Farmers, families and anyone interested in agriculture and the future of farming are invited to take part in this year’s Farm and Family Field Day, coming up next month at R&J Farms in Garrison.
The event will be held Thursday, September 10th, at R&J Farms, located at 693 Cattle Run in Garrison, with registration beginning at 5 PM.
The evening will get underway with registration, a food line and a dessert contest, with entries for the contest accepted until 5:30. The program officially begins at 6 PM with a welcome, followed at 6:15 by a question-and-answer session featuring farm owner Robert Jones, along with representatives from the Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Division of Forestry.
The discussion will focus on diversified farming operations, including topics such as bees, freezer beef, timber and other opportunities available to local producers.
The evening will also include highlights from local businesses and agricultural organizations, along with door prizes. Attendees will hear from Dr. Steve Higgins of UK Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering about farm efficiency and innovations, and there will also be an opportunity to take a self-guided tour of the farm.
Organizers say this is a chance to learn more about agriculture right here in our region, meet others involved in farming and see some of the ways local producers are adapting and finding new opportunities.
The 2026 Farm and Family Field Day is set for Thursday, September 10th, with registration beginning at 5 PM at R&J Farms in Garrison.
One important note for anyone planning to attend: parking at the farm is limited, so organizers strongly recommend carpooling. And don’t forget to bring a lawn chair.
The event is being presented through the Carter and Greenup County Cooperative Extension Service and the Carter County Soil Conservation District, with support from local agricultural organizations and the East and West Carter FFA chapters.
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The Carter County Soil Conservation District is announcing the start of its 2026 Fall Chemical Cost Share program which began this week and is set to continue until available funding runs out.
The program provides a 50/50 cost share for the Noxious Weed Program and is available to Carter County residents who have a valid Carter County Farm Number.
There is an important change to the program this year. Each farm number may be used for only one reimbursement, with a maximum reimbursement of $80.00.
To qualify, purchases must be made on or after September 1st. Purchases made before September 1st will not be eligible for reimbursement, and cash purchases will not be accepted.
Participants must provide proof of purchase, including a receipt, along with either a copy of the cancelled check or documentation showing the purchase was made with a credit or debit card.
Reimbursements will be issued once a month to those who participate, while funding remains available. Receipts should be submitted to Courtney Bond at the Carter County Soil Conservation District, located at 526 East Main Street in Grayson. For more information, you can call the Carter County Soil Conservation District at 606-474-5184, extension 3, or 606-939-2824.
Again, the 2026 Fall Chemical Cost Share is now actively underway and each valid Carter County Farm Number may be used for one reimbursement of up to $80.00, while funding remains available.
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The Carter County Clean-Up campaign continues this week, with crews operating on the West end of the county. Dumpsters will be available for public use at the county maintenance garage located along US 60, and clean-up personnel will be on hand to help unload items each day from 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM, today through Friday.
As a reminder, the list of items not accepted has been updated. Crews will not collect refrigerators, deep freezers, televisions, household garbage, paint, tires, or batteries. And all materials brought to the site must be bagged or boxed — no loose items will be accepted. The County Clean-Up runs on a rotating schedule, alternating between the East and West ends of Carter County every two weeks. After this week’s collection, dumpsters are scheduled to return to the Grayson maintenance garage from September 16th through the 18th.
This valuable community service is made possible by the Carter County Solid Waste Department, who continue to support these efforts to keep our neighborhoods clean, safe, and beautiful. Again, dumpsters are open today through Friday, 8:00 AM to 2:30 PM, at the West end site in Olive Hill.