LEXINGTON, Ky. - The Fayette County Farm Field Day will take attendees to Walnut Hall Stock Farm on Newton Pike on Wednesday, Sept. 9 for an afternoon of traditional agriculture coupled with information about Kentucky's storied horse industry.
"That's what we have tried to do, blend it all together," said Nick Carter, University of Kentucky Extension agent for agriculture and natural resources in Fayette County. "We are trying to show some history and talk about the future of what we see in standardbreds and with thoroughbreds."
The bi-annual event will include group sessions with informative talks by Andy Roberts, DVM on the state of the standardbred equine industry in Kentucky as well as a discussion of the thoroughbred industry by David Switzer, executive director of the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association.
Joe Nallia, farm manager at Walnut Hall Stock Farm will also present a demonstration on what is involved in the training of standardbreds. The event will feature tours that pertain to the traditional side of agriculture consisting of various stops. The tours will be conducted by way antique tractors pulling wagons of attendees. Topics will include information about Roundup Ready alfalfa, pasture evaluation program, pasture weed control, grass-fed beef cattle production, CPH 45 cattle sales and federal and state cost-share opportunities.
There will also be a demonstration of Centaur fencing, a type of non-conventional flexible fencing designed especially for equine use. The idea of showcasing the different agricultural sectors demonstrates the connections they have in this county said Carter.
"This is a way to blend all the different segments of agriculture together in Fayette County," he said. "We're all in it together and dependent on each other."
For years, farm field days around the state have been a showcase to local communities as a way to bring people of different backgrounds including business leaders, to the farm for information and fellowship.
"This is time to show that agriculture is a significant part of the business community in Fayette County," said Carter. "We're the second largest county in total ag receipts in the state."
And that is a sizeable number. The Kentucky Field Office of USDA's National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently released the farm commodities 2008 state cash receipt report showing a record total of $4.84 billion topping 2007's $4.52 billion mark by seven percent. The report indicated that the sell of horses and stud fees led the way totaling $1.08 billion or 22 percent of the state's total receipts while crop cash receipts made up 40 percent of Kentucky's total cash receipts. Corn sales accounted for 34 percent, soybeans made up 20 percent and tobacco made up 19 percent.
Carter said he hopes to see at least 300 attendees come to the event. For those making plans to attend, they must use the Newton Pike yearling entrance.
Registration starts at 3 p.m. and tours start at 3:45. As part of the activities, there will also be a free catered meal by Darrell Slone. For more information Nick Carter can be reached at the Fayette County Extension Office at 257-5582.