Campus News

‘Behind the Blue’: Kentucky’s signature industries come together to help build the state’s workforce

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LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 18, 2024) – For Savannah Robin and Ilka Balk, what began as a “happy accident” turned into a major opportunity for students and employers alike. Robin, a lecturer in career and professional development for the University of Kentucky’s Ag Equine Programs, received an email from Balk, associate director of the university’s James B. Beam Institute for Kentucky Spirits, noting that both had scheduled career fairs at the Gatton Student Center on the same date and time.

Instead of seeing it as a conflict, they recognized it as an opportunity to showcase two of Kentucky’s signature industries — equine and spirits — in a single, unified career fair. On Sept. 26, the Kentucky Signature Industries Career Fair will bring together members from the equine and spirits industries to educate students on post-graduation career options.

The collaboration also supported ongoing cross-disciplinary efforts between the Equine Programs and the Beam Institute, as students from the Gatton College of Business and Economics, the Stanley and Karen Pigman College of Engineering, the College of Arts and Sciences and the College of Communication and Information were already engaging with the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.

“We’re starting to see the trend that people will understand that farms don’t just need farm managers; they need accountants, they need photographers,” Robin said. “We cross lots of different spaces, but we have places for all of the UK students and really career interested folks in any of these areas.”

She added that they hope to build on the momentum from last year’s fair to continue serving a broad range of Kentuckians — from students to alumni, employers and stakeholders — while highlighting how agricultural industries can benefit from diverse expertise.

On this episode of “Behind the Blue,” Robin and Balk discuss the university’s symbiotic relationship with Kentucky’s signature industries, the crucial role of alumni in connecting employers with UK and the potential for students to discover career opportunities in fields they may never have previously considered.

For questions or comments about this or any other episode of “Behind the Blue,” email BehindTheBlue@uky.edu or tweet your question with #BehindTheBlue. Transcripts for this or other episodes of “Behind the Blue” can be downloaded from the show’s blog page.

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As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.   

In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.