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College News

Hall's Prairie Dedication Represents First for Kentucky

Hall's Prairie Dedication Represents First for Kentucky

Hall's Prairie Dedication Represents First for Kentucky

LEXINGTON, Ky.—

The University of Kentucky College of Agriculture will make history Saturday Oct. 20, with the dedication of Hall’s Prairie in Logan County near Auburn, Ky. A 117-acre family farm was donated to UK for tall grass prairie restoration. It will be the first of its kind in the state.

“J. Monroe and Judy C. Hall donated the land in 1998 as a gift to the College,” said Kathy Ibendahl, assistant director of agricultural alumni and development for the College. “Tom Barnes from UK’s forestry department is in charge of the development of the prairie and has begun planting rare native plants and wildflowers to attract rare butterflies and other wildlife.”

Ibendahl said Hall’s Prairie will be open to the public much like a state park, but different since guests will be able to interact more and take wildflower seeds home with them.

“We plan on developing trails and maybe even an educational center, once we raise the funds for that,” she continued. “We’re still taking donations.”

Some area youth groups already are making plans to use the prairie. The Auburn 4-H club is helping plant native plants and the Auburn local schools are going to use it as part of their outdoor classroom program.

Organizers of the dedication are planning a short ceremony at 10 a.m. The public is encouraged to attend and after the program, all guests are invited to plant some wildflower seeds in honor of the Hall’s commitment and vision for restoring the land to its natural beauty.

After the ceremony and planting, all guests are invited to a reservation-only luncheon at the Logan County Cooperative Extension office at 121 Spring St. in Russellville, Ky. The steak sandwich lunch will be provided by the Logan Co. Cattlemen’s Association. For more information, directions, or to make your luncheon reservation, call the UK agricultural alumni and development office (859) 257-7211.

Hall’s Prairie is located on U.S. Route 68 in Logan County, near Auburn, Ky. Refreshments and wildflower seeds will be provided.

Contact Information

Scovell Hall Lexington, KY 40546-0064

cafenews@uky.edu