About KEEP
Cara Stewart

Cara Stewart ,
Field Director

Cara Stewart has been a life long Kentuckian and horse enthusiast. Born in Campbellsville, Kentucky, her parents raised her on horses in Taylor County where she began riding at the early age of 2. Although Cara and her family primarily showed Quarter Horses participating in registered breed, open and 4-H horse shows, they also owned Saddlebreds, Appaloosas, Palominos, and Paint Horses. In fact, it was through her experience as an exhibitor where she met her "future" husband at the State 4-H Horse Show.

Cara graduated from the University of Kentucky, College of Agriculture in 1998 with a Bachelor's Degree in Agriculture majoring in Agricultural Economics and in 1999 received her Master's of Science Degree in Agricultural Economics focusing on the Economic Impact of Equine Training Facilities in Kentucky. As both an undergraduate and graduate student, Cara worked as an Equine Extension Intern for Youth Activities serving the Kentucky State 4-H Horse Program. As a volunteer Cara is a member and assumed leadership roles in numerous equine organizations including the Kentucky Quarter Horse Association, Kentucky Amateur Quarter Horse Association, Bluegrass Palomino Horse Association, Eastern Ranch Horse Association, and the Palomino Horse Breeders of American.

Cara brings a strong knowledge of association management and development, a deep love of horses, and a great enthusiasm for the ideals of the Kentucky Equine Education Project. Cara resides in Owen County with her husband Gene Ray, son Clayton, three dogs, a cat and a few dozen horses.

Our Mission

To increase awareness of the benefits of Kentucky's horse economy and to promote jobs and economic opportunities for Kentuckians through the Commonwealth's world-class horse industry.

Goals

Educate the public and key state constituencies about the benefits the entire horse industry provides to all sectors of Kentucky's economy

  • Develop a state grassroots network involving Kentucky's horse economy in all 120 counties
  • Build a state coalition of diverse organizations supporting Kentucky's horse economy.

Encourage the development of a pro-jobs and economic opportunities agenda for the Kentucky horse economy to include:

  • Increased state advocacy and promotion of the Kentucky horse industry
  • Initiatives to stimulate jobs and economic growth through economic incentives and tax reform to solidify Kentucky's horse economy leadership to attract new horse industry interests to the state.
  • Expansion of existing state horse economy programs for all breeds such as the Kentucky Breeder's Incentive Program, to encourage ownership of Kentucky-bred horses
Key Initiatives
  • Distribution of fact-based Kentucky horse economy information.
  • Team 120: A broad-based grassroots network of horse economy participants in every Kentucky county.
  • A state advisory committee consisting of prominent horse industry representatives from all sectors of Kentucky's horse economy.
  • A state coalition of organizations with horse economy-related interests including state and local chambers of commerce, rotaries, businesses, labor and trade associations.
Charter Member Organizations

Chairman

Brereton Jones
Governor of Kentucky (1991-95)
Airdrie Stud

Vice-Chairman

Bill Casner
Chairman and Co-Founder
WinStar Farm

Copyright © 2007 Kentucky Equine Education Project [KEEP] All Rights reserved