The Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Farm Managers’ Club (KTFMC) will host Jay McChord at the Spy Coast Farm Equine Education Center on Tuesday, Feb. 15, from 6 to 8 p.m. A renowned clinician and Lexington local, McChord will focus on teaching attendees how to communicate effectively in an industry that is home to four – and sometimes five -- generations of employees working together.

With an average human attention span of just eight seconds, McChord stresses the need to communicate clearly and effectively with each generation, so all members of the workplace operate as a team. Complicating matters is that each generation has a preferred method of communication – and none is the same. McChord will offer attendees specific strategies to improve communications with and among employees.

“The KHC is looking forward to partnering with the Farm Managers’ Club on this topic, which is relevant to all workplaces,” says Kentucky Horse Council Executive Director Sarah Coleman. “The labor shortage has reached a crisis point in all facets of the equine industry, and it’s the responsibility of each industry employee to do what we can to ameliorate the attrition we see everywhere, from the barns to the labs to the schools and the nonprofits.”

“Jay’s reputation as an incredible speaker precedes him,” says Gerry Duffy, vice president of the KTFMC and stud manager at Godolphin's Stonerside Farm. “The Farm Managers’ Club has been dealing with the labor issue for a few years now; we’re grateful for the opportunity to host a speaker who will offer insight and useable tips on how to engage all manner of employees, from staff in the barns to office staff. Mitigating miscommunication is something we can all work toward to help keep quality employees on our farms.”

This dinner is part of the Horse Council’s Kentucky Equine Networking Association (KENA) dinner series.

KENA provides an educational and social venue for equine professionals and horse enthusiasts from all breeds and disciplines to share ideas, business strategies and knowledge; and to obtain up-to-date information on horse and farm management, as well as on issues affecting the equine industry. KENA is made possible by the generous support of equine organizations across Kentucky.

For details and reservations for the February 15 event, click here. Tickets are $30; reservations must be received by February 11.  

Interested in sponsoring this event? Click here.