Episode 26 Madison County Fair

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[00:00:01.280] - Caleb Sadler

 Welcome to Beyond Agriculture, the podcast that takes you beyond the scope of AG and into the real life stories, conversations and events taking place in our community. Who we are and what we do is beyond agriculture.

[00:00:28.690] - Emily Murphy

I'm here with Brandon Sears, who is the Madison County Ag agent. And Brandon, could you please introduce yourself, maybe share how you got to where you are today?

[00:00:37.800] - Brandon Sears

Yeah, thank you for having me on. My name is Brandon Sears. I'm the Ag agent here in Madison county. I've been here about 18 years and been involved with the fair all those years that I've been here, and it's always just a great community event. I'm glad to be a part of it. Our extension office has a role in most parts of the fair, not quite everything, but we work with several different areas and groups within the fair.

[00:01:02.140] - Emily Murphy

So what would you say is the most remarkable part about your job?

[00:01:06.820] - Brandon Sears

Most remarkable part about my job is, I think, really just helping people and making an impact in the community and trying to make those one on one connections with people. There are so many opportunities for people to get information, but there's, I would say, somewhat limited ability for people to really make a direct connection and be able to talk to somebody one on one. So I think that's a real rewarding part of what I do.

[00:01:30.480] - Emily Murphy

So did you grow up in agriculture? How did you get involved in the industry?

[00:01:35.090] - Brandon Sears

I grew up a little bit in agriculture on a small farm back in Bullitt county, which is south of Louisville. So not a lot of big farms there, but kind of always in my blood, I always wanted to be involved with it. I wasn't sure what direction that would take me, but I ended up going to University of Kentucky in the College of Ag there and was able to land an extension job. And I've really enjoyed it, being able to make an impact in the community. And some of my graduate work was with research, but this is much different where I'm able to use the applied knowledge directly out in the field. So that's been rewarding.

[00:02:09.880] - Emily Murphy

So you said you've been an ag agent for 18 years, correct, 18 years. What would you say has been the biggest change, change in agriculture from then versus now?

[00:02:18.620] - Brandon Sears

The biggest change that I've seen is, I'd say, the way folks get information and the speed at which everything moves and goes, and just trying to stay on top of the ever changing and emerging ag industry. That's been a challenge and it seems like we have good ways to be able to do that, but there are also some challenges with that. But that's probably the biggest change I've seen.

[00:02:47.690] - Emily Murphy

Awesome.

[00:02:48.160] - Emily Murphy

So, with being an extension agent comes up with a lot of community involvement, and I know you've been at some recent events with Ag Credit. I know we saw you at Madison County Beef Day. So could you talk about some community involvement that you've done recently and just what your favorite part about that is?

[00:03:03.030] - Brandon Sears

Yeah. So Ag Credit has been a really good partner with extension for the whole time I've been here. So they're some of the first folks that I met here in the county years ago and have been very supportive in all the activities that we've done when we've asked for them to help. Yeah. So back in May, we had Beef Day here in the county, and that was a very successful event. And so, for my part, I was kind of in charge of the grill team. And so we had about 20 different people that grilled on four different grills out at the extension office, and we grilled a little over 1000 burgers in about 2 hours. So it was a pretty good undertaking, but it's just a really good effort to promote beef and the ag industry and be able to partner with local groups such as Ag Credit and our cattlemen's, and just be able to get everybody together and promote the ag industry. Beef is our big industry here in Madison cCountyounty.

[00:04:01.100] - Emily Murphy

Are there any factors that make Madison County's fair special compared to other counties?

[00:04:07.780] - Brandon Sears

I really think one of the strengths that we have is our facility here. We have about 70 acres that the fairgrounds owns, and so we've got a lot of room to have plenty of events in terms of the carnival rides. We have a mud track, a demo derby track, a pulling track. We have a real nice exhibit hall for our 4-H FFA and adult entries. And then we have another exhibit hall as well, where they have a stage for pageants and all that. So I would say our facilities, but I definitely want to mention the people that are on the board and involved as well. There's a lot of hardworking folks here. You know, there's about 25 people on the board, and they're all active and really pitch in, especially at fair time. I think we're blessed.

[00:04:52.450] - Emily Murphy

So, as you're in the midst of fair week, could you maybe give a day by day of what the rest of the week looks like for you as an Ag agent?

[00:04:59.140] - Brandon Sears

Yeah. So the rest of the week is pretty active. Of course, we've got beef show tonight, but tomorrow we're out here. The whole office will be working with our special needs opportunity for folks to come out to the fair and the carnival is partnering to turn on the rides without the lights and sound and all that, of course. And we're doing some activities on the extension side, some fun activities and games for some special needs youth. And so that's on the books for tomorrow. And then Thursday we'll be getting ready for our exhibit hall checkout and kind of wrapping that up. That'll finish on Saturday. So we're going to be working on our show totals from tonight, getting all that taken care of and getting our checks made out and making sure we get the premiums distributed. So we'll be working on that on Thursday and Friday. So still quite a bit of activity to go. And then we'll have tractor pulls Friday and Saturday. Occasionally I'll help with that. Hopefully we don't get rained out or maybe hopefully we do.

[00:06:02.310] - Speaker 4

Right.

[00:06:02.750] - Emily Murphy

Sounds like a really busy week ahead of you.

[00:06:04.510] - Brandon Sears

Yeah, still quite a bit. We're kind of right in the middle of fair, but it's a fun time.

[00:06:08.710] - Emily Murphy

It is a fun time, for sure. So to kind of wrap up, could you tell us just how agriculture has impacted your life as a whole?

[00:06:16.040] - Brandon Sears

Well, agriculture has really been a positive impact on me. Like I said, it's kind of always been in my blood and been an interest. But the path of agriculture in pursuing that led me to University of Kentucky, and I met my wife in plant pathology class in the College of Ag. And so, I mean, that set my path forward in a very positive and big way, of course. But then being able to work directly into industry with producers has been really rewarding. You know, not just the financial part of, you know, the job and all that, but just the relationships that I made and being able to partner with so many different groups has been really special. And feeling like you make a difference, you know, that's important. I mean, the older I get, I guess I reminisce on that a little bit more. You know, just kind of some of the things in life that aren't always tied to dollars and cents and things, it's relationships. And so that's important. So, and really just to kind of help preserve agriculture and our way of life. You know, it's not everybody's involved in agriculture, and that's fine, but there needs to be plenty of us involved as well to be able to get everybody fed and have, you know, economical source of food for not only the United States, but of course, the world.

[00:07:28.490] - Brandon Sears

So it's good to be involved in that industry. It's very dynamic. And for me, it's been really, really rewarding, and I've had a good career so far.

[00:07:36.500] - Emily Murphy

Awesome. I think we can all agree on that. Well, Brandon, thank you for being on here. We're really glad to have you, and we wish you the best for the rest of fair.

[00:07:44.230] - Brandon Sears

Absolutely. Thank you. Appreciate it.

[00:07:46.570] - Emily Murphy

I'm here with Kylie Burns, who is a show contestant here at Madison County Fair. Could you introduce yourself, tell us a little bit about what you're doing and how long you've been showing.

[00:07:56.770] - Kylie Burns

Hi. My name is Kylie Burns. I am from Madison county, and I've lived here all my life. I show cattle with my grandpa, and we show Charolias, so I really enjoy it, and I love being down at the farm and being able to spend my time out there and get to see what it's like raising livestock.

[00:08:13.730] - Speaker 4

Awesome.

[00:08:14.250] - Emily Murphy

What kind of steps do you do at home to prepare for this point?

[00:08:18.230] - Kylie Burns

It's not really just like going out and practicing with your cows. It's like a lifestyle. It's something you have to go out and do every day. You have to wash them, you have to walk them, teach them all the things that lead them up to be show ready.

[00:08:32.470] - Emily Murphy

And what would you say is your favorite part about showing at the fair?

[00:08:35.960] - Kylie Burns

I think my favorite part about showing at any fair in general is winning, of course. But also losing is a good opportunity to show you what it's like, because you're not always going to win. But I just like being able to show off all the effort I've put in and. Yeah.

[00:08:52.290] - Emily Murphy

So how many years have you been.

[00:08:53.700] - Kylie Burns

Showing for, in total? I've been showing for three years.

[00:08:57.070] - Emily Murphy

Wow. Awesome. Well, thank you for sharing with us.

[00:09:00.000] - Kylie Burns

Thank you.

[00:09:00.600] - Emily Murphy

I'm here with DaBurns at the Madison County Fair. And, Don, would you go ahead and tell us about yourself and what role you're playing in the fair this year?

[00:09:10.100] - Don Burns

My name is Don Burns. I live in Madison county all my life. I've been in agriculture ever since I was a little boy. My father raised cattle. I have been raising cattle now for at least 40 years. I love the cattle business. Madison county is one of the largest cattle producers in the state, and we just. I just love being around the cattle end of it and participating in Madison County Fair.

[00:09:44.110] - Emily Murphy

What would you say is the most unique aspect of the Madison County Fair?

[00:09:49.460] - Don Burns

The most unique is just all the events that Madison County Fair can, you know, has. There's so much for the kids to participate in, especially in the livestock end. They can show their animals and participate, learn what it's like losing, learn what it's like winning.

[00:10:12.300] - Speaker 4

Awesome.

[00:10:12.960] - Emily Murphy

Well, thank you for sharing with us. Really glad to have you on here.

[00:10:15.790] - Don Burns

All right, thank you.

[00:10:16.800] - Emily Murphy

So I am here with Gracie Cruse. And, Gracie, could you just introduce yourself, tell us about what you're doing here at the fair.

[00:10:25.150] - Gracie Cruse

Well, I am an exhibitor here at the fair tonight. I have my market heifer as well as a shorthorn heifer that I'll be showing, and I'm from right here in Madison county, and I'm really excited about it.

[00:10:36.590] - Emily Murphy

So how many years have you been showing for?

[00:10:38.450] - Gracie Cruse

Oh, gosh. I've been showing for probably about 14.

[00:10:44.050] - Emily Murphy

So you're very experienced?

[00:10:45.430] - Gracie Cruse

Yes, I've been shown since I was about five years old.

[00:10:47.700] - Emily Murphy

Oh, wow. So is this your last year?

[00:10:49.550] - Gracie Cruse

It is. It's my last junior year anyway, so it's pretty sentimental. It is. I just did a little photo shoot with my last market Heifer and excited to get those pictures back.

[00:11:00.670] - Emily Murphy

What kind of cattle have you been showing throughout the years?

[00:11:04.870] - Gracie Cruse

We started out with mostly Charolais and I. My first year, I had a little bottle calf, and then as the Years went on, I got into Hereford's. My sister stayed in Charolais for a while, and then I got into market, and I really enjoyed that. And this is my second year in market.

[00:11:20.750] - Speaker 4

Awesome.

[00:11:21.260] - Emily Murphy

So do you have any experiences in four h and FFa?

[00:11:24.420] - Gracie Cruse

I do. I was in both of them. I was officers for both. I was actually a regional officer for FFA, and I love both organizations.

[00:11:33.100] - Emily Murphy

What would you say is the biggest lesson you've learned, being in both of those for so many years?

[00:11:38.670] - Gracie Cruse

Maybe that teamwork makes the dream work, really. You know, throughout the years, I've had so many people that have supported me along the way, and I don't know that I could be where I am today without them helping me along.

[00:11:51.200] - Emily Murphy

Do you think that that's really applied in the show ring?

[00:11:53.690] - Gracie Cruse

Yes, it very much has. It's very much a family affair. If you don't have your family support, then you don't really have the fun that you should have. It's hard to get the cattle ready.

[00:12:05.680] - Emily Murphy

Well, that's awesome. So what's your next steps? If this is your last junior year showing, where does it go from here?

[00:12:11.580] - Gracie Cruse

Well, this is also my last year of college, so I hope to get a really good job working somewhere in the beef industry. You may see me behind the scenes on my little nephew showing in a few years, as well as I may show open for a few more years.

[00:12:26.850] - Speaker 4

Awesome.

[00:12:27.230] - Emily Murphy

So where do you go to school at?

[00:12:28.520] - Gracie Cruse

Eastern.

[00:12:29.090] - Emily Murphy

Eastern and what's your major?

[00:12:30.520] - Gracie Cruse

I'm an ag business major.

[00:12:32.200] - Speaker 4

Awesome. Awesome.

[00:12:34.020] - Emily Murphy

So what would you say is the most unique aspect of the Madison county fair?

[00:12:40.900] - Gracie Cruse

I don't know. Maybe just the people. This is one of the only, if not the only fair in the county where Ag Credit and them sponsor the beef cattle show to get in for free. That and the payout both draw a huge crowd, usually. So usually we have a bigger show, we have a more fun show, and it's just a really exciting night for competitors.

[00:13:04.980] - Speaker 4

Awesome.

[00:13:05.360] - Emily Murphy

So to wrap up, if you could describe how agriculture's impacted you in one word, what would that be?

[00:13:13.800] - Gracie Cruse

Lifelong.

[00:13:15.800] - Emily Murphy

Wow. Is there anything else to go behind that?

[00:13:19.560] - Gracie Cruse

I don't know.

[00:13:20.530] - Emily Murphy

Well, good. Well, thank you for sharing with us, Gracie. It was really good to hear from.

[00:13:23.410] - Gracie Cruse

Thank you.

[00:13:26.890] - Speaker 8

This episode of Beyond Agriculture is brought to you by central Kentucky Ag Credit. Thanks for listening to the podcast. Be sure to visit agcreditonline.com/beyondagriculture, access the show notes and discover our fantastic bonus content. Also, don't forget to hit the subscribe button so you can join us next time for Beyond Agriculture.

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