LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Leadership in Kentucky is serious when it comes to agriculture. Just one of many legislator-encouraged farm programs tied to the state economy is the annual Kentucky Beef Expo.

The Expo, which originated in 1987, has for the past several years been sponsored by The Kentucky Farm Bureau. This year’s purebred beef show and sale ran from March 2-4. There were 11 different breeds represented.

As usual, they were housed in the West Wing of the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center at Louisville. Participating breeds from around the state included Angus, Beefalo, Charolais, Chiangus, Limousin, Polled Hereford, Red Angus, Salers, Shorthorn and Simmental cattle.

Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Division Director of Show and Fair Promotion Steve Mobley said each year, the Expo presents a great opportunity for farmers across the state and beyond, as people from all over come to buy high-quality cattle at a competitive price.

Mobley said, “This is a good opportunity for farmers to improve the genetics of their herd, as quality cattle from throughout the Midwest are on display and up for sale at the Expo.”

One family conducting business at this year’s expo were the Clarks of Mt. Moriah Farm, located near Burgin, in Mercer County. Bob and Rob Clark maintain a herd of 60-plus registered purebred Angus cows, calves and bulls. Bob’s son, Rob, has been steeped in cattle husbandry since the mid-2000s.when he first joined the FFA.

Mobley knows Rob Clark from his previous FFA and cattle show activity. He recalled, “Rob was involved in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s youth livestock programs for many years. He participated in judging events, skill-a-thons, fitting clinics and other aspects of the program.

“He is a fine young man and will be a future asset to the cattle industry.”

Clark, now 23, said he got into farming “big time” in 2004 after he entered a farm contest that awards a cow to 4-H and FFA members who submit a winning essay. Capturing the Mercer County section of the Dustin Worthington Memorial “I Love Cows” contest encouraged him to think like a cattleman.

Later, at the 2008 North American International Livestock Expo in Louisville, he won top honors with his Junior Owned Grand Champion Bull. He also won Junior Owned Reserve Grand Champion Bull with another Mt. Moriah entry that year. Because of his previous dedication, Clark was awarded an FFA grant to help with his expenses for that show.

On a website are many photos of Rob’s show wins, at www.mtmoriahangus.com

For this year’s Expo the Clarks registered a purebred Angus bull, two Angus heifers to show. The younger Clark also brought a couple of senior yearlings to sell.

He is currently attending college at Morehead State University in Morehead, Ky., where he is majoring in animal science. In fact, he had exams the week of the show and arrived home only in time to load up last Thursday and take the animals to Louisville with Bob and mother, Kathy, who is a Mercer County extension secretary.

Clark said he likes the feeling of accomplishment he gets from successfully showing purebred livestock. “I like to think of it as a sport,” he explained.