Clark Family Farm
Todd Clark is a first generation farmer in Lexington. He began helping a neighbor farmer as a young teenager and had his first tobacco crop at age 16. By the time Todd was 18, he was leasing a house and land and had branched out to cattle and hay operations.
By his early 20s, Todd had expanded his operation to leasing several hundred acres of land, purchasing his first farm when he was 24 years old. This original 72 acres served as the “home farm” for his current operation of over 400 acres, including pasture management, grass-fed beef, sheep, pasture-raised poultry, tobacco and hay. His location served as the basis for eventually providing grass-fed and pasture-raised meats, poultry and eggs. The central Bluegrass is known for its pasture and grass, and the farm is located in Lexington, which is a great market demanding local foods.
In 2002, the University of Kentucky Grazing School served as a catalyst for the farm’s current grazing management. The UK College of Agriculture, along with countless extension classes and trips to New Zealand and Australia, have helped to broaden his knowledge of land, water, and our part in managing these finite resources.
The farm sits in the Cane Run Watershed, which provides drinking water for nearby Georgetown. Todd manages his farm to ensure the animals do not pollute the water. Pasture management is also very intensive. Livestock are rotated on pastures and the chicken shelters are moved daily, providing the chickens access to fresh grass as well as leaving behind precious nutrients.
Todd said the challenge is to better understand the environment and how we fit into it. His goal is to improve and conserve our landscape for our families and future generations.
Teachers: If you would like access to our Google Drive with our reading lessons and quiz forms, please contact Jennifer Elwell at jennifer@teachkyag.org.