Louisville, KY (December 7, 2012) – Ray Bowman, owner of Farmstead Media Group in Frankfort, was named the print journalist winner of Kentucky Farm Bureau’s (KFB) 2012 Communications Awards. He was recognized on December 6 during the general session of KFB’s annual meeting at the Galt House in Louisville.

The award, which consists of a plaque and $300 cash prize, has been presented by Kentucky Farm Bureau annually since 1960. Media outlets, county Farm Bureaus and other agriculture-related agencies nominate candidates whose outstanding print journalism work has created a better understanding of Kentucky’s agriculture industry over the last year.

Franklin County Farm Bureau nominated Bowman for the commendable work he produces on behalf of Kentucky agriculture. Bowman, who also owns a 140-acre farm in Frankfort, leans on more than 40 years of communications experience to run his “catch-all” company and manage his varied media interests. He recently combined his passions for both farming and journalism to venture into large-scale projects like the web-streaming radio program, “Food and Farm,” that is produced on Bowman’s farm each week. He took those same interests and engaged with a sizable audience on his popular blog, “The Farmer Feeds Us All,” as well as created a large and diverse group of followers on Facebook and Twitter. Bowman additionally wrote, narrated and acted as executive producer for the Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board’s 30-minute video, “Faces of Farming,” that aired on KET and lives on today in shorter segments via YouTube.

Though the Murray State University alumni admits that many of his peers are looking forward to retirement, he feels he is just now hitting his stride and still has much to do to tell stories of an industry that is thriving against all odds.

With nearly 500,000 member families statewide, Kentucky Farm Bureau is the state’s largest general farm organization. Approximately 1,700 members attended KFB’s 93rd annual meeting, December 5-8, to recognize this year’s individual and organizational achievements as well as adopt policy for 2013.