2026 KACTE Summer Program: Full Schedule

Have you struggled with making agriscience fair a part of your curriculum? Curious as to how this all can be tied together and not one more thing for me to do as an educator? Join us to learn valuable strategies to make your life easier while impacting student learning through highly engaged teaching with the Agriscience Fair.

Speakers

Dr. Rebekah B. Epps

678-516-9838, University of Kentucky

UK Associate Professor Agricultural Education Program

Dr. Donavan Phoenix

Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT
Cochran - West - 3rd Floor

Agriculture

Audience Agriculture

1:00pm EDT

Growing Ag Education Together with Ag Commissioner Jonathan Shell and Bethany Mattingly

Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT

Ballroom B - East - 2nd Floor

Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell outlines KDAs long-term commitment to supporting agriculture education and updates from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Bethany Mattingly reviews outcomes from 2025-2026, updates on the 20262027 All In for Ag Education Weekshighlighting timelines, classroom resources, and opportunities for engagement before rolling into hands-on rotations with take aways ready for use

Speakers

Ag Commissioner Jonathan Shell

502-401-7574, Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Ag Commissioner

Tuesday July 21, 2026 1:00pm - 2:30pm EDT
Ballroom B - East - 2nd Floor

Agriculture

Audience Agriculture

3:00pm EDT

Branding Your Program

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT

Ballroom A - East - 2nd Floor

Interested in increasing the visibility of your agriculture program and FFA chapter in your community? This session will cover a wide range of strategies for recruiting students, building community awareness, and purchasing tools and materials that help showcase and promote your program.

Speakers

Kristan Wright

502-758-2758, KDE

Agricultural Education Consultant/State FFA Advisor

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT
Ballroom A - East - 2nd Floor

Agriculture

Audience Agriculture

3:00pm EDT

Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office Resources

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT

Ballroom C - East - 2nd Floor

Teacher will learn how to conduct fecal flotation labs with students, and how to provide the Small Ruminant Quality Assurance Certification program.

Speakers

Kelley Yates

502-758-2758, Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office

Exec Director for Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT
Ballroom C - East - 2nd Floor

Agriculture

Audience Agriculture

3:00pm EDT

National FFA Updates

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT

Ballroom B - East - 2nd Floor

This session will cover the newest updates from National FFA regarding CDEs/LDEs, proficiency areas, programming, and more. Teachers will also have the opportunity to ask questions and gain clarification on any changes.

Speakers

Jason Gore

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT
Ballroom B - East - 2nd Floor

Agriculture

Audience Agriculture

3:00pm EDT

Transition Planning

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT

Fields - East - 3rd Floor

Agriculture teachers with 20 or more years of experience are invited to join this session to learn how to effectively transition your program to the next generation of educators. We will discuss strategies for mentoring successors, preserving program quality and culture, and ensuring long-term sustainability.Additionally, this session will cover steps you can take to personally prepare for retirement and ensure a smooth financial and professional transition out of the classroom.

Speakers

Matt Chaliff

(502) 564-3472, KDE/OCTE

Agricultural Education Consultant/FFA Executive Secretary

Tuesday July 21, 2026 3:00pm - 3:50pm EDT
Fields - East - 3rd Floor

Agriculture

Audience Agriculture

4:00pm EDT

Veterinary Technology: People Serving Animals!

Tuesday July 21, 2026 4:00pm - 4:50pm EDT

Ballroom B - East - 2nd Floor

People Serving Animals!As an accredited Veterinary Technology program offered at the MedQuest College Lexington Campus we provide students with the technical training and applied learning experiences to graduate with the Associate in Applied Science (AAS) degree and earn their License as a Veterinary Technician (LVT). High school students from Agriculture, Animal Science, Biomedical Science, and other related pathways may transfer in specific dual credit college credits to meet some of the program curriculum requirements. The program is designed to train the next generation of highly skilled animal care providers that work alongside Medical Veterinarians with an expanded scope of practice. Students will learn the why (knowledge), the how (skills) behind veterinary medical science and ethical animal care (dispositions).

Speakers

James M. Davis, Ed.D.

Lexington Campus Administrator, MedQuest College

Administrator, Lexington Campus

Carrie Long, LVT

Program Director of Veterinary Technology, MedQuest College

Program Director, Veterinary Technology, Carrie Long has dedicated herself for over 20 years to the veterinary field, building her career from the ground up with a passion for animal care and education. She began as a Kennel Assistant before advancing to Veterinary Assistant and later... Read More →

Tuesday July 21, 2026 4:00pm - 4:50pm EDT
Ballroom B - East - 2nd Floor

Healthcare