry-specific research and a ready pool of graduate and undergraduate students that industry may access for their work demands. In return, industry can conduct essential workforce training that is not available in classroom courses. Collaborations provide a strengthening of the entire industry for local and regional economic development.
This will be the partnership between the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment and the Kentucky livestock industry.
Ultimately, the development of a private-public partnership would consist of the Livestock Innovation Center, which would serve as a key resource for industry through continuing education and training, and the UK Meats and Foods Workforce Development Center, which would provide innovative and modern “hands-on” training and research required for workforce development for the processing industry. Strategically, with the benefits of the livestock research units already in place on the farm, these facilities will complement and synergize the livestock industry in Kentucky.
This will be the partnership between the UK Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment and the Kentucky livestock industry.
Ultimately, the development of a private-public partnership would consist of the Livestock Innovation Center, which would serve as a key resource for industry through continuing education and training, and the UK Meats and Foods Workforce Development Center, which would provide innovative and modern “hands-on” training and research required for workforce development for the processing industry. Strategically, with the benefits of the livestock research units already in place on the farm, these facilities will complement and synergize the livestock industry in Kentucky.
Who is funding 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.
- The Construction Oversight Committee selects Branscum Construction (Russell Springs, KY) as Construction Manager for the Kentucky Livestock Innovation Center.