Agriculture job growth is expected to outpace agriculture graduates over the next decade. Creative, forward-thinking agriculture professionals will be needed to meet this rapid growth and the challenges of this evolving Industry. EKU strives to provide students with real-world experiential learning, tackling issues including food production and security, energy production and management, and environmental issues. EKU Agriculture programs equip graduates to meet these challenges by emphasizing scalable production, environmental stewardship, economic development, and service to the community.
In the Eastern Kentucky University Department of Agriculture, we pride ourselves on experiential learning and industry networking.
Our students experience hands-on learning at our 1,000-acre production farm, in our greenhouses, teaching and research labs, mechanic shop, and garden and turf plots. Class sizes are small, and engagement is high. Faculty members routinely offer student opportunities for attendance to scientific/industry conferences, competitions, symposiums and more. As a result, our students can develop a professional network to assist them upon graduation.
The farm, consisting of 720 acres of gently rolling land suitable for various livestock and crop enterprises, 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. The farm has been in a state of constant development and now includes beef, dairy, swine, sheep, and goat livestock operations along with the cultivation of corn and other forage crops.
Whether you are an individual, a prospective student, or associated with a group, stop by and see what Meadowbrook Farm has to offer.
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.
Stateland Dairy, founded in 1912, is the second oldest program on Eastern Kentucky University’s campus.
The state-of-the-art facility houses 120 total animals consisting of day-old heifers to mature cows. Approximately 70 head are of lactating age at any one time. All animals are registered Holsteins and many can be traced back to five cows purchased in the 1920’s. The herd has been continuously registered in an improvement association since 1930. All breeding is done by artificial insemination. The cows are fed a silage-based ration of corn silage, cottonseed, alfalfa hay, and a concentrate mixture to balance a complete diet.
The agriculture department maintains and operates five greenhouses, landscape areas, specimen areas, and a shade house.
Horticulture students work with the greenhouse operations, garden displays as well as turf plots which are all located on campus. The facilities support programs encompassing greenhouse management, floriculture, landscape designs and nursery management.
521 Lancaster Avenue
A.B. Carter Building, Room 2
Richmond, KY 40475
859-622-2228
Fax: 859-622-6676
agriculture@eku.edu
