As we transition from summer to autumn, I can honestly say that fall is one of my favorite seasons of the year for many reasons. As we continue to move through harvesting activities on the farm, I have found that this is a good time to reflect a bit on the year that is quickly coming to an end and to look forward to the next one.

In 2025, we faced numerous issues on the farm whether they were weather related, policy connected, or market driven. But as farm families know, we deal with these challenges head-on to preserve a way of life we would not trade for anything.

As part of those preservation efforts, KFB’s Kentucky Farmland Transition Initiative (KFTI) made big strides over the past several months with support at the state and national levels. We continued looking for ways to help keep our farms in production for the next generation.

The success of KFTI and other KFB initiatives can be attributed to how our members continue to advocate in big ways. Once again, our members showed up with one of the largest groups that attended the 2025 American Farm Bureau Federation annual meeting. We also brought the most county presidents to that event, even more than the host state of Texas.

We had an impressive member turnout at the annual Congressional Tour, as well. It is that county member involvement that makes KFB so successful and gives us a seat at the policy-making table, at all levels.

When spring came this year, the rains and storms that affected so many of our members came with it. But KFB implemented an “all-in” approach to help meet the needs of those affected by these historic weather-related events.

These weather issues also caused delays in getting new crops in the ground. As difficult as it was at times, farm families managed to make their way through the less-than-stellar planting season to a very promising harvest… until we hit a drought.

From what I have heard, we may still have average or above crop yields, however, with what seems to be so many challenges, there are times when it would be easier to throw up our hands and say, “Enough is enough.”

But that isn’t what we do on the farm or in this organization. We face difficulties with the promise of a better tomorrow as we support an industry none of us can live without.

As we begin to look forward to setting policy for the coming year at our next KFB and AFBF annual meetings, we should be mindful of the issues that must be addressed for agriculture, including passage of a new Farm Bill, continued efforts to address the ag trade deficit by exploring new markets, how to combat increasing ag inputs in the wake of fluctuating commodity prices, and a less cumbersome, more affordable guestworker program.

And while there are many other challenges I could list, let me close with this. I want more than anything for our farming legacy to continue for future generations. It’s as plain and simple as that, as complicated as it can sometimes be.

So, let’s continue to be the strongest Voice of Agriculture possible, as we have always done.

Eddie Melton, President
Kentucky Farm Bureau