Earlier today, Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) hosted its commodity luncheon at the organization’s 105th Annual Meeting. The luncheon is one of the many traditions at the yearly four-day event held at the Galt House in Louisville, celebrating the strength and resilience of Kentucky’s agriculture industry, and looking ahead to the future.

The event began with a warm welcome to the audience of 800 from KFB President Eddie Melton, who introduced the organization’s executive leadership team and recognized the many distinguished guests in attendance, including county Farm Bureau presidents and boards of directors; Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky State Fair Board and other state agency staff; several state college of agriculture deans; city, county and state legislators; and state FFA and 4-H leaders. Melton also thanked three of his predecessors, Mark Haney, Marshall Cole and Bill Sprague, for showing their continued support.

“We’re also blessed to have a great network of partners in our Farmland Transition Initiative here today,” added Melton. “We now have a total of 26 organizations in the network, and we’re so appreciative of their partnership.”

Melton introduced Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell, noting that KFB is proud to partner with the Department of Agriculture on many important initiatives.

“Being your voice as Commissioner of Agriculture is the absolute best job in the world,” said Shell. He went on to acknowledge the theme of this year’s Annual Meeting, “A Firm Foundation,” sharing what it means to him. He credits his grandfather, Jimmy Shell, for helping him to establish his own firm foundation as a man committed to his family, his community and his faith. 

Shell stressed his deep roots with KFB by sharing that his leadership career began at the county level at the suggestion of his grandfather, when he was asked to serve on the Garrard County Farm Bureau board at the young age of 17. He learned then that KFB members are “truly the voice of rural Kentucky,” and they are “second to none” in their commitment to their communities.

He added that KFB cements its own firm foundation by “grabbing our young people by the back of the hair of the head and pushing them into leadership positions to give them an opportunity for success into the future.” 

Most importantly, Shell said, “Agriculture itself is a firm foundation for Kentucky, our country and our world. We wouldn't have cities, we wouldn't have global superpowers if it was not for agriculture.”

Shell acknowledged the many challenges farmers have faced over the past year, but said the opportunities ahead far outweigh the challenges. He discussed the Department of Agriculture’s “Food Is Medicine” educational campaign, which aims to put food as the central focus of health care, as well as his department’s major initiative to embed agriculture into school curriculums across the state.

Shell concluded his remarks by thanking Melton for being a national leader in conversations about farmland transition, and commended KFB for its continued role in those efforts. “We have got to preserve prime farmland in the state of Kentucky for the next generation of farmers in America.”

Melton then introduced American Farm Bureau President Zippy Duvall, thanking him for taking time out of his busy travel schedule to come to Kentucky. Duvall shared that he always looks forward to visiting the commonwealth “to look back over the last year and celebrate all your successes.”

The overarching theme of Duvall’s remarks was the enormous potential he sees in county Farm Bureaus and their members. “When I look back at all the jobs and positions that I've been able to hold in this great organization, the most important position is that of the county president and their board directors,” he said. “Because without you being engaged and really locked in what's going on in your community, we don't have good policy. We don't serve our community without you. We don't engage our members.”

He praised grassroots efforts at the county level, noting that advocacy efforts over a two-year period halted recent legislation related to greenhouse emissions that could have negatively impacted farmers. “That's what an engaged membership driven by an active county Farm Bureau president and their board can make happen.”

Duvall discussed his expectations for President-Elect Trump’s new administration, sharing that he had high hopes for Brooke Rollins, Trump's pick to be agriculture secretary. “I feel really good about the opportunity we have to work with her and what she'll do for rural America in agriculture.”

Duvall also emphasized the continued need for a new, modernized farm bill, or at the very least an extension on the existing legislation to bridge the gap for our country’s farmers. He also discussed concerns about some of the biggest issues facing the agriculture industry — labor, wages, immigration, tariffs and taxes — and how those issues may be impacted by the new administration. He assured luncheon attendees that he and the American Farm Bureau will continue to cultivate relationships in Washington and strongly advocate for the interests of farmers on all these issues.

“The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act is going to expire in 2025,” Duvall said. “We’re pushing to renew it. If we lose those tax incentives, it will cost us $4.5 billion across our farms.”

Duvall challenged all Farm Bureau executives and members in attendance not to rest on their laurels. “As I look out across this room and see all the potential, I also see lots of ways that we can tap into that to become better,” he said. “We can all step up and even do more under the banner of Farm Bureau. The brand Farm Bureau carries a very high respect and it's because of you, but we can make it even better. We have to make our county Farm Bureaus the premier organization in every county across this country.”

One way to make the organization better is by developing young leaders and educating those outside the industry about agriculture. “The most powerful tool in our toolbox is your story,” Duvall told the audience. 

He also encouraged KFB members to access the mental health resources in American Farm Bureau’s Farm State of Mind program when times get tough. “Our job is to make sure we take care of each other in our Farm Bureau family.” 

Duvall concluded his remarks with warm thanks and good wishes for a blessed Christmas season.