Eastern Kentucky University | 859-622-1000 | admissions@eku.edu
EKU Logo
EKU Logo
Apply Now Get Info Search
  • EKU
  • Meadowbrook Farm
red barn in the distance on a sunny day

Meadowbrook Farm

Meadowbrook Farm
485 Whitt Road
Richmond, KY 40475

859-622-9002
Fax: 859-622-2397
meadowbrook.farm@eku.edu

Farm Virtual Tour

Meadowbrook Farm

In the early 1970s, the EKU Agriculture Department documented the need to expand its laboratory facilities to include opportunities for students to work with livestock and crop enterprises that were not available at Stateland Dairy. Meadowbrook Farm was established by Eastern Kentucky University in 1974 for the purpose of providing practical experience for the students studying agriculture or related subjects while serving as a learning resource for the general agriculture community.

Meadowbrook Farm consists of 1060 acres of gently rolling land suitable for various livestock and crop enterprises. The farm has been in a state of constant development and now includes beef, dairy, swine, and sheep livestock operations along with the cultivation of pumpkins, corn, and other forage crops. This allows us to provide fresh beef and pork to Case Dining and the community at large. The farm also has an on-site food composting facility in conjunction with the Office of Sustainability and EKU Dining.

The Farm is a teaching laboratory that supports academic programs within the EKU Department of Agriculture and also provides outreach to the community. Students and visitors have a unique opportunity for hands-on experiences and to observe practical applications of agricultural practices. Whether you are an individual, a prospective student, or associated with a group, stop by and see what EKU Farms has to offer.

Use of the facilities for classes, field trips, laboratories, and tours may be scheduled by emailing meadowbrook.farm@eku.edu. Individual visitors are also welcome.

With advance notice, a guided tour can be arranged. The farms are open year round during traditional work hours and at other times by appointment.

The beef operation consists of cow-calf, backgrounding, and finishing enterprises. The cow herd consists of 150 head of crossbred cows. Both spring and fall calving herds are maintained to complement the instructional programs in the Department of Agriculture at EKU.

The backgrounding enterprise consists of growing purchased and raised steers and heifers from approximately 450 pounds to 800 pounds on a high roughage ration that is primarily corn silage balanced for protein and mineral requirements. Approximately 400 head will be fed per year. The finishing operation consists of placing 800 pound steers on a high grain ration and fed to approximately 1200 pounds. This is done solely to support the instructional program and will use 25 or fewer head per year.

The swine operation is a farrow to finish program that utilizes an enclosed farrowing-nursery unit and a modified open-front confinement finishing facility. The ration is a customized pellet for every state of development. The average size of the sow herd is 15-20 head in a modified group housing setting. Approximately 800, 250-pound hogs are marketed annually.

The sheep flock consists of approximately 75 mature Katahdin Ewes. Lambing takes place from February to March with the lambs being marketed as early in May and June as possible. About 140 lambs are produced and sold annually.

Students are involved in every step of the process including: artificial insemination, weighing out, processing piglets, and managing pig pens. Students often utilize the facilities for independent research projects.

The cropping program consists of approximately 80 acres of corn for corn silage, 300 acres of mixed grass dry hay, 400 acres of cool season grass pastures, 20 acres of experimental native warm season grass pastures, and roughly 60 acres of pure alfalfa that is harvested for alfalfa balage (fermented high moisture alfalfa hay).

In 2024 the farm started growing 4 acres of pumpkins for campus and the community at large. Future plans include a sunflower field for the campus and community to utilize for photography purposes.