1. Tom Keene Director Seminar March 25, 2016

2. Outline Personal history RCARS history Master plan Current work College focus Communications Outreach People & Conclusion Questions

3. Background Raised on Family Farm in Washington County, KY BS from UK in 1979 in Production Agriculture 1979 to 1989 Farm Manager, Spendthrift and North Ridge Farms 1989 to 2005 Creech, Inc. Logistics, Sales & HR 2005 to 2015 UK PSS Forage Agronomist (Hay, Biomass, Grazing) MS from UK in 2014 Plant and Soil Sciences 2016 Interim Director RCARS

4. Leadership American Forage and Grassland Council President, Treasurer National Forage Testing Association President National Hay Association Committee Work, Recipient of Claude Riley Award Kentucky Forage Grassland Council Treasurer, Technical Advisor Forage and Grassland Foundation Treasurer

5. RCARS History E. O. Robinson & F. W. Mowbray E. O. Robinson & F. W. Mowbray 1912 Set up Camp 1912 Set up Camp Largest Lumber mill in the world at that time Largest Lumber mill in the world at that time Denuded most everything as far as the eye could see Denuded most everything as far as the eye could see 1925 Turned it over to University of Kentucky 1925 Turned it over to University of Kentucky

6. What is RCARS? Inter-disciplinary facility envisioned to lift E. Kentucky Regional UK Presence (70 +15,000) Forestry Horticulture Plant and Soil Sciences Robinson Scholars Animal and Food Sciences Entomology Biosystems Nutrition and Family Life

7. Scope of Outreach

8. Master Plan UK - CAFE RCARS Robinson Forest Stewart Farm Agents and Directors Stakeholders

9. Plant and Soil Sciences Van Booven Grazing and Wildlife Research Forage Variety Trials Cutting Height Study Teff Study Sorghum Variety Trials Demonstration Plots East Kentucky Hay Contest Hemp and Chia

10. Forestry Forest Research Water Monitoring and Research “Classroom” Tree Identification Woodcenter & classroom Industry support Logging & coal Robinson Forest Technical Committee

11. Horticulture Vegetable Research Fruit Trees Hops High Tunnels

12. Education Robinson Scholars Regular Classes HCTC – UK CAFE Classes Woodcenter Utilization Classes GED Support Basic Nursing Classes

13. Research

14. Extension Disseminating research information More work to do Fine Arts Agent Work more closely with agents

15. Communications Tell our story Social Media YouTube Mountain Monday

16. Grow Appalachia Grow Breathitt County 32 First year families 22 Second year families 2 Youth applicants

17. UK Robinson Center Farmer’s Market Chairman Senior vouchers USDA – Farmers Market Promotion Program

18. Robinson Forest Camp Research Classes Hikes Retreats

19. SOAR Shaping Our Appalachian Region Agriculture Daniel Wilson

20. Tobacco vs. Coal End of Tobacco Program Ag Development Board Decline in Coal Production Loss of jobs POWER Partnerships for Opportunity and Workforce and Economic Revitalization

21. New Program Visions GED Education Center Ag and Trade Classes Distribution Center

22. Funding University and College support Grants Research collaborations Public support through the college Fees

23. Civic Engagement Local governments Local community activities Provide leadership Listen and give input where needed Good neighbor Auditorium

24. People My Family RCARS Family Eastern Kentucky Family Landmark Opportunity Epilogue

25. Thank you Questions?