Caleb Smithson of Butler County won first place in the final round of Kentucky Farm Bureau’s (KFB) Discussion Meet, a debate-styled competition for young farmers that relies on an individual’s skill in reasoning and logical discussion of issues. 

Donovan and Terra Pigg from Clark County have won top honors in Kentucky Farm Bureau’s (KFB) Excellence in Agriculture Awards program for 2021. Each year, the KFB Excellence in Agriculture competition awards first, second and third place distinctions to individuals or couples under the age of 35 who contribute to, and exhibit leadership growth from, consistent involvement in Farm Bureau and other agriculture and civic-oriented organizations.

Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) named Jonathan and Jessica Gaskins of Adair County its “2021 Outstanding Young Farm Family.” This annual award recognizes an individual or couple under the age of 36 who demonstrates strong farm management skills, KFB and community involvement and consistent financial growth through their farm.

It’s an unusually muggy afternoon in late May as Reed and Heather Graham stand atop the 500 acres in eastern Kentucky they call home. The husband and wife team lean against a trusty white Jeep Cherokee Sport that carried them over steep, rutted dirt roads to summit the knob.

KFB Candid Conversation presents a discussion about the topical issues related to KFB priorities, the agricultural industry, and rural communities, in a question and answer format. In this column, LaRue County Farmer Caleb Ragland discusses last year’s crops, the new season about to begin, and some of the conservation practices that agriculture uses to help the environment. Caleb serves on the American Soybean Association Board and the Ragland family was named the 2020 KFB Young Farm Family winner and the 2021 American Farm Bureau Federation Achievement Award winners. 

KFB Candid Conversation presents a discussion about the topical issues related to KFB priorities, the agricultural industry, and rural communities, in a question and answer format. In this column, Heather Graham, the 2021 KFB Young Farmer Committee Chair, talks about the role young farm families play in Kentucky’s ag industry and her thoughts about being the first female Young Farmer Chair.

While virtual events have been the order of the day for most of the past year because of COVID-19, continuing the process of keeping members informed is still an important part of Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB), and the 2021 KFB Young Farmers (YF) Leadership Conference did just that.

Caleb and Leanne Ragland of LaRue County won a top honor during the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) virtual convention today, being named winners of the Young Farmers & Ranchers “Achievement Award.”