Lexington, KY - More than 300 people attended the recent 2011 Fayette County Farm Field Day. Held at the Georgetown Road farm owned by Todd and Kristin Clark, the event drew people from various segments of Kentucky agriculture and other counties besides Fayette.
Held biannually, these events offer farmers and people in agricultural businesses the chance to learn about new products and services available locally. Commercial exhibitors and/or sponsors included Farmers Feed Mill, The Pond Lady, Southern States, Bagdad Roller Mill, and Bluegrass Stockyards.
Representatives from farm equipment companies, including Central Equipment, Bevins Motor Company, and Whayne Supply, answered questions about new tractors, crop sprayers, and other machinery. The tractors that drew the most interest were old , carefully restored by members of the Jessamine County Antique Tractor Club.
Staff members from several banks and agricultural credit organizations were there, along with representatives of the Jockey Club, Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders and Kentucky Cattlemen's Association. .
Farm Field Day also has an educational component. 4-H, the Farm Bureau, the Soil Conservation Service, and other organizations have informative displays. Several agriculture experts speak briefly.
This year's event included an update on tobacco research from UK College of Agriculture's Dr. Bob Pearce. Dr. Ray Smith, also from the College, spoke about pasture rotation for cattle and other grazing animals.
Farm Field Day's organizers always include young people who are interested in agriculture as a career. 4-H members and students from the new Locust Trace agricultural school's FFA (Future Farmers of America) chapter were among the young people who volunteered to help stage the event.
Nick Carter, Fayette County Extension Agent, said that this Farm Field Day as "a bit more on growing your own food, tied to direct marketing to the customer, and about raising multiple species on a piece of land. It's profitable and good for the land."
The demonstration for visitors to see was the Clark family's farm. They raise beef, chickens, turkeys, and sheep on rotating pastures. The chickens, in groups of 50, travel across the grass surrounded by their field shelters. The other animals are herded to new grazing fields.
Todd Clark described this farming method as "everything moves!" He said that using it allows "30 to 45 days of rest for the pasture, time for the grass to grow and nutrients to come back."
Another advantage of raising different species of animals--besides reducing risk-- is that they complement each other. "The chickens remove parasites that would affect the cattle," Clark explained. "The cattle remove parasites that would affect the sheep."
Clark said that some other farms are also using his method of raising diverse species together, but none are doing so on the same scale. He turned to diversity farming after losing tobacco production acres and, consequently, money.
Along with the diversity from raising animals the Clarks have a house that was included with 11 adjoining acres they bought in 2009. They rent this home to visitors who want to stay in the country and/or near the Kentucky Horse Park.
Another local farmer who minimizes his investment risk through diversity is Jim Wade, who raises 880 acres of corn, soybeans, and soft red winter wheat. "Twelve years ago I saw tobacco as having a troubled future," Wade said
Searching for alternative crops, Wade considered raising vegetables or grapes for wine. "I saw that they were both very labor-intensive. Grapes are cost-intensive to get into and it's four years before you start to make a profit," he said.
Wade has done well with his three different crops. "A lot more people are doing row crops than there were 10 years ago," he said.
"Todd and I are both part of the Farm Business Management program at the University [UK]," Wade noted. "He watches his numbers closely, and so do I." This program involves about 400 local farmers who keep track of production of various crops on their land. The data they report helps experts in the College of Agriculture know what's working and what isn't for local farmers.
Farm Field Day is also a social event for everyone involved. After Eleanor Peavy's Border Collies Robin and Teddy gave the Clarks' sheep a quick herding, attendees enjoyed a delicious meal of locally-grown foods.