On Feb. 9, 2026, officials from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and members of the state’s sheep and lamb industry gathered to recognize February as Lamb Month in Kentucky. The event included a proclamation presented at Sullivan University’s Lexington campus and educational materials provided to culinary students.
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture fosters agritourism, farmers markets, and farm safety through initiatives like Raising Hope, according to the official website. The department also promotes and enhances the state’s agricultural sector through marketing and development programs, supports agricultural economic development and policy implementation to benefit producers, and operates across the state to support producers and promote local agricultural goods.
Jonathan Shell, commissioner of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture who operates a multigenerational family farm, said, “Many Kentucky farmers chose to add sheep to diversify their livestock options (…) Packed with protein, lamb is a perfect lean meat. But sheep are also an excellent source of milk and fiber as well. Every day, but this month in particular, we salute the value sheep and lamb add to our farms.”
About 5 million sheep are raised by roughly 80,000 farmers and ranchers across the United States. In Kentucky alone, there are 74,000 head of sheep and lamb managed by more than 2,774 producers. The Kentucky sheep industry contributes over $7 million in revenue to the state’s agriculture receipts. For 2025, market lamb and sheep inventory decreased by about four percent following a record-high inventory move through the market in 2024; however, breeding ewe numbers remained steady.
Zack Schwartz, president of Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers Association, said, “Kentucky’s sheep industry continues to gain strong momentum, creating real opportunities for producers across the Commonwealth (…) From small family farms to larger operations, sheep farmers are showing that our industry has a strong and sustainable future. Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producers are working every day to meet the growing demand for high-quality American lamb products. Lamb has a long and proud history in our state, and we’re proud to carry that tradition forward.”
The department encourages consumers to purchase lamb from local sources during Lamb Month. More information about cooking tips for lamb can be found on the Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office website.
For more details visit the official press release.
