Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) today announced the finalists for its 2025 Kentucky Farmer of the Year award. This annual program recognizes an individual for their outstanding agriculture operations, as well as their service and leadership both on and off the farm.

The three finalists are: Mark Metcalfe of Hopkins County, Scott Porter of Mason County and Mike Wilson of Anderson County. Finalists were selected after a rigorous application process. Applicants must be a Farm Bureau member to be eligible for the award.

“Each of these outstanding farmers is very deserving of this honor,” said KFB President Eddie Melton. “Mark, Scott and Mike all show an unwavering commitment to excellence in agriculture, efficiency in their farming operations, and a high level of business and financial expertise. While there can only be one award given, we believe they are all winners in our industry.”

The finalists will be recognized during KFB’s Ham Breakfast at the Kentucky State Fair on Aug. 21. The winner will be announced on Oct. 2 and then recognized during the organization’s annual meeting in December.

MORE ABOUT THE FINALISTS

Mark Metcalfe and his wife, Penny, operate Metcalfe Florist & Pleasant View Greenhouses in Madisonville. Operations include 20 wholesale greenhouses, a garden center, commercial landscaping business, and a florist/gift shop located on about 100 acres. The Metcalfes have spent years updating the infrastructure of the farm’s greenhouses, originally built by Mark’s grandfather. These improvements maintain the heritage and integrity of the original business while also utilizing new technology such as installing solar panels for better energy conservation.

“We look for ways to diversify in the areas we are already working, increasing efficiency, and production growth within our physical footprint. We believe this will bring the best agriculture tourism experience to our county,” Mark says.

He began working on his family’s farm at age 10 and has never looked back. The couple’s two children also worked on the farm when they were young but have since moved on to other careers.

Just like many others in the agriculture industry, Mark has faced challenges like labor shortages and adverse weather conditions, but he’s met them head on to find solutions. And, even after decades in agriculture, the Metcalfes are still excited about the future of their operation.

“Penny and I enjoy each day as our workplace evolves,” Mark says, adding that his wife’s “ideas and talents keep us always changing and moving forward. When you love what you do, it is hard to ever think about doing anything else.”

Through all his efforts, Mark is well on his way to achieving his goal of “bringing a fresh and modern feel to all of our farm’s practices and facilities,” while maintaining its legacy.

Scott Porter operates Springdale Stock Farms LLC on 1,775 acres of pastureland in Maysville. A full-time cattleman, his 900-head commercial beef cow herd is bred to high-quality Angus bulls to produce top-tier steers and replacement females. Over the last five years, he has reduced the scale of his business to focus solely on his own cow-calf herd. For the previous 20 years, Scott operated a combination of cows and purchased calves, and at its peak, the farm reached 5,000 head per year.

Scott says he gained valuable experience and knowledge during that time. “These years spent in a fast-paced buy-and-sell environment provided an opportunity to experience and learn many aspects of the cattle business, which I don’t think many producers ever do,” he says. “The successes I had also brought financial security to my family and a debt-free cattle operation today.”

Today, Scott is focused on continuous improvement, which includes further streamlining his operation. To increase the carrying capacity for cattle on his land, he has completed soil testing, developed some rotational grazing pastures and cleared and reseeded large areas of the farm.

Scott is also focused on improving efficiency from a labor standpoint: “We need to do more with less.”

Scott and his wife, Mary Ann, have four “healthy, happy and intelligent children.” Their 21-year-old son recently joined them at the family farm full time. “He brings a great work ethic, abilities and an understanding for the care of cattle that only people growing up in the business have,” says Scott.

Scott is passionate about helping to ensure that younger generations of cattlemen and women succeed. “I want to share 20-plus years of education in backgrounding and finishing cattle,” he says. “Making a living buying and selling cattle works better if you understand what you bought today and its potential down the road, especially at harvest.”

Mike Wilson operates Whispering Hills Farm, a commercial beef cattle and hay production farm on more than 250 acres in Lawrenceburg. He has strategically expanded his farm over the years, acquiring adjacent land and purchasing dedicated hay fields in neighboring Franklin County. Further expansion in the early 2000s allowed him to increase his cattle herd while also contributing to the preservation of agricultural land in the area.

Mike’s deep-rooted passion for agriculture began in 1969, when he started farming alongside his father, raising and milking dairy cattle. “This early immersion in the daily rhythms and responsibilities of dairy farming laid the foundation for my lifelong connection to the land and livestock,” he says.

He pursued opportunities outside of agriculture after graduating high school in 1976 but returned home in 1999 to purchase his family farm and embark on building his own beef cattle operation.

Specializing in high-quality commercial breeding stock, Mike primarily markets both open and bred female heifers through private treaty sales. “This personalized approach allows me to directly connect with buyers, understand their specific needs and showcase the superior genetics and potential of my heifers,” he says.

Demonstrating a commitment to continuous improvement and sustainable practices, Mike actively participates in University of Kentucky field trials focused on herbicide application and the establishment of diverse grass species to enhance biodiversity within his hay fields. “This proactive engagement is crucial to my pursuit of optimal hay quality, as a diverse mix of grasses contributes to a more nutritious and resilient forage,” he says.

Mike Wilson's dedication to environmental stewardship has been recognized through numerous prestigious awards, culminating in the esteemed 2024 Leopold Conservation Award, which honors landowners who demonstrate exceptional dedication to land health, natural resource management and biodiversity on their working farms. He was also named the 2025 National Cattlemen's Beef Association Environmental Stewardship Award Program regional winner.

Mike and his wife, Tamela, have four children, whom he is teaching the intricacies of the farming operation, with the intention to provide them with the skills to potentially take over the farm in the future.