Lexpert Spotlight
Lexington is home to some pretty smart folks. Get in touch to see how one of our local experts in Agriculture & Environment can help make your meeting a big hit.
Seth Debolt
Professor - Department of Horticulture; Director - James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment
Area of Focus - Alcohol Science, Food Science, Plant Science, Molecular Biology
Kenton Sena
Lecturer, University of Kentucky Lewis Honors College
Area of Focus - Ecology and the Environment, Reforestation Ecology, Forest Ecology, Reforestation, Mine Reclamation, Soil Science, Invasive Species
Paul Vincelli
Extension Professor - Plant Pathology; Director of Graduate Studies - M.S. Program (STO); UK Coordinator - SARE Program, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
Area of Focus - Plant Disease Management, Sustainable Crop Production, International Agriculture
Chad Lee
Director of Grain and Forage Center of Excellence; Extension Specialist - Plant and Soil Sciences, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
Area of Focus - Corn, Soybean, Wheat, Barley, Rye, No-Tillage Agriculture, Sustainability Intensive Agriculture, Distillery Grains
Steve Dobson
CEO - MosquitoMate, INC. and Professor of Entomoloty, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment
Area of Focus - Medical / Public Health, Entomology
What Makes Us Special
Agriculture and Environment in Lexington
UK Cafe
The UK College of Agriculture, Food and Environment, located 10 minutes from Downtown, was founded as and remains a land-grant institution. UK Cafe focuses on research, teaching and extension.
Our Farms
Our city is surrounded by 600+ farms—horse farms, of course, but also soybean, hemp, tobacco, and more. These resources are protected by our first-in-the-nation Urban Services Boundary.
Our Greenspace Initiative
We believe that our landscape is what makes the Bluegrass special. That’s why we established our Greenspace Commission in 1990 to protect and manage these unique places.
Purchase of Development Rights (PDR)
Kentucky’s first Agricultural Conservation Easement facilitated by a local government, the PDR program permanently protects 277 Central Kentucky farms, totaling more than 30,000 acres.
Greenways
Shared-use trails like the Legacy Trail are expanding bicycle and pedestrian access. The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of KY, showcases native species and is open to the public year-round.
Parks and Preserves
Lexington and the surrounding areas feature thousands of acres of green space to explore, hike, and climb, from downtown McConnell Springs to the world-renowned Red River Gorge.
Farm to Table
We’re all about eating locally. Programs like Food Chain, Seedleaf, Kentucky Proud and Bluegrass Farm to Table are committed to supporting Kentucky farmers and feeding Kentucky families.
More Than a Stockyard
The Blue Grass Stockyards Regional Marketplace does more than hold livestock auctions. It’s also a center for education, environmental stewardship and sustainable business partnerships.
AppHarvest
Headquartered in Lexington, AppHarvest is building some of America’s largest greenhouses, combining conventional agriculture techniques with today’s technology to grow non-GMO, chemical-free produce.
Featured Unique Venues
From unique to unexpected, choose a venue that makes your meeting truly one-of-a-kind.
Kentucky Horse Park
Dedicated to man's relationship with the horse, the Kentucky Horse Park is unlike any other park in...
Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill
The largest restored Shaker community, with 3,000 acres of farmland and 34 restored 19th-century...
Blue Grass Regional Marketplace
Specializing in meetings from 35-240 attendees indoors, but with additional outdoor options on 100...
Keeneland Racecourse
With its tranquil setting and lovely stone fences and buildings, this national historic landmark is...
Featured Attractions
Lexington is a special place. Give your attendees a uniquely Lexington experience they'll rave about for years to come.
University of Kentucky
Founded in 1865, the University of Kentucky is the largest public university in the state, educating...
The Arboretum, State Botanical Garden of Kentucky
The Arboretum is the state’s botanical garden. The 100 acres include the Walk Across Kentucky which...
McConnell Springs
Originally a campsite for the first settlers in the Bluegrass, this 26-acre nature sanctuary...
Raven Run Nature Sanctuary
Raven Run is a 734-acre nature sanctuary on the outskirts of Lexington dedicated to protecting the...
