W I LD C AT C ANT E R
UK SIGNATURE
INDUSTRIES
CAREER FAIR
[ PAGE 6 ]
WEEKEND OF SERVICE IS NOV.
1-2, 9
[ PAGE 9 ]
BRAVEHEARTS
EQUINE CENTER
GIFTS PASSENGER
VAN
[ PAGE 12 ]
EDITORIAL STAFF
Mei Mei Baileys, contributor
Brittany Ray, contributor
Bethany Smith, contributor
Holly Wiemers, MA, APR, senior editor, contributing writer, layout
CONNECT WITH US
N212 Ag Sciences Building North Lexington, KY 40546-0091
(859) 257-2226
equine@uky.edu equine.mgcafe.uky.edu
EDITORIAL BOARD
Alicia Benben, MEd, academic coordinator
Camie Heleski, PhD, senior lecturer
Krista Lea, MS, coordinator, UK Horse Pasture Evaluation Program
Mary Jane Little, MS, academic coordinator
James MacLeod, VMD, PhD, director
Savannah Robin, EdD, lecturer of career and professional development
Jill Stowe, PhD, director of undergraduate studies
Megan Wulster-Radcliffe, PhD, director of strategy of equine initiatives
Cover photo by UK Ag Communications
Graphic design by Ag Communications Services, LouRae Stacy @UKAgEquine @ukequineprograms
UK SIGNATURE INDUSTRIES CAREER FAIR SUCCESSFULLY PRESENTS JOB SEEKERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES
On Sept. 25, more than 550 job seekers took advantage of face-to-face time with employers from Kentucky’s signature industries of agribusiness, distillation and equine.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 6
EQUINE WORKPLACE CONDITIONS STUDY UNDERWAY
We invite you to take part in a research study conducted by the University of Kentucky to gather your input on equine workplace conditions.
CONTINUED ON PAGE 11
GENEROUS DONATION BY BRAVEHEARTS EQUINE CENTER HELPS ENABLE UK EQUINE STUDENT ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION
There are many experiential learning opportunities in and around Lexington, but not all college students are able to take advantage of them because they don’t have access to a vehicle.
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UPCOMING EVENTS & IMPORTANT DEADLINES
NOVEMBER
11/1-2, 9
DECEMBER
12/2
ESMA Experiential Leearning Showcase
12/18
Graduation Open House
Full event listings and details can be found here.
CLUBS & TEAMS DIRECTORY
DRESSAGE TEAM
Advisor: Jill Stowe, jill.stowe@uky.edu OfficialUKDressageTeam@gmail.com uky.dressage
EQUESTRIAN TEAM, IHSA
Advisor: Meghan Wulster-Radcliffe, meghan.wulster-radcliffe@uky.edu
HUNT SEAT TEAM
Uk.equestrianteam@gmail.com UKequestrianteam
WESTERN TEAM
Ukwesternequestrian@gmail.com
University of Kentucky Western Equestrian Team IHSA
EVENTING TEAM
Advisor: Jill Stowe, jill.stowe@uky.edu ukeventing@gmail.com ukeventing
HORSE RACING CLUB
Advisor: Laurie Lawrence, llawrenc@uky.edu
UKY Horse Racing Club
POLO TEAM
Advisor: Roger Brown, rogerbrown@uky.edu wildcatukpolo@gmail.com
U of Kentucky Polo
RANCH HORSE TEAM
Advisor: Mary Jane Little, maryjane.little@uky.edu
ukranchhorseteam@gmail.com UKranchhorseteam
RODEO TEAM
Advisor: Maggie Maynard, maggie.maynard@uky.edu ukrodeoteam@gmail.com
UKY Rodeo Team
SADDLE SEAT TEAM
Advisor: Mary Rossano, mary.rossano@uky.edu uksaddleseatteam@gmail.com
UKY Saddleseat Team
IN ADDITION TO THIS PUBLICATION, UK AG EQUINE PROGRAMS HAS OTHER READS IN ITS PUBLICATION STABLE.
CHECK OUT THE LATEST ISSUES OF THE EQUINE SCIENCE REVIEW OR THE GRADUATE GALLOP OR SUBSCRIBE HERE.
UK SIGNATURE INDUSTRIES CAREER FAIR SUCCESSFULLY PRESENTS JOB SEEKERS WITH OPPORTUNITIES
by Holly Wiemers
photos by UK Ag Communications
Ambition successfully paired with opportunity recently during the annual University of Kentucky Signature Industries Career Fair. On Sept. 25, more than 550 job seekers took advantage of faceto-face time with employers from Kentucky’s signature industries of agribusiness, distillation and equine.
Students representing 76 different majors across 12 different UK colleges and 12 other universities attended the event. Additionally, 31 alumni or non-student job seekers were on hand to meet with more than 250 representatives of the 77 employers present.
“It is increasingly our responsibility in higher education to introduce our students to the essential skill of networking. Seeing this happen
in live form through this event is always a highlight of my career,” said Savannah Robin, event coorganizer and lecturer of career and professional development within the Martin Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment and UK Ag Equine Programs. “There is no better way to build this skill than by practicing it and doing that within the industry they plan to work in.”
UK Ag Equine Programs began a standalone equine career fair in 2009. In 2022, the college’s equine and distillation programs joined forces to provide enhanced career opportunities to Kentucky and regional college students for two of the state’s most recognized industries. This year, an agribusiness emphasis joined the career fair for job seekers and
prospective employers to meet.
Ilka Balk, the other co-organizer of the event and associate director of the James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits, also reflected on the satisfaction in seeing job seekers and prospective employers successfully match up.
“Seeing the students ‘work’ the fair to make the best first impressions and then follow this up with their impressive resumes and accomplishments is truly fantastic to witness,” Balk said. “The students kept our employer representatives busy the entire time, and I am confident this fair is the beginning of many students’ future internships and full-time careers.”
One of the students who took advantage of the face-to-face time,
gaining valuable networking experience, industry insight and improved professional skills was Mei Mei Baileys, an equine science and management junior.
“The Kentucky Signature Industries Career Fair was an excellent opportunity to focus my attention to employers from the equine and agribusiness industries. As a junior, being able to have multiple businesses with possible job and internship opportunities in one place allowed me to see what everyone offers in a short time frame,” Baileys said. “Networking is a large part of the equine and agriculture industries, so having the ability to do that was extremely valuable. I now have a better idea of what companies and employers I want to work with in the future.”
That sentiment was echoed by Kennedy Burr, a marketing and agricultural economics senior.
“The Signature Industries Career Fair was filled with employers that showed a genuine interest in the community and prospective applicants from UK,” Burr said. “This event was a great way to network with important companies and get our names into the professional world. I left the fair feeling confident in myself and ready to tackle my future career path.”
For Isaac Downs, a senior business management major with an international business minor, who is also enrolled in the distilling wine and brewing sciences certificate, attending the fair helped him explore multiple positions he’s interested in after graduating.
“Seeing Kentucky’s biggest industries made me proud to be from Kentucky and excited to see what they hold for me,” Downs said. “Going to the career fair was extremely helpful in kickstarting the postgrad job search and meeting professionals in the industry I aspire to work in.”
Aslihan Spaulding, chair of the Department of Agricultural Economics was impressed by the number of students and employers that participated.
“It was great to see the representatives from the agribusiness industry engaging with our exceptional students, fostering meaningful conversations about career prospects, internships and academic paths. I was particularly impressed by the significant number of freshman students who attended the fair,” Spaulding said.
Buffalo Trace Distillery, under Sazerac, has been a longtime participant of UK’s fair. According to Nick Eimers, distillery assistant manager and UK alum, the company continues to participate because they’ve found a lot of great job candidates at the fair.
“We really enjoy meeting people in person,” Eimers said. “Doing interviews over Zoom calls is always a good option but actually meeting people in person and getting a first impression, going through their experiences and what their desires are long term in their careers, it just all kind of works.”
A representative from Farm Credit Mid America, the event lunch and student resource room sponsor, echoed that sentiment.
“We decided to participate again this year because we are a rural lender and financier and we know that UK produces really good quality students and they have a really good program here,” Joshua Southerling, HR generalist, who is also a UK alum, said. “It just makes sense for us to be involved and engaged in the students here with the university.”
Becky Gilchrist, educational coordinator, and Jen Zimmerman, event coordinator, both from Spy Coast Farm, stressed the importance of connections in building a career.
“Every job I’ve ever had has led from one into the other, so it’s great to connect at these kinds of events,” Gilchrist said. “We attend this fair because we find great candidates for our internship program as well as employees. We have employees on the farm that are UK graduates as well.”
Zimmerman, a UK equine alum, was shared as a case in point.
“I think the career fair is really a special moment for all of us to get together because there are so many alumni at this event. I’m glad that we’re all wearing alumni stickers today. I was at this career fair as a student only two years ago and I was very intimidated to go and start talking to employers,” Zimmerman said. “But seeing that alumni sticker that somebody went through the program that I went through is really easy to start the conversation with. You know, you have a mutual connection. So really try and network with alumni.”
The fair was applicable to students finishing up their academic careers as well as those starting out.
“As a freshman just starting school in MG-CAFE, I did not go to the career fair in search of anything in particular. I went just to explore options and opportunities that could potentially be available,” said Matthew Mitchell, an agricultural economics major. “I was very satisfied with the information I got and people I had conversations with, and I would definitely recommend this career fair to anyone seeking opportunities within the agricultural industry.”
On the other end of the journey, equine senior Bethany Smith reflected on the importance of the event.
“As I prepare to graduate, attending the Signature Industries Career Fair is an important step for me to explore potential career opportunities, gain insight into different industries and build meaningful connections with professionals in my field,” Smith said. “This experience has not only helped me better understand the pathways available after graduation but also allowed me to begin establishing relationships that can guide and support my professional growth in the equine industries.”
The 2025 Weekend of Service signups are now live! This is your chance to give back to our beloved equine industry through a weekend of goodwill and networking. Follow the link below to secure your time, location and t shirt size. This year we are proudly serving African Cemetery No. 2 on Nov. 9 and BraveHearts Equine Center and Central KY Riding for Hope on Nov. 1-2.
If you need transportation, it will be offered to African Cemetery No. 2 and BraveHearts Equine Center. Please email equine@uky.edu to secure your seat and note, seats will be available on a first come, first served basis. We hope to see you all out and about!
https://www.signupgenius.com/go/30E0B4CAFAB2FABFA7-59083105-2025
HIGHLIGHTS
Explore Australia’s Equine Industry with visits to equine facilities, breeding farms, and racing operations
Guided experiences at the worldrenowned Australia Zoo
Deepen cultural understanding with an Aboriginal-led cultural tour
Experience Australia’s landscapes on horseback while also visiting rural communities local vineyards, and regional industries
Fernanda
Camargo
Holly Wiemers
We invite you to take part in a research study conducted by the University of Kentucky to gather your input on equine workplace conditions. We anticipate this survey will take about 10-20 minutes of your time.
To access the survey, please use this link: https://uky.az1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eQHcu78L6toQ8FE
C. Jill Stowe, research faculty in the Department of Agricultural Economics, is in charge of this study. If you have questions about the study, you can contact Dr. Jill Stowe at (859)257-7256 or at jill.stowe@uky.edu
