Agriculture Department at Eastern Kentucky University-EKU

09/02/2026

My favorite thing about teaching smaller class sizes is the hands-on opportunity it creates for every student. Incubating chicken eggs is not a difficult task, but in our poultry production course we are holding students to industry standards. We follow industry protocols to teach students the importance of protocol, biosecurity, and data management. One doesn’t have to follow these strict protocols to hatch Eggs, but doing so holds students to a higher standard. And teaches them how to use excel for data management (which they are learning to love!). They also learn the basic skills to hatch eggs and raise chicks in a “backyard setting” for a homestead purpose. Stay tuned to see how the embryos develop!!

09/02/2026

Freshman students in the EKU Ag department were hosted by our seniors, faculty, and farm crew for welcome picnic at EKU Meadowbrook Farm. Despite the heat, we enjoyed a hog roast with classic sides and games. Thanks for all those who did the hard work behind the scenes! And for the freshman coming out for a good time. We love our AgFamily!
Quote of the night “I wish it was hotter” (Dr. Sexten)

EKUStem

09/01/2026

08/31/2026

Congratulations to our EKU Ag Family on a great KY State Fair!

EKU Ag Junior Sarah Anderson won Best in Show in the Open Rabbit show.

EKU Ag Junior Lance Munday had 3 of his goats make it into the Championship Drive! He had division 3 champion slick shear wether dam, division 1 champion slick shear wether dam, division 5 reserve champion heavy weight wether, and 4th overall division 4 fitted wether dams.

EKU Ag Junior Sarah Barron won KY Proud Heifer and Grand Champion Charolais Bull, and placed 2nd in class with her Charolais steer in the Jr Beef Show. In the Open Beef Show she won Grand and Reserve Charolais Bull. She was also named the Premier Charolais Exhibitor.

EKU Alumni Grace Cruse had Grand Champion Hereford Cow Calf Pair in the Open Beef Show.

Dr. Sexten's kids were also showing Herefords this week. William made the cut for Junior showmanship, placed 3rd in late senior heifers, and placed 3rd in late senior heifer calves in the Jr. Beef Show. In the Open Beef Show he placed 4th in late senior yearling heifer. Lucy Kate, showing for the first time at the KY State Fair and placed 1st in the late senior heifer calves in the open beef show.

08/30/2026

Congratulations to EKU Ag students Lance Munday and Sarah Barron on their success at the Kentucky State Fair this past week!

Lance had 3 goats in the Championship Drive and Sarah had the Grand and Reserve Champion Charolais Bulls in the open beef show. Both also had multiple class and division winners/ reserves across the junior and open shows for their respective species.

08/24/2026

Happy first day of classes to all our students! Check out our pictures below to see what faculty and staff would like to be when they grow up!

08/22/2026

EKU Agriculture Department helped kicked off the KY State Fair yesterday starting with the Commodity Breakfast hosted by Commissioner of Agricuktutre and EKU Ag Alumni Jonathan Shell!

There were so many EKU alumni hard at work making sure everything runs smoothly over the next couple weeks, there was no way to get pictures of everyone. Current faculty, staff, and students will be working and participating in many different capacities through the fair. Good luck to all the Colonels!

08/20/2026

That's a wrap for the Agriculture STEM Start, these students are ready for success!

08/20/2026

Days 3 & 4 Agriculture STEM Start

We said goodbye to Maywoods Lodge and headed back to campus for budgeting, checking schedules, skits, and finding balance as the fall semester kicks off.

08/20/2026

Day 2 Agriculture STEM Start

Hiking, maps, compasses, yellow jackets, frogs, team challenges, swimming, butterflies, and canoes.

We all got out of our comfort zone today. We had some successes and some failures but learned along the way and built relationships and skills to persevere.

Huge THANK YOU to the Hagan's for organizing and leading our orienteering competition!!