New Ag complex brings large animal vet care back to Campbell County

A new agricultural complex is opening in Campbell County to provide better veterinary access for large animals in the county, followingt a 13-year absence.

The Campbell County Extension Center Agriculture Complex is located in the old Grant’s Lick Veterinary Hospital building at 13169 Alexandria Pike. The new space enables the public to meet large animal vets in a setting that’s safely equipped for animal care.

Campbell County Extension Agent for Agriculture & Natural Resources Education Michelle Simon is spearheading the project.

“It was just a recurring thing every commodity group that I work with, Farm Bureau, conservation extension groups, cattlemen’s groups, horse network, ‘we need a vet, we don’t have a place to market this,’” Simon said.

The first part of the building (later added on to) was built in 1950 by JC Crowley, who lived next door. Simon said Crowley would walk over to work at the vet, which had one exam room at the time.

“It’s a great tribute, I think, to JC Crawley, who was the former large animal vet in our area,” said President of the Campbell County Cooperative Extension District Board Kathy Lauer. “He came to everyone’s house all the time, and I think he would be so proud of what we’re doing with this space now.”

The complex was still owned by the Crowley family, who sold it to the extension office.

Inside the new space, there are multiple exam rooms, offices, space for educational classes, a lab, and a front area where local fare can be sold, including produce, meat and eggs.

The lab will offer soil and hay testing through the extension center, and the service is free for anyone in the county. Simon said they also provide a blood testing service to determine pregnancy in cattle, sheep, goats and horses.

The facility is meant for large animals and/or food animals such as horses, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, chickens or rabbits. It is not intended for animals like cats and dogs. Simon said that when people needed veterinary services for their large animals, they would travel to Cynthiana or Maysville. She said there is a vet in Walton, but they are in such high demand that they aren’t taking on new clients.

“I was getting millions of calls, like, ‘I’ve got an emergency, I’ve got an ewe lamb, and I don’t know what to do, and it’s stuck, and we’re thinking she’s going to die,’” Simon said. “Just these emergency situations that are common with livestock. People try to educate themselves, but that’s what vets are for.”

The project is funded through county extension dollars, which were used to purchase the property, make improvements, and acquire equipment.

The Campbell County Extension Office receives property taxes from Campbell County taxpayers. Out-of-county residents can use the space for a fee, while Campbell County residents are exempt from the fee.

“We have to provide this economic service if we want our agricultural operators to survive and to prosper,”  said Campbell County Cooperative Extension District Board member and Campbell County Commissioner Brian Painter. “It’s been a generational goal for the Cooperative Extension board.”

Simon said her goal with the agriculture complex is to give people more tools in the toolbox.

“The large animal vets don’t always have a safe place to work so if you come to a farm visit, and you have a bull, and you have to have exams done, you have a heavy duty shoot, heavy duty head gate to contain them so he’s not going to hurt himself, hurt you, hurt the vet. A lot of people don’t have those facilities, the setup that we have up there [in the barn] is about $30,000 to get all of it set up, and it’s heavy duty.”

Simon said she would like someone staffed at the complex who is familiar with vet terminology, who can take calls from the public, and understands what piece of equipment is needed for the animal care to give the vet a heads up.

The complex will not have a vet on staff. The facility is open for vets to come in and use. Simon is trying to get commitment from large animal vets who are willing to work at the facility as needed by the public.

“I’m going to have it available where people can come in at any time and meet the vet here,” Simon said.

Aside from the equipment available for vet visits, the agriculture complex’s main entrance will act as a farmer’s co-op space, similar to a farmers’ market. The area is equipped with a commercial refrigerator, three freezers, and an area for farmers to sell beef, pork, lamb, eggs, flowers, honey, vegetables, fruits, soaps, or any agricultural product.

Sellers will have their products priced, bring them in, put them on the shelf, and have their Venmo information available.

People can come check out, verify that they’ve paid for their items, and then go on their way. The goal, Simon said, is to set it up online as well and have an online ordering system, like Click List. Eventually, offering a delivery service.

Simon said she would like to have a Tuesday through Saturday position to help with the co-op space.

Another aspect of care that the complex will help with is obtaining antibiotics for the animals. Simon mentioned that about two years ago, a law was passed that prevents people from buying antibiotics over the counter for their animals without a prescription. They now have to have a relationship with a veterinarian to obtain the medicine, which is referred to as a Veterinary Feed Directive.

“It sounds kind of silly, but it’s called ‘scour’ in calves. It’s a bacterial diarrhea, and it’s fatal. If you don’t take care of it, you’ll lose them,” Simon said. “It can be so easy to treat if you have what you need.”

In the back of the building is a large room with a kitchenette that Simon plans to use for events or to hold classes. To help decorate the room, she wants to have a photo contest around the county and display the winners on the walls.

Off to the side of the main complex is a garage that Simon would like to turn into a United States Department of Agriculture, also known as USDA, inspected processing facility for chickens, rabbits and fish.

Her idea is for people to be able to use that facility and then sell their product in the farmer’s co-op inside the complex.

“If I process chickens at home, I can’t legally sell them to you unless they’re USDA inspected,” Simon said. “So, this will be a USDA-inspected facility.”

A grand opening and ribbon-cutting event will be held on July 18 for the complex. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place at 3 p.m., and an open house will follow at 4 p.m. The agriculture complex will also be a stop included in the Campbell County Backroads Farm Tour held on Saturday, July 19.