The University of Kentucky will host two regional fencing schools this fall to help livestock producers learn the newest fencing techniques and sound fence construction. The fall fencing schools will occur Nov. 9 at the Grand Rivers Community Center in Livingston County and Nov. 11 at Kentucky State University’s Harold R. Benson Research and Demonstration Farm in Frankfort. The schools begin at 7:30 a.m. and conclude at 4:30 p.m. local time. The Frankfort school will have a special focus on fencing for small ruminants. Chris Teutsch, UK forage extension specialist, started these one-day events in 2018 in Kentucky to help producers improve their grazing management.

“If you have ever driven around the countryside, there are a lot of fences but not a lot of well-constructed ones,” said Teutsch, extension associate professor in the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “One of the goals of this school is to help people get the basics of fencing down. That way they can build a strong, durable fence that will last 25 or 30 years, or if they decide to hire a contractor to build it for them, they will know what a well-constructed fence looks like.” UK specialists and fencing industry experts will use a mixture of classroom instruction and hands-on demonstrations to teach producers the basics of a well-built fence. An added bonus of the school is that the techniques producers learn can help them qualify for cost-share dollars from the Natural Resources Conservation Service for new fence construction.

Each school is limited to 30 participants, and the cost is $30 per person. This cost covers lunch, a fencing notebook and safety gear. Participants are encouraged to bring leather gloves for the hands-on portion of the school. Those interested in attending can register online for the Grand Rivers’ location and the Frankfort event.  Producers can also from the UK Forages Extension website and mail the completed form and payment to Carrie Thrailkill, UK Research and Education Center, 348 University Drive, Princeton, KY, 42445.

Producers are encouraged to register early, as spots will fill quickly. The registration deadline for each location is two weeks prior to the workshop. During the events, participants must follow current COVID-19 protocols. KFGC, UK Coop. Extension Service and KY Master Grazer Educational Program organize and sponsor the schools. Additional sponsors include KY State Univ. Coop. Extension Service, KY Ag. Development Fund and the KY Beef Network. Industry partners include Stay-Tuff Fencing, Gallagher USA, ACI Distributors and Ideal Farm Equipment. ~ Katie Pratt