The Kentucky Bluegrass Ranch Study Tour II was a great success and enjoyed by all who were able to attend the tour. The tour began on Sunday, May 22, in Louisville, KY. Attendees gathered for a wonderful banquet and were able to visit and share stories that had built up since the last tour. One impressive note was how many of the nearly 130 tour participants were first-time tourgoers.
The first full day began with breaking camp in Louisville and loading the buses (after a slight delay of waiting on a tardy bus) for a full day of sightseeing and learning. The first stop was to Hermitage Farm in Goshen, where we were treated to a demonstration of carriage driving by Jacob Arnold, a champion and world-renowned driver.
[inline_image file=”53c764023139e8f55a03743b1eb3d50b.jpg” caption=”Tour attendees enjoy a carriage driving demonstration by champion and world-renowned driver Jacob Arnold at Hermitage Farm in Goshen, KY.”]
Then it was on to Owenton for lunch, followed by a tour of Maple Heights Farm. Brain Forsee and his family own and operate the farm, raising cattle and row crops, and they are also one of the most renowned breeders of Southdown sheep in the U.S. After a great tour and wonderful hospitality, it was on to Lexington, where the buses unloaded.
[inline_image file=”9b95ed5b72677a56be23c852c9e21a6d.jpg” caption=”Brian Forsee, owner of Maple Heights Farm in Owenton, KY, tells tour attendees about the operation’s bred heifers.”]
Day two found us leaving the hotel bright and early to head over to Dunnville to tour the Tarter Farm and Ranch Equipment business. This family-owned business was very impressive in its manufacturing ability and the number of skilled employees it had churning out products.
[inline_image file=”3b382d30cd4b96178c19cbb454235d18.jpg” caption=”A group tours Tarter Farm and Ranch Equipment in Dunnville, KY.”]
The group split up in order to get to see different parts of the manufacturing process. After lunch, the group went to Branch View Angus and heard from James Coffey. After hearing about the family history and a great hay wagon tour of the farm, buses were loaded and went back to Lexington for the night.
[inline_image file=”011036393a628972653f5f635fbfe59a.jpg” caption=”Susan Lind and Lynn Arbon hop up on the mascot of the well-known fan manufacturer Big Ass Fans in Lexington, KY.”]
A change in plans on day three found each of the three different tour buses heading to another manufacturing company, Big Ass Fans, to see their three different divisions. It was enjoyable to see the innovation and youthful energy captured by this company. Who knew fans could be so interesting?
[inline_image file=”e6c7a3a4dfba85f7a98850f200d68aea.jpg” caption=”Tour participants visit Spendthrift Farm in Lexington, KY, which offers Thoroughbred studs for breeding.”]
Following this, we made the short drive to Spendthrift Farm to tour this magnificent farm where they offer Thoroughbred studs for breeding. Racing Thoroughbreds must be naturally bred, so they offer breeding service three times a day from their impressive lineup of past champions. You have to bring your mare to them to be bred, and it was extremely interesting to hear about their business model.
Early morning breakfast for cowboys
Visiting, laughing and a smile that enjoys
Friendship over the many years
As aging change appears
They are the nicest people in the land
Workers and doers of all they can
Kentucky Farms to visit
From homes and places to the exquisite
Relationships for generations
Requiring all of their attentions
Sponsored by the Western Livestock Journal
The memories and travelers are eternal
J. P. Hughes, tour attendee
We all met up for a quick lunch at the Blue Grass Stockyards in Lexington. We were then off to Mill Ridge Farm to see an impressive set of horses. They specialized in raising the colts on the mares. The highlight of this stop was staff bringing out buckets of carrots and letting the tourgoers hand-feed the colts and yearling fillies that ran up to the fence for a treat. I am quite sure many of these horses we had the opportunity to see had bright futures in racing.
[inline_image file=”b5eb85aa23ee4f5e4063c4f863350af4.jpg” caption=”Mill Ridge Farm”]
We went back to the hotel to freshen up, and then it was a fun night of good food, dancing and great camaraderie at the Round Barn Stable of Memories hosted by Mr. Bob Hall, Lee Hall and Julia Hall. What a fun evening enjoyed by all!
[inline_image file=”5a40829e48aff06bcd965dc1c3d8d59c.jpg” caption=”Tourgoers line up for an enjoyable evening of fun and fellowship at the Round Barn Stable of Memories, hosted by Bob Hall, Lee Hall and Julia Hall.”]
Day four found the group off to Golden Age Farm to see more cattle. This farm specializes in raising Wagyu and Angus/Wagyu cross cattle and taking them to finish to sell their meat directly to consumers. Then it was off to Spy Coast Farm. This multifaceted horse farm specialized in Standardbreds and had different parts of the farm dedicated to almost every area. They raise colts and have a stud barn where they collect studs.
[inline_image file=”cbd41f8be8ac2fb63951b0a438e8da41.jpg” caption=”Wagyu cattle roam at Golden Age Farm in Lexington, KY.”]
The barn was equipped with great vets working on breeding mares, and there was an impressive rehabilitation center for injured horses. There were also training grounds, and we were treated to lunch at an educational center. It was very interesting to hear about all aspects of this side of the horse world.
[inline_image file=”20072692ff2464c46550f13130be56f7.jpg” caption=”A mare nurses her foal on rolling green pasture at Spy Coast Farm in Lexington, KY.”]
Following a fantastic lunch, we were off to Hallway Feeds to see the impressive feed mill and business that Mr. Bob Hall has built. The precision and technology used there were impressive, to say the least. I would also like to comment on the great and loyal staff that was working there, and give a special thanks to Lee Hall, Anthony and Carly from Hallway Feeds for sharing time with us on the tour.
[inline_image file=”6cd735b17c09a91ba5d94e3720b43029.jpg” caption=”Tourgoers learn about operations at Hallway Feeds in Lexington, KY.”]
On Friday, day five, we were off to the Kentucky Horse Park. After spending a few hours at this impressive facility and seeing all sorts of horses, museums, history, events going on, etc., it was back on the bus. It would have been easy to spend all day there, but we had more stops for the day. It was back to the Blue Grass Stockyards for a better tour and to hear about their multiple locations around the state and learn more about the cattle industry in Kentucky.
[inline_image file=”273a049f1d3e7fc1734fc8efcb7b149c.jpg” caption=”J.P. and Elaine Hughes, Susan and Karl Lind, and Lynn and Gary Arbon visit Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY.”]
We had another great lunch there, and then we were off to Paris to see a stocker operator who specialized in buying calves, straightening them out and putting load lots together to ship west to the feedlots. His passion and enthusiasm were well received by the group. After a quick shopping excursion in Paris, it was back to Lexington to wind down for the night.
[inline_image file=”481f6f55eb1918dae3538958d5b030e4.jpg” caption=”Attendees gather around at the mystery stop at Integrity Land and Cattle in Paris, KY.”]
Saturday was the last day of the tour, and we were heading back to Louisville. This was a stop I know many were looking forward to all week. It was to Churchill Downs to watch some horse racing and “bet on the ponies.” After a tour and seeing the museum, all were treated to a great lunch at Millionaires Row. The rest of the afternoon was spent watching the horses run.
Betting is ‘Win, Place or Show’
The horse and rider are on the go
The enthusiasm on the betting
Are odds of winning and getting
Making noises for sheer joy
Some have left Earth’s employ
Excitement coming at the bend
Trumpet and a new race to blend
These are beautiful grounds
As the horses finish their rounds
The Kentucky Derby is an event
It is not a place to be content
The energy for two minutes
Is synergy of a minuet
Breeder, owner and trainer
Horse container and sustainer
The genealogy and the genetics
Every effort without synthetics
It is a historical culture
Resulting in financial rapture
It is the history
It is the mystery
J. P. Hughes, tour attendee
[inline_image file=”43386454f1f76895a988fee96bd57683.jpg” caption=”Crowds observe the saddling enclosure before race time at Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, KY.”]
Then, after a week full of great tour stops, wonderful hospitality and great camaraderie, it was back to the same hotel where we started the tour to wrap things up. Thanks to everyone who came on the tour, and we look forward to seeing you all next year! — Devin Murnin, WLJ fieldman
[inline_image file=”3112f75b47ca36eb9204b222b90dd02e.jpg” caption=”Attendees load up in a truck-drawn trailer to be taken to watch carriage driving at Hermitage Farm in Goshen, KY.”]
[inline_image file=”76739a516177f032007fcd171e79695a.jpg” caption=”Cattle at Maple Heights Farm in Owenton, KY, roam.”]
[inline_image file=”02b0470db0fbc8351d51d90be609c1e0.jpg” caption=”Attendees are loaded up and ready to tour Branch View Angus in Hustonville, KY.”]
[inline_image file=”30e0c08548382a384d51bd72e8144318.jpg” caption=”Karl Lind and Bob Hall share a conversation at Branch View Angus in Hustonville, KY.”]
[inline_image file=”16ce706e430f6a2be4852be85766b60e.jpg” caption=”One of Tarter Farm and Ranch Equipment’s buildings in Dunnville, KY.”]
[inline_image file=”b9ae98b908ce6b3f3703e4497eb53381.jpg” caption=”Bob Hall, John Taylor and Lee Hall enjoy a social hour to wind down the night at the Embassy Suites by Hilton in Lexington, KY.”]
[inline_image file=”dcf10b2ee434069b6dacb9ca0b7ef1e6.jpg” caption=”The impressive facilities at Blue Grass Stockyards in Lexington, KY.”]
[inline_image file=”6a2c9cfe4abd4124ba8915231212bba3.jpg” caption=”A horse-drawn trolley at Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington, KY, boards passengers.”]
[inline_image file=”4acaca8df43432f9ad0a764f51eae92e.jpg” caption=”Churchill Downs Racetrack in Louisville, KY.”]
(Click the Facebook icon on the top right of the Facebook post to view more photos on Facebook)
