2026 EAPK Symposium Speaker Lineup
Lee Wright - Superintendent of SWAREC, Virginia Tech University
Lee Wright is a native of Glade Spring, Virginia, where he grew up on a beef cattle and burley tobacco farm. Always having an interest in agriculture, he pursued and completed his degree in Crop & Soil Environmental Science with a minor in Animal Science in 1996 from VA Tech. While attending college, he was a summer intern at the VT Southwest Agricultural Research & Extension Center (SWAREC) in Glade Spring. After graduation, he started his career with VA Tech as a County Extension Agent, serving Pittsylvania & Franklin Counties. In 1999, he was able to move back home and become the Superintendent of the SWAREC where he has enjoyed the past 27 years leading research and extension programs at the Center. The main areas of focus have traditionally been beef cattle, forage nutrition, and the expansion of Katahdin Hair Sheep research during his tenure. He and his wonderful wife Cindy have been raising 120+ Katahdin ewes, “several” Labrador Retrievers & Guard Dogs, some backyard 4-H chickens, tormented by a few goats, and survived 2 kids that recently graduated college throughout their 26+ years of a blissful marriage managing Rolling Spring Farm.
Dr. Debra K. Aaron - Director of Undergraduate Studies in Animal Science, University of KY
Dr. Debra K. Aaron has been a faculty member in the Department of Animal and Food Sciences at the University of Kentucky since 1984. She currently serves as Director of Undergraduate Studies in Animal Sciences and teaches three courses: Introduction to Livestock and Poultry Production (ASC 102), Animal Breeding and Genetics (ASC 362), and Sheep Science (ASC 404). Her area of expertise is quantitative genetics, and she plays a leading role in breeding decisions for the Hampshire, Polypay, and White Dorper flocks at the UK Sheep Unit. The University’s purebred White Dorper flock is a result of the grading-up program she directed and enrollment of the UK flocks in the National Sheep Improvement Program (NSIP) is under her supervision. In addition, the Polypay flock is recognized as an Innovator Flock in the GEMS (Genetics, Environment, and Socioeconomics) Sheep Project. Select Polypay ewes and rams are sold each year at the Center of the Nation NSIP Sale in Spencer, IA.
Support and promotion of the American sheep industry is important to Dr. Aaron. She represents the Kentucky Sheep and Wool Producer’s Association as a member of PERC, ASI’s Production, Education, and Research Committee, and she is a member of the Selection Committee for the ASI Sheep Heritage Foundation Memorial Scholarship. In addition, she is a member of the NSIP Education Committee and the Breed Improvement Committee for the American Dorper Sheep Breeders Society.
Dr Katie Lukowicz - DVM, Virginia
Dr. Katie Lukowicz has been practicing in central Virginia for three years. She achieved a B.S. in Animal and Poultry Sciences from Virginia Tech, earned her veterinary degree from Ross University, and completed her clinical year through Kansas State. Dr. Katie is an associate veterinarian at Louisa Veterinary Services, which is a mobile food animal/large animal practice that sees cattle, sheep, goats, pigs, llamas, and alpacas. In addition to daily farm calls, she’s involved in the surrounding 4H clubs, County Fairs, and other agricultural outreaches. Though she did not grow up in a farming family, she was raised to appreciate that “food doesn’t just come from the grocery store” and that we need to be good stewards of the animals that depend on us.