It began with 400 acres, cobbled together by Western Kentucky farmers and leaders with a vision: to bring the most advanced resources available for agricultural research and educational support into the heart of their community.    

Since its founding in 1925, the University of Kentucky Research and Education Center (UKREC) has grown to encompass roughly 1,652 acres in Princeton, Kentucky, and has produced a wealth of groundbreaking agricultural research. Among the most noteworthy are advancements in no-till and double-crop systems, integrated pest management, and improvements in beef cattle, dark-fire tobacco and fruit production.   

Through extensive and transformative educational outreach, UKREC annually empowers thousands of Kentucky producers with vital knowledge and skills, fostering a supportive network that provides access to the latest research and practical advice.  

Today, the Princeton station’s education and research efforts are still building upon a century of accomplishments that came before them and are strengthening the region’s sustained agriculture legacy by serving successive generations of family farm operators. 

As its facilities are rebuilt and rededicated following the devastating tornado damage of 2021, the center’s work remains grounded in the lasting foundations of its long history of service to the community and its continuing commitment to its original purpose: improving the lives and livelihoods of Kentucky farmers.