Garry Lacefield, University of Kentucky professor emeritus, recently received the Headliner Award from the Livestock Publications Council for his significant contributions to the livestock industry.  

During his 41-year career in the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, Lacefield was a forage extension specialist. In this role, he helped forage and livestock producers make management decisions to improve their forage production operations and ultimately, their profitability. He is world-renowned researcher of alfalfa and tall fescue and is the founder of the Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference, Kentucky Grazing Conference and the Kentucky Forages session during the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association annual conference.  

Lacefield was nominated for the award by Carey Brown, publications coordinator for the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association. Lacefield has had a strong relationship with the association throughout his career. He wrote a monthly column for the association and later, its publication “Cow Country News” for 30 years. He also helped with their annual forage-focused edition. 

“Dr. Lacefield is loved by his producers for his practical approach to forages in the livestock industry,” Brown said. “While he is known throughout the world for his research and worked with nearly every forage organization in the country, you will find his largest supporters are those farmers who he worked for each and every day. He was phenomenal at working with them to make changes to their forages to benefit the livestock industry.” 

He is the author of more than 300 publications, articles and papers. He is the co-author of several books including Southern Forages, The Wonder Grass, The History of the International Grassland Congress, Forage Crop Pocket Guide and Wildlife Pocket Guide. Southern Forages is the most widely used forage textbook in the world and has been distributed in 56 different countries and translated into many languages.  

“I have had the opportunity to work with some of the best producers in the country and some of the most outstanding scientists throughout the world,” Lacefield said. “I have only succeeded because I have had wonderful people to work with and for.” 

A native of Ohio County and a U.S. Army veteran, he received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Kentucky University and his doctorate degree from the University of Missouri.  

He has received numerous honors and awards over the years including being named a fellow of both the Agronomy Society of America and the Crop Science Society of America. He was Western Kentucky University’s Department of Agriculture Alumnus of the Year in 1989. In 1993, Progressive Farmer magazine named him their “Man of the Year in Agriculture.” 

Lacefield continues to be active in the forage industry and the UK forage program. He serves as an invited speaker, consultant and mentor to numerous individuals and organizations across the world.  

Lacefield resides in Bowling Green.