LEXINGTON, Ky. — Kentucky’s second-largest school district is partnering up with the thoroughbred industry to expand what it currently offers to middle and high school students who are interested in future careers in the equine industry.
School leaders are investing time and financial dollars to support college and career readiness for students in Fayette County to create a school-to-farm employment pipeline that will change the lives of students for generations to come.
"People of all races have a rich history. In a thoroughbred industry and we want this generation of students, to not only see themselves in that history but also to take ownership for writing their own future," explains Manny Caulk, Superintendent of Fayette County Public Schools
Starting this fall, more than 2,400 middle and high school students who may not have had previous access to explore the equine industry will now have that opportunity, thanks to a new partnership between the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association and Fayette County Public Schools.
"Once you get inside the door of the horse industry, it is really eye-opening as to how many avenues there are, but most of them fall back onto that baseline of horsemanship skills. And so with that, they could go anywhere you could go to, you know, work for a vet clinic, racetrack, a sale company, transportation, insurance, banking. I mean there's so many opportunities so it really is up to them, you know, once they get in and they see where those opportunities are, but without being in there, you don't know they're out there," mentions Braxton Lynch, Chair, Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, and Kentucky Thoroughbred Owners & Breeders, Inc.
Students who sign up for the 9-week course, will get hands-on learning the ins and outs of a full-fledged farm, receive experience on how to operate a veterinary clinic, and have access to use an indoor arena and stable for livestock shows.
"I've never really been good in the like sitting down state of school, so coming out here every day has really helped me just get up off my feet and like, just not be in a classroom setting being out in the barns and everything. So Locust Trace has really helped me grow to where I know where I want to go for college and everything. So I'm just really thankful for it," says Lily Crouch, who is entering her senior year of high school and plans to major in agriculture when she heads to college in 2021.