Behind The Blue

LEXINGTON, Ky. (Sept. 17, 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. The Kentucky Signature Industries Career Fair will bring together members from the equine and spirits industries to educate students on post-graduation career options on September 26, 2024. The collaboration also supported ongoing cross-disciplinary efforts between the Equine Programs and the Beam Institute, as students from the Gatton College of Bus