It is a busy time of year, but an exciting time

As we make our way through the weeks of summer, it won't be long until school starts again, the state fair arrives, and our harvesting duties begin.

Yes, it is a busy time of year, but an exciting time as we anticipate all of these events and activities.

A good place to begin this message is to congratulate our students who will soon be heading to their postsecondary school choices. Supporting education at all levels is such a big part of what we do at Farm Bureau, and I'm proud to announce that the amount of our state and county scholarship programs has once again reached a new record with 601 college, technical, and proprietary scholarships awarded this year, totaling $810,150.

This continued support showcases the commitment our county Farm Bureaus have for their communities and their young people. I can’t tell you how many times I have spoken to past winners who said these scholarships helped them to achieve their educational goals.

It’s incredibly important we support our young people, be it from an educational standpoint or for their endeavors in the state’s agricultural industry. We simply must foster this new generation in our communities and on our farms to ensure we have a bright future for all of us. 

That is the very foundation on which we have built the Kentucky Farmland Transition Initiative. We received word recently that many of the provisions included in Senator Mitch McConnell's Preserving Agricultural Farmland Act made their way into the One Big Beautiful Budget  Bill Act.

Also included in that bill was $66 billion worth of ag-related programs sorely needed by farm families across this country, including support for farm safety net enhancements.

Protecting our farms and the people who help grow our food supply should always be a top priority for our lawmakers. And we appreciate the efforts by all who helped to ensure the voices of agriculture were heard when creating and passing this critically important legislation.

The provisions included in this bill can give farm families a sense of relief when it comes to strengthening core safety net programs, enhancing risk management tools, and locking in important tax provisions.

Having that bit of stress relief on the farm should help farm families enjoy a little time away during the upcoming Kentucky State Fair, an event that not only rounds out our summertime activities but gives folks of all ages and walks of life a chance to see the good in Kentucky’s agricultural industry.

This 121st edition of what we think is the best state fair in the country will showcase state agriculture and bring those people who may have never experienced life on the farm, closer than they have ever been. 

While the fair is a great place to see and recognize the good things that make our commonwealth the best, I think we can all celebrate throughout the year a state with a rich agricultural heritage, abundant rural community spirit, and a promising future.

Eddie Melton, President
Kentucky Farm Bureau