Frankfort, KY - Even in a down economy, opportunities for Kentucky farmers are still out there, although they may be a little harder to identify. But a major -even fun- opportunity for owners, trainers and fans of stockdogs will be easy to find in mid-May.
Those in the sheep and goat production industry have a few partners in the state that are helping them in their search.
The University of Kentucky (UK), Kentucky State University (KSU) and the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office (KSGDO) are doing their part to help producers and would-be producers learn the ins-and-outs of production and find new markets.
As a sign of the times in technology, the UK College of Agriculture and the KSU Cooperative Extension Program are now offering a new online course called Sheep and Goat Production in Kentucky.
The project is getting its funding from the Southern Region Sustainable Agriculture Research and Education (SARE) Professional Development Project. Southern Region SARE is a competitive grants program funded by the USDA and EPA to promote research and education about sustainable agriculture.
"The course is an introduction to the sheep and goat industry in Kentucky," said Ricky Yeargan, UK senior extension associate for agriculture and natural resources. "It offers an overview of the basic anatomy and nutrition specific to sheep and goats as well as lessons targeted to the use of forages and feedstuffs in the production of these animals."
Another major portion of the course will involve herd health and the specific diseases and other health issues that may affect goats and sheep.
Yeargan also said the course, while meant for beginning producers or those with an interest in the field, could prove to be helpful to experienced producers as a way to review practices.
"Developing the online course facilitated the training of farmer-instructors," he added. "They are knowledgeable in small-ruminant production and were able to assist fellow producers by assisting with field delivery of course content to interested producer groups."
The online program is just one of many projects affecting the Kentucky sheep and goat production.
Ray Bowman, executive director of KSGDO said there are many things happening in the industry which recently saw members vote in favor of a check-off program to help with the growing need for such initiatives as research and marketing.
"The check-off program is in place and we have been collecting since the first of the year," he said. "Even though we have had a few soft months, we're still doing pretty well. The folks making the contributions to the check-off are learning the system a little bit better, we're refining it a little bit as we go and we're in the process of establishing the board that will oversee the money and decide where the expenditures will be made."
Bowman added that while there were some producers that did not feel comfortable about the program, he feels that once they see there will be an overall benefit for sheep and goat producers as a result of this, the more reluctant will embrace the check-off more strongly.
Bring on the dogs
One upcoming event that should give the industry some beneficial attention is the Sheep and Fiber Festival that will take place May 15 and 16 at Masterson Station Park in conjunction with the Bluegrass Classic Stockdog Trials.
That competition is one of the longest-running, largest, and most prestigious trials for border collies in the country and will run from May 12 through the 16th. Bowman said that while the meat and dairy aspects of the industry have been addressed strongly, the fiber end has struggled because the state has not been a strong fiber state especially when it comes to goats. There are however, sheep producers looking for a market for their wool.
"It became very obvious that this was a need that had to be addressed. We talked to the folks with the Bluegrass Classic Stockdog Trials and they were looking for a way to offer alternative entertainment for people attending the dog trials and to bring more people in," he said. "As with any event you're always looking for ways to provide a better experience for your attendees. At the same time, Lexington Parks and Recreation was looking for a good way to utilize the space at the park especially while the stockdog trials were going on."
With the desire to promote the fiber sector of the industry, all those issues came together and the first Sheep and Fiber Festival was born.
"We decided what better compliment to the stockdog trials than a fiber festival," said Bowman.
After looking at other similar successful festivals of the same type, the planning began last year.
"I think it will be well received," said Bowman. "We are looking for a good turn- out and praying the weather cooperates."
Bowman also said this festival is more for finished products but if a market can be established, there will be a trickle-down effect for producers as people continue to go out and look for fiber.
"The producers who are now probably taking less than they want for their fiber, hopefully we can get to the point where that becomes a stronger and more valuable commodity to them, that's what we're shooting for."
The festival will feature 56 vendors with some bringing live animals like alpacas, sheep and goats, really anything that produces fiber, said Bowman.
Once the decision was made to feature fiber at the center of the festival, Bowman said they wanted to tie lamb to the event so there will a heavy focus on them by way of exhibits that will include cooking demonstrations and sheep shearing. The event will have youth programs involved as well such as FFA and 4-H.
For more information about the festival, go to http://www.kysheepandgoat.org. To learn more about the online course, contact Yeargan at ryear2@email.uky.edu.