Justin and Kate Adams had a lot of work to do when they purchased their Princeton, Kentucky farm in 2016. Years of neglect resulted in low soil fertility and poor soil health. Neither of them had grown up on a farm, yet their passion for agriculture inspired their journey to regenerate the land and create Nurtured Lands Farm. On May 25, they will share their experiences at the 2023 Western Kentucky Summer Forage Tour.

“The tour features both their successes and mistakes along the way,” said Chris Teutsch, forage specialist for the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment. “It will be especially beneficial for persons new to ag or who are coming back to a family farm that has been let go.”

Teutsch said Justin and Kate will discuss budget and management decisions, partners and mentors that led to their success. They started with cattle, then added layer chickens in a mobile coop to reduce the fly population around the cattle. The pair still raise cattle but moved from a cow-calf operation to grass-finishing steers and added pastured broiler chickens in 2021. The couple will also discuss how they market chicken and beef directly to consumers and their partnership with Magney Legacy Ridge Farm coordinating farm-to-home deliveries. Most recently, Nurtured Lands Farm added forest-finished hogs.

Participants will take a walking farm tour, stopping at key locations. Justin and Katie, along with university and agency personnel, will show participants how they use strategic forages, animals and grazing techniques to rejuvenate the soil. Participants may ask questions and share practices. Tour stops and topics include:

• Soil health and fertility
• Rotational grazing
• Integrating multiple livestock species
• Watering systems for rotational grazing
• Mentorship in new farm success
• Building soil fertility through bale grazing
• Building and maintaining strong nutrient cycles
• Direct-to-consumer marketing
• Obtaining high-quality stored forage

The tour is 3-7 p.m. CDT, rain or shine. Meal cost is $10 per person. Participants must preregister at https://WestKyForageTourMay23.eventbrite.com. For more information, visit http://forages.ca.uky.edu. Nurtured Lands Farm is located at 546 Highway 293 North, Princeton, KY 42445. Organizers suggest each participant bring a lawn chair.

The forage tour is a cooperative effort of the UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, UK Grain and Forage Center of Excellence, UK Cooperative Extension Service, Kentucky Forage and Grassland Council, Kentucky Master Grazer educational program, Soil Conservation Districts of Kentucky, U.S. Department of Agriculture Natural Resource Conservation Service.