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 Farm
credit services offering scholarships
Farm Credit Services of Mid-America is
offering $36,000 in scholarships this year to children of members who
are studying agriculture or business at four-year universities. Eighteen
scholarships – valued at $2,000 each - will be awarded based on academic
record, leadership qualities, and community involvement.
“We can think of no better way to invest in our future than through
providing scholarships to deserving students choosing to pursue careers
in agriculture, financing or ag business,” said Bob Barton, chair of the
Farm Credit board.
Through an initiative endorsed by the Farm Credit board last year,
the scholarships are part of the cooperative’s new stewardship program
which involves returning greater value to rural America by increasing
the association’s investment in education and youth activities.
The scholarships are available to members, their dependents and
spouses of the ag lending cooperative. The application deadline is
February 29. Scholarships will be awarded in May for the 2008/09 school
year. To apply, go online to
www.e-farmcredit.com and click on “Community Support” to download
the application. Or call 1-800-444-3276 to talk to the closest office
about obtaining an application.
KDDC seeks director
The Kentucky Dairy Development Council is
accepting applications for its executive director to replace Roger
Thomas, who is now head of the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy.
KDDC was established by state law several years ago to represent the
interests of the dairy industry in Kentucky. The executive director
oversees all operations and serves as a spokesperson for the
organization. The position reports to a board of directors.
To apply, send resume and letter to
kddc@kydairy.org or mail to KDDC,
176 Pasadena Drive, Lexington, Ky., 40503.
Marketing Conference is
February 19-20
The 6th Annual Ohio River Valley Farm
Marketing Conference will be held February 19-20 at the Roberts
Convention Center in Wilmington, Ohio.
Registration is $50 for two days and $40 for one day.
The conference was developed for producers involved in all types of
direct marketing who are looking for new or additional marketing
strategies.
Participants will experience a variety of presentations, workshops, and
discussions, focused on directly marketing agricultural products to the
consumer. The event has become popular with participants in KFB’s
Certified Roadside Farm Markets program.
This year, three breakout session tracts are being offered on the
following topics: “Local Food Trends;” “Marketing Your Product;” and
“Meat Product
Marketing.”
Additionally, there will be a trade show for participants to
network and gather useful information.
The conference will open with the “Taste of Regional Cuisine”
reception where a sampling of products produced in the tri-state area
will be provided with producers and food purveyors available to discuss
the elements of a successful buying arrangement.
For questions or more information, contact Sandy Gardner at (502)
495-5106 or sgardner@kyfb.com.
To register or for a complete agenda, visit the conference website
at
http://directmarketing.osu.edu/orvfmc/ or contact Joy Bauman at
(740) 289-2071 ext. 111 or
jbauman@ag.osu.edu.
Poster and essay contest
underway
Kentucky schoolchildren will learn “How
the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Works for Me” when they
participate in the KDA’s 2008 Poster and Essay Contest.
Students in kindergarten through eighth grade are eligible to enter
a poster, an essay or both on the subject of the many services the
Department provides to Kentucky’s citizens. Statewide winners in each
grade will be awarded a $100 savings bond and will be honored at the
annual Kentucky Agriculture Day luncheon in March in Frankfort.
Poster contest entries must be in color on white paper, must
demonstrate the theme and must include the theme in the artwork. Entries
should be submitted rolled in a tube or wrapped flat.
Essay contest entries must be no more than 150 words for
participants in kindergarten through third grade and no more than 250
words for those in fourth through eighth grades.
Entries must be mailed to Kentucky Department of Agriculture,
Poster and Essay Contest, 500 Mero Street, 7th Floor, Frankfort, KY
40601. Entries must be postmarked no later than February 22.
Winners in each grade will be notified by March 10.
For complete contest rules, an entry form or more information, go
to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Web Site,
www.kyagr.com, click
on “Education Resources” under the “Programs” menu, click on
“Agriculture Education” and click on “2008 Poster & Essay Contest.”
Agritourism web site
to be unveiled
The new Web site for farm-based tourist
destinations in Kentucky will be unveiled at the 2008 Kentucky
Agritourism Summit February 21 at the Center for Rural Development in
Somerset.
“The new ‘Kentucky Farms are Fun’ Web site will enable Kentucky
agritourism operators to market their attractions quickly and
efficiently,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said.
“Tourists from near and far will be able to find Kentucky farm
destinations that the whole family will enjoy.”
Also at the summit, farm destination operators can get valuable
tips for business planning, insurance, signage, using “MarketMaker:
Kentucky” and Kentucky Proud as marketing tools, and utilizing the media
to promote their farms. The owners of four successful Kentucky
agritourism businesses will lead a panel discussion.
For more information, contact Stephen Yates, agritourism director
for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, by phone at (502) 564-4983
or by e-mail at stephenp.yates@ky.gov. |
