Employee benefits

Sunscreen and sunglasses? Check. Good food and cold drinks? Of course. Catchy summer tunes? Definitely. It’s easy to compile your list of boating must-haves, but if you’re forgetting safety, you could be heading for rough waters.

Taking a trip to the lake is one of the best ways to escape the blistering Kentucky heat, and each summer thousands of Kentuckians make the trek to one of the state’s 40+ picturesque waterways. As your family prepares for your next boating adventure, make sure safety is included on your prep list. While we can’t plan for everything in life, a bit of caution and preparation could save you from a potentially costly — and deadly — accident.     

Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance claims data reveals that May, June, and July are the peak months for boating claim occurrences (although August is a close fourth). Collisions top the list of KFB’s boating claims – representing 60% of all incidents over the past five years – and are commonly associated with driver error. Nearly 60% (over $8 million) of the over $14 million that KFB Insurance paid out for 1,454 boating claims during the last five years came from that category alone.

Fortunately for KFB policy-holders, most boating accidents submitted as insurance claims have not resulted in bodily harm (just 0.12%), but it is advisable to recognize that accidents with injuries do happen.

Follow these three tips to ensure smooth sailing on Kentucky’s waterways this summer:

1. Pack smart.

• Life jackets. Life jackets are a must. Both state and federal law require a Type I, II, or III personal flotation device on all boats. Vessels greater than 16 feet in length must also have a Type IV, or throwable, personal flotation device. All children 12 and under are required to wear a life jacket whenever a boat is in motion.
• Fire extinguishers. Don’t get burned by negligence. State law requires all boats equipped with a petroleum product consuming device (engine, lantern, stove, etc.) to have a handheld fire extinguisher on board. It may seem silly to worry about fire when you’re surrounded by so much water, but fire claims are no laughing matter. KFB Insurance paid out an average of $7,456 for each boating fire claim over the past five years.  
• Signaling devices. Make sure you can be heard. Boats 16 feet or longer are required by Kentucky law to have a signaling device capable of producing an audible blast for at least two seconds and that can be heard for a half-mile. Boats 26 feet or longer must have a device that is audible for a mile, and vessels 40 feet or longer must have one with an audible range of 1.5 miles.
• Navigation lights. Guarantee you can be seen. Any vessel operating on the water between sunset and sunrise must display proper navigation lights. Sidelights are required on the bow (front) of the boat – red on the port (left), green on the starboard (right) – and an all-around white light in the stern (rear). This helps give boaters an indication of the size and speed of other boats on the water when visibility is limited and indicates if a boat is in a meeting, crossing, or overtaking position.

All of this gear can be purchased for under $100, but the savings can be priceless when you’re on the water and experiencing an emergency.

2. Think before you drink.

Most of us are aware that state law forbids drinking in public, but did you know that lakes and waterways are considered public spaces in Kentucky? That means no drinking while on the water, whether you’re driving or just enjoying the cruise as a passenger. It is additionally important to remember that operating a boat while under the influence of alcohol or drugs is not only illegal in all states and a violation of federal law, but it is also extremely dangerous. The National Safe Boating Council (NSBC) says that a boater with a blood alcohol content of .08 (equivalent to a 180-lb. male consuming five beers in one hour) is 10 times more likely to die in a boating accident than a boater with a zero blood alcohol level.

3. Know the ways of the waterways.

Lakes and rivers don’t have painted lanes like our roads, so it’s important to know the ways of the waterways. Collisions account for more boating claims than any other reason. Learning the right of way in the three most common boating situations — meeting, overtaking, and crossing — can help you avoid an accident.

• When meeting another boat head-on, keep to the right as if you were driving on a road.
• When overtaking another boat (or passing from behind) go around. Keep in mind that the boat in front of you may not be aware of your presence.
• When crossing paths with another boat, remember that the boat on the right has the right of way. The boat on the left must give way to the stand-on vessel.

If you find yourself in an emergency situation on one of Kentucky’s waterways, you can reach an officer by dialing 1-800-252-5378 or by contacting a local law enforcement agent through the nearest Kentucky State Police post. You can also use marine channel 16 to contact your local marina. Safety is the one thing you definitely want to include on your boating list, and being prepared can ensure fun for you and your family all summer long.

>> Need help protecting your boat? Click here to learn more about boat insurance products offered through Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance.

From Pikeville to Paducah, the Bluegrass State’s beautiful country roads are the perfect place for motorcycle enthusiasts. If you’re a rider, you know that Kentucky law mandates motorcyclists to carry insurance. Are you curious what Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) Insurance motorcycle insurance will cover, or what your financial responsibilities are should you get into a crash or damage your motorcycle? If so, the answers to these frequently asked questions might be helpful in expanding your motorcycle insurance claims knowledge.
 

Q. If injured in an accident, will my motorcycle policy pay for my medical expenses?
A. Typically, reasonable and necessary medical treatment is covered under the Personal Injury Protection (PIP) coverage. If you have chosen to purchase optional PIP coverage, your policy may provide benefits for the driver or passenger on your motorcycle, as well as any pedestrians struck by your vehicle.   

Q. The accident wasn’t my fault. Do I still have to pay a deductible?
A. Regardless of fault, you'll pay a deductible for certain coverages. However, during the claim investigation, if the facts indicate there's a chance to recover the damages from the person responsible for the accident, KFB Insurance will attempt to recover them, including your deductible. If we aren't successful, you have the option of trying to recover the costs on your own. 

A deductible is the dollar amount of the claim you are responsible to pay. For example, if you have a $500 deductible, you will be responsible for the first $500 of certain first party claims that you file and then KFB Insurance will pay the remainder. You choose the deductible on your policy when you purchase insurance. A higher deductible lowers the price of your premium.

Q. What if my motorcycle is totaled?
A.  A motorcycle is considered a total loss if the estimated cost to repair exceeds 75% of its actual cash value (ACV). The decision whether to repair or declare a total loss is based on the type and extent of damage, age of the motorcycle, state law, and other factors. In order to make the determination, KFB Insurance will have to inspect the motorcycle. If your motorcycle is determined to be a total loss, you will be paid the actual cash value of the motorcycle as established by conducting a local market survey, less any applicable deductible.    

Q. What if I disagree with the total loss value?
A. KFB Insurance will be glad to review any documentation you have to support the reason for disagreement. We will review the documentation for accuracy and applicability to the total loss vehicle. If the documentation is credible and it affects our assessment of the ACV, we will adjust our offer accordingly. If we remain in disagreement, our policy contract describes how an appraisal can be arranged to resolve the differences.

Q. What happens to a motorcycle after a total loss?
A. Typically, totaled motorcycles are sold at salvage auctions or to a licensed salvage dealer. KFB Insurance complies with the appropriate laws and regulations that require obtaining salvage titles or branding/marking the title. We obtain salvage at the conclusion of a total loss settlement and sell it through licensed salvage vendors. We do not directly sell vehicles determined to be a total loss to private individuals.

Q. Can I keep my motorcycle after a total loss?
A. In some instances, you may be able to purchase your motorcycle from KFB Insurance after a total loss. Your adjuster can provide information if you are interested. 

Q.  Will I still have to pay my loan or lease after a total loss?
A. After your motorcycle is declared a total loss, you may still owe money on your loan or lease if the actual cash value is less than what you owe. Purchasing loan/lease payoff coverage prior to an accident can provide financial security for you in case your motorcycle is declared a total loss.

Loan/lease payoff coverage, commonly called "gap" coverage, may pay the difference between the actual cash value of your vehicle and what you still owe on your loan or lease (less any deductible). Your claim adjuster can provide more details on this.  

Q. If property is stolen from my insured motorcycle, is the loss covered by my motorcycle policy?

A. There are restrictions to coverage for certain types of equipment under the motorcycle policy. Other personal property items are typically covered under your homeowners policy. Please contact your KFB Insurance Claim Representative for additional information. 

Q. What if the accident happened outside of Kentucky? Who will handle my claim?
A. If your accident happened outside of Kentucky, your claim will be assigned to an adjuster who is trained to help you. KFB Insurance will determine if your motorcycle needs to be inspected by an adjuster. We work with professional adjusters located across the country who are available to help when needed.
 

>> Have you heard the rumblings? KFB now insures motorcycles! For more information, click here.

^{*The above provides general claim information, but please keep in mind that every claim is different and must be considered in the context of the particular policy and any endorsements that you may have in place.  Each policy has specific terms and conditions that detail your coverages. The following information is not intended to modify any of the terms or conditions in your individual policy.}

We can no longer ignore the losses we are seeing in farmland.

With the announcement of the Kentucky Farmland Transition Initiative (KFTI) last month, I have heard from many farm families and agriculture organizations across the state voicing their support of a sustainable path to ensure our farmland remains in agricultural production.

That is the goal of the KFTI, as we work together to make sure the farmland we have remains in production now and for future generations.

In hearing from so many people, I am reassured that the timing is right to move forward with this initiative as we look to stop the losses of production farmland that we have seen through the data supplied by the last several Agriculture Censuses.

The most recent Census, conducted in 2022, has certainly been a factor in developing this plan and something Kentucky Farm Bureau will make a priority in the coming weeks and months.

According to census data compiled over the last 20 years, Kentucky lost 17,000 farms and 1.4 million acres of farmland.

We simply cannot afford to see those types of losses continue. Not only do we depend on our farms to produce the food, fuel, and fiber needs we have in this country and throughout the world, but the vitality of rural communities depends on those local farms and ag-related businesses.

As we move forward with KFTI we have three main objectives:  increase awareness and understanding of the problem of farmland loss and encourage engagement in the issue; gather and provide technical assistance and localized resources to assist families who desire to keep farmland in production; and pursue state and federal policy development that will help keep production agriculture at the forefront of farmland transition and ease common burdens associated with that process.

In addition, advocacy will play a huge part in the success of KFTI. As has been the case throughout the history of KFB, our members have proven to be strong advocates related to countless issues.  I have no doubt that they will continue to do so and will be an integral part of the success of this initiative.

We must be successful in all efforts made by our agriculture community to ensure we do not continue to lose precious farmland as we have seen over the past decades.

At the end of the day, we never want to depend on another country to feed us. Keeping our farms in business is not only a matter of food security but national security. 

While that may sound somewhat alarming, we can no longer ignore the losses we are seeing in farmland as well as the difficulties new farmers are having in coming to or staying on the farm.

There are many steps to take as we move KFTI forward and it won’t be an overnight process. But as an organization, we intend to do all we can to keep declining numbers of farmland from continuing.

As farmers, as members of rural communities, and as consumers, it is a necessity. I feel certain we are moving on this initiative at the right time, with the right objectives, and absolutely for the right reasons.

If we work together as a collective ag industry, we will succeed. We must succeed. For the sake of our farm families, our rural communities, and all those who benefit from the food we grow, failure is not an option.  

Eddie Melton, President
Kentucky Farm Bureau  

I think there is something inherent in most people to lend a helping hand to another who is obviously in need.

As a youngster growing up in a rural area, I saw acts of kindness often. I remember my dad always giving a ride to an older gentleman who lived across the road from us rather than let him walk the three miles to town.

I was with my dad on many occasions when he stopped to offer this person a ride. The two knew each other and would exchange small talk during the short drive.

But, as times changed, we were taught not to give rides to strangers because it would be too dangerous. And as we began to see people standing at busy intersections holding signs asking for food or money, once again, we were told to be leery of those individuals and certainly not to give them money.

So, teaching my children to be kind and helpful to those in need came with exceptions and cautions. But safety had to come first. We have become, as a society, more aware of the dangers that could arise from such encounters. I often have stared straight ahead and pretended not to see these folks while waiting for the light to turn green.  

But there have been those moments when I went against the advice I had given to my kids and was led to do more than pass one of these folks by.

One of those instances came on a sunny morning several years ago when my youngest son and I were headed out for a day of activities. This trip rightly began, in my mind anyway, with a stop at a nearby fast-food place for a bag of sausage biscuits. As we made the turn, there stood a young but frail-looking man holding a sign asking for food or money.

His eyes met mine and something told me I should help as I watched others pass him by. I got extra food in a separate bag and stopped in front of him on the side of the highway. I gave him the food and asked if I could pray with him.

After our prayer, he thanked me and immediately sat against the guardrail to gobble down the sausage biscuits as though he had not eaten in quite some time.

I left him thinking I could have done so much more as we went on our way. But the look in his eyes and the sight of him devouring that food gave me cause to go back and at least try to offer him more assistance – although, at the time, I had no idea what that would be.

However, he was no longer there by the side of the road or in sight anywhere. And I felt as if I had missed an opportunity to do more, despite sharing food and a prayer with him.

I’m not suggesting everyone must do as I did that day. But for me, this incident was a reminder that there are many ways to help others in a safe, mindful, and Christian way, as we travel down the backroads. 

Romans 12:13(NIV) Share with the Lord’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.

Tim Thornberry
Editor, KFB News

Where there was once a farm is now a subdivision. Or an industrial park. Or a highway.

Where there was once land that produced food is now asphalt, pavement, concrete, dug into the soil with footers and foundations and manmade structures designed to withstand nature’s greatest forces.

We all see it. We drive past these new developments that often retain the word “farm” in their name. We learn of a new project that will consume thousands of acres that have been farmland for as long as we and our parents and our grandparents could remember.

The farms we know and love as Kentuckians are at risk. They have been for some time, but the demands on farmland just keep on increasing. And if we do not act, the pavement, the concrete, and the asphalt will just keep consuming it.

Into this challenge, we launched the Kentucky Farmland Transition Initiative. Through this Initiative, we hope to help people learn more about how to keep farmland in the hands of active farmers, connect people who care about this topic and are working with farmers, and look into what policies could make a difference in this battle.

Through it all, we want to share the stories of farmland that is passing to farmers and how that transition happened. We need to see these stories as a way forward, a way to turn off the pathway we are on where land used for agriculture is placed at a lower significance than nearly any other use of land.

It’s a tough road.

Way too often land used to produce our food, our fiber, and the necessities of our life is treated as less a priority than almost any other use. And many people look at the path we are on and say that it is just the price of progress.

But is it progress? When we pave an acre, it does not come back. When we have investor groups buying up farmland just to lease it back to the same farmers who sold them the land, we have to ask ourselves just what path we want to be on and what kind of future we want for our kids and grandkids.

Because this raises difficult questions both within families, but also within communities, too often we decide not to have that difficult conversation.

It’s time for those conversations to happen.

Within families, towns, counties, and our state, we have to ask ourselves whether we will prioritize the farmland we have left.

The Kentucky Farmland Transition Initiative website – kyfarmlandtransition.com – is a place for resources on this topic and also a place to offer your own thoughts and experiences with the issue. Together, we can forge a new path to help Kentucky farmland stay in production.

Aleta Botts, KFTI Project Coordinator

Candid Conversation presents a discussion about the topical issues related to Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) priorities, the agricultural industry, and rural communities, in a question-and-answer format. In this special edition, Kentucky’s Storyteller Byron Crawford shares his memories of the more than 5,000 stories and columns he has written during his long and celebrated career.

KFB: For our readers who may not know some of your background, would you mind sharing a little of your history and how you became Kentucky’s Storyteller?

BC: I grew up in Lincoln County on a family farm along Hanging Fork Creek, which runs into Dix River, which runs into Herrington Lake. Our small farm was one of three that had once been a larger farm that belonged to my great-grandfather, but my dad still farmed on all the land, which was still in the family.  So, as a kid, I roamed over –and grew up working—on those farms.  My parents were both farm people who had grown up in big families during the Great Depression.  We raised tobacco, corn and hay, milked a few cows, had some beef cattle, and had sheep at one time.

I grew up an only child, but not one with a silver spoon in my mouth. I had plenty of cousins so there were always other kids around, but I often wonder if I had had a bunch of brothers and sisters would my imagination developed to the point that it did. I feel, in writing, that has kind of aided me.

Of course, the storytelling part came about gradually over many, many years. I worked for the Courier-Journal newspaper as the Kentucky columnist for 30 years. Before that, I had worked for WHAS-TV and radio for another six years doing, for most of that time, stories about people all over Kentucky, interesting people, and telling stories that they had told me. My storytelling is a credit to the literally thousands of other people, most of them Kentuckians who had stories to share and who shared them with me. And I guess eventually it soaked in so much to my life and career that someone put the storytelling part on there.

In retirement I now write for Kentucky Living magazine, the back page.  Some years ago, an editor decided to write the words ‘Kentucky Storyteller’ beside my little picture at the top of the page, and I guess it stuck. But we all know that Kentucky is full of good storytellers, and it’s their stories I’ve been telling all these years.

KFB: Is there any particular memory that comes to mind from your time on the family farm?

BC: I remember the time, as part of being in FFA that I grew a little over an acre of tobacco of my own and the first year. I borrowed a mule from someone because I wanted to know how it felt to plow the ground with a mule. Needless to say, I did not bother the mule the next year!

But my time growing up on the farm had a dramatic effect on me. I often tell people that my trips to the stockyards and the feed mills with my dad on just routine farm business had a tremendous influence on my storytelling. I heard some of the great storytellers who were around that part of Central Kentucky, and then my family members were good storytellers. My dad was good at that, and my mother was a tremendous storyteller.

KFB: What was the first story you ever wrote professionally?

BC: The first story I ever wrote was for WHAS-TV. Before that, I had written for radio news. I had gotten into radio pretty much right out of high school. Even when I was in high school, I was into radio, but they were routine stories like the ones that came in on the Associated Press wire.

However, for TV it may have been a fellow who believed that there was a buried treasure on top of a knob in Bullitt County, and I went up there with him. And that sort of kicked off my feature reporting for the station, which grew into a syndicated program called Side Roads that I did over Tennessee, Southern Ohio, and Kentucky. So, I think that was the first story that I guess I did. By the way, I never found that treasure in Bullitt County, but that experience grew into other stories about buried treasures in Kentucky that I've had good success with. I've never found one of them, but I suspect that someone had found them before I got there!

And when I went to the Courier-Journal, Frank Hartley was the regional editor, and I had never written a story for print ever, not in high school, not anywhere. And Frank showed me the Kentucky page of the paper and he had marked off a place on it about the size of the top of a shoebox, and he said, "You see this place here? Three days a week, this is where you will fill with a story, and if you can't come up with anything, this will be blank."

But at that time, I knew of one month's worth of stories that I could do three days a week. Fortunately, that grew into about 30 years’ worth in the time I worked for the Courier.

KFB: I remember being on a trip to Casey County with you several years ago when you talked to an older gentleman who lived across the road from where we happened to be that day. I thought surely the way the two of you were conversing that you knew each other but found out you had never met him before. Have you run into situations like that a lot through the years?

BC: I don't know how to explain that except that I think if people read you long enough or they watch you on television long enough, they get a sense of identity with you that they know you even though maybe they've never met you. And in listening to them, you kind of get to know them. I had an older fella tell me one time after we had been talking about earlier life on the farm in Kentucky, he told me before I left, "Well, I don't know if you lived during this time we've talked about. I don't think you have, but you've sure been around somebody who did." I've listened to so many Kentuckians, especially older ones who told me about their experiences, that I could identify with them and the stories they told about the old ways and old days.

KFB: From my own experience, I’m sure there are a lot of people who have gotten much enjoyment out of telling you their stories.

BC: I have considered it an honor to be able to tell the stories that some of them told. And I tell young writers, reporters especially, and feature writers, don't take this lightly when you write a feature story about somebody. Writing three or four times a week may be our job. It may be old hand stuff to us, but to that one person who's telling you a story about their life, something special that happened to them in their life, that may be one of the highlights of their life to be able to share that with many other people. Not many people have time to listen much anymore and there are a lot of folks out there who just would love to share some of their memories or some of their thoughts or wonderful episodes in their life with someone, and there's no one to listen.

KFB: We don't often see the kind of feature writing, and storytelling, that we used to see in print media, but I think there is a lot of value in these types of stories. I would imagine you feel the same way. 

BC: “I wish there was more media coverage of rural Kentucky, because I think it’s an overlooked part of our culture.  I think that’s why people enjoy some of the stories that you and I write about our travels around the state, its interesting people and places, and, occasionally, about life here as we have known it.  The older I get, the more I appreciate growing up on a family farm in Kentucky.”

KFB: Of all the stories you've done, all the people you've met, all the places you've been, is there any one single thing that always comes to mind first?

BC: Well, after you’ve written more than 5,000 stories, it’s tough to single one out as your most memorable—but I wrote more than one story about the campaign by two veterans, and many others, to get Lt. Garlin Murl Conner of Clinton County the Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroism in World War II.  Conner, who made it home and spent much of his life working for the KFB and voluntarily assisting other veterans with benefits, died in 1998, but was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor in 2018).

KFB: If someone just getting into this business asked you for advice, what would you tell them?

BC: ---“One thing I would tell them is to make sure they have a genuine interest in people—and that their interest goes beyond just putting some words down on the page.  We need to always remember that, when someone entrusts us with their story, regardless of how many others stories we may have written, what we write about that person may live on as a keepsake in their family for many years to come.  So that makes what they tell us—and how we present it—something of value.”

While the big city seems to inch closer and closer to precious farmland in Northern Kentucky, farm families have learned to adjust and take advantage of a growing population.

The Greater Cincinnati area encompasses 4,546.5 square miles with a population of 2,268,393 which equates to 498.9 people per square mile, all according to census data.

With those kinds of numbers, it would be easy to think that this region has little to do with farmland and everything to do with cityscapes, subdivisions, and commercial development.

But the counties of Boone, Kenton, and Campbell that border the Ohio River and are short distances from the downtown area of the River City, are homes to many farming communities that have been in existence since before Kentucky was a state.  

The 2022 Agriculture Census indicated there are 1,673 farms in this tri-county area which include 138,847 acres of farmed acreage.

For the farm families themselves, being located near such a large metropolitan area comes with its set of challenges, but there are also many advantages.

Bob Schwenke, along with his brother Russell, who are the second of three generations of farmers, own and operate a row crop farm in Boone County where they raise corn, soybeans, and hay. He said it is a great area for many reasons but there are also many challenges associated with being so close to such a large urban area.

“We have been farming in this area along the Ohio River for many years and have a nice farm, but we are in a county with 136,000 people so we have a lot of neighbors,” he said. “Moving equipment is a pretty big hassle getting up and down the road, so we use radios to communicate when we are doing it and only move at certain times of the day when the traffic isn’t as bad.”

Schwenke added that while there are issues, mostly with people who don't know them or have little knowledge of the farm, there are also those days when people stop and tell him how much they like what he is doing on the farm.

“There are those people who say they love what we’re doing even though they don’t have a clue about what we are doing when it comes to the farm,” he said. “But it’s nice to have those people who appreciate it and love the way the farm looks.”

Expanding their operation is also a challenge with so much commercial development around.

“The biggest drawback for us is being in an area where you don't have a lot of room to expand,” he said. “But we have been pretty blessed being here close to the river. We have rich soils, and our yields are usually good. We can also be at a grain elevator in Cincinnati within an hour which helps save on fuel costs. A lot of places in Kentucky are two or three hours away. There are definite advantages to being here in this area.”

While the Schwenkes are a more traditional farm, they have many farming neighbors who have produce selling through local markets or meat producers in the county.

“So, we've got quite a bit of agriculture here, in between subdivisions,” he said.

Art and Becky Darnell own and operate Honey Locust Farms in Kenton County, located just to the east of Boone County. It is a traditional cattle and hay operation coupled with an agri-tourism component by way of a wedding/meeting venue.

The two are first-generation farmers who have taken advantage of the farmland that is a big part of the county's topography while gaining access to the growing population that surrounds this region.

“Since I was 13 years old, I wanted to farm and when Becky and I got married, she knew I wanted to farm,” he said. “At that time, she had a house in Covington, and I was sharecropping raising tobacco, a little bit of corn, had a few cows and some wheat and hay. And every public job I ever took was to supplement my farming habit. Some people like to golf or fish, I like to farm!

The will to want a farm of their own came to fruition in 1987 when the two purchased a farm in the Piner community while both were still working other jobs.

The original farm was 144 acres and has grown over the years to about 270. Tobacco was a mainstay of the operation at first and served as the basis for their payments, but the Darnells took the tobacco buyout, expanded their cow-calf herd, added a freezer beef component of the business, and eventually built the wedding venue after a tornado took down one of the tobacco barns.

“That was supposed to be Art’s workshop but after we built it people would call and want to have meetings or parties and eventually weddings and this year is our 10th wedding season,” Becky said.

Certainly, the population of the area has helped their wedding business grow, but the Darnells are community-minded and often have various local meetings including their FFA Alumni and their county Farm Bureau. In fact, the facility hosted Kenton County Farm Bureau’s 100 anniversary in 2019 with over 1,100 in attendance during the day-long celebration.

The Darnells have also turned into educators of sorts through the many events held at the farm and by having young people come to the farm to work.

“It’s surprising how many people in this area don’t know of the farms here or how their food is grown,” Becky said. “But it’s neat to see these kids who have, either worked on the farm or came here through FFA and knew little or nothing about agriculture.  Now they are living and working on their own farms because they developed a love of agriculture.”

Art is quite at home on the farm and is living a lifelong dream enjoying this rural area of the county while taking advantage of a growing population just down the road.

“I never have to take a vacation because every day on the farm is a vacation to me,” he said.

While the Darnells celebrate being that first generation on their farm, the Neltner family farm in neighboring Campbell County is multi-generations old.

“I’m the fifth generation and serve as the farm manager now,” Kevin Neltner said. "And my son works with me now full-time on the farm."

The Neltners have always raised vegetables on the 50-acre farm but it has diversified throughout the years. Today they sell a variety of produce and value-added products straight from the farm and at area markets. 

“We’ve always used every square inch of the farm and we have diversified a little bit,” Neltner said. “But I’ve had to give up a few fields for parking area.”

In addition to the produce, some of which is grown in greenhouses, now, the family has created an agri-tourism destination for meetings, family gatherings, and weddings. 

“We've also done corporate events and starting to do graduation and engagement parties," Neltner added. “We've even had two celebration of lives events here.”

The farm is also home to one of the largest fall festival events in the region complete with a pumpkin patch, corn maze, and dozens of family activities. It usually runs from the end of September to the end of October and brings thousands of visitors from all across the area and beyond. It is the only fall festival in the area to provide horse drawn wagon rides.

Being 20 minutes from Cincinnati has proven to be a big advantage for Neltner’s Farm giving those living in or near the city a taste of the country.

“It’s definitely an advantage being close enough to the city, but still feeling like you’re out in the country here,” Neltner said. “I'd never be able to make it vegetable farming. So, we need the agritourism part to make it. But what is amazing to me is when people come back, bringing their kids and grandkids. It makes you feel good to know multiple generations of their families have enjoyed our farm.”  

Farm families continue to do their part to care for their natural resources.

Zac and Taylor Jones are first-generation farmers producing a variety of crops to make their Gallatin County farm successful. From a direct-to-market produce business to row crops, burley tobacco, cattle, and hemp, they cover a lot of ground on their 1,000 acres of owned/leased farmland, both figuratively, and from a production perspective.

"We're not really big with anything but we do a lot of different things on the farm from a production standpoint from the traditional crops like tobacco, corn, and soybeans to our produce crops, tomatoes being the largest of those, to our hemp," Taylor said. "We also have a cow-calf operation and a home delivery service for our produce."

The brothers have found that diversification is one of the keys to profitability. However, it is their care of the natural resources that makes their crop and animal operations more sustainable and ultimately leads to more profitability.

Some of their many conservation measures include the use of cover crops and drip irrigation, no-till planting, and rotational grazing for their cattle.

“About 80 to 90 percent of our tobacco and hemp is no-till and 90 to 100 percent of our corn and soybeans is also no-till,” Zac said. “We also use drip irrigation for our crops whether outside or in our greenhouses.”

The use of drip irrigation not only allows for more efficient use of water resources, but their system also allows the same efficiency with chemicals or fertilizers.

"We want to give that plant exactly what it needs when it needs it," Taylor said. "Whether you're looking at it from a sustainability perspective or a profitability perspective, we don't want to put more out there than the plant can use. That could create runoff, and if it makes its way into the water streams, we would have just paid to pollute the water and that just doesn't make sense, any way you look at it."

The Jones brothers have been growing corn and soybeans on the farm since 2020 and have always used the no-till method of planting for those crops. In doing so, they found the same method could be used in all their crops along with a systematic rotation. But all their efforts aren’t’ necessarily overnight successes.

“We're looking at things all the time from a three, five, and 10-year perspective, which is a lot more difficult than looking at it from a one-year perspective,” Zac said. “And every single acre may not be the most profitable this year, but we think the way we're doing it kind of gives us the best five to 10-year picture with the healthiest soil going into year six or 11.”

It is safe to say that most farm families in Kentucky are using similar practices in their operations and have for decades.

Brad Hines of Magnolia Kentucky farms about 3,000 acres of owned and rented land in Hart, LaRue, and Green Counties following conservation efforts passed down by his father and grandfather.   

“Everything we grow on the farm is no-till planted,” he said. “We have corn, wheat, soybeans, and alfalfa hay. We also have a fall-calving cow herd. The no-till production probably started with my grandpa and my dad and we have been completely no-till for about 10 years.”

Hines said that practicing no-till production along with a conventional crop rotation makes the soil healthier. He also uses some of the wheat crop to graze his cattle.  

"We're actually grazing some wheat now and that helps our pastures to get healthier, too," he said.  Some of our wheat that we spread over top of soybeans as a cover crop, may not be thick enough to make grain, but it can give other pastures a break."

 Hines sees his conservation efforts as vital to the success and future of the farm.

“It's very important that we keep the land and leave it better shaped than when we started,” he said.  “There are several farms that I've been able to get where we've had to work on the waterways and a lot of ground that hadn’t been planted. We’ve been able to keep something growing on this land which makes for healthier soil.”

Hines said he has also made adjustments to equipment to make planting more efficient, something that cuts costs and ultimately helps yields.

Alfalfa has become an important crop on the farm where tobacco was grown for many years.

“I grew 25 crops of burley tobacco on my own starting when I was 14 and this is going to be my third year without tobacco,” he said. “We started adding alfalfa about 10 years ago and it's just kind of a specialty crop. And now that we've accumulated enough customers, we're putting it about everywhere we can.”

As with any crop, weed control is important and Hines pointed out that the use of cover crops can lessen weed pressure. In fact, there have been multiple studies at universities across the country that have studied the efforts of cover crop usage and weed control management.

“It definitely helps and in the fields we plant, if we miss some places where it could have been wet or some reason that kept us from seeding that area, those spots will have weed pressure all year long,” he said.

Farmers like the Jones Brothers and Hines constantly explore new ways to be efficient from a production standpoint as well as being conservation-minded. From rotational grazing with their cattle to water usage management to no-till production, they are indicative of the farm families across the state who have made care for the environment part of their plans to remain sustainable and profitable.

Looking through the eyes of history, Clark County native continues to serve his country

Throughout the history of this country, the value and importance of all those who have served and are currently serving in our armed forces can never be and should never be understated. Their service to this country continues to keep the U.S. free and a leader among nations.

Steven Caudill of Clark County feels that way. As a U.S. Army veteran who served in the First Cavalry Division as an Abrams Tank Commander, and later having served a 20-year career with the Winchester Police Department, he understands well the commitment men and women in those positions have made in the past and continue to make every day in their communities, their nation, and around the world.

But it has been his love of American history that led him to a second career that in many ways is connected to his past.

“After suffering an injury while serving as a police detective, I had several weeks off work to recover, and started studying about the life of Daniel Boone,” he said. “And the reason I did is because my sixth great-grandfather, Matthew Caudill, married a girl named Sarah Webb. Sarah Webb who was Squire Boone, Daniel's brother's granddaughter. So, it made me a direct biological descendant of Boone.”

His love of a storied family past and the history of a time period that included the French and Indian War, beginning in the 1750s, to the American Revolution, and up to the 1790s, helped Caudill create a company called Daniel Boone of Kentucky, LLC Corporation. He has also formed a company that sells authentic replicas of colonial-era clothing.

“I've become a student of American frontier history in this region, and do living history shows,” he said. Over the last 20 years, I’ve traveled all over the country as a professional historian and speaker portraying Boone and a colonial patriot.”

Because of the notoriety Caudill has achieved in bringing to life this historic period, a renowned patriotic painter, Joe Bonomo sought him out for a very special project.

“I have worked, in the past, with the Honor Flight Tri-State, (which is a part of the national Honor Flight network) and have donated artwork that was of a military significance, like a soldier or a battle group, and that was very harmonious or appropriate for Honor Flight.,” he said.

Nationally, since 2005, the Honor Flight Network has flown over 275,000 veterans to see their memorials.

During a conversation with the Honor Flight people last year, Bonomo suggested doing something very specific and more meaningful for the organization.

“I came up with the idea of using a patriot for the main focus of my painting because it embodied all the service groups,” he said. “In knowing what the theme was going to be I started looking for someone who could pose for me and carry on the persona of a patriot.”

Thanks to a search on the internet, Bonomo found Caudill and made contact with him to take some photos to be used for the painting. And while Caudill wasn't aware of the Honor Flight involvement at first, he agreed to let Bonomo photograph him as a patriot. And the rest, as they say, is history.

“Within days he had a draft of the image and we met for lunch when Joe told me it had been picked for a 2024 Honor Flight,” Caudill said.  “And I am deeply honored to be a part of this.”

Caudill will be making the trip dressed as the patriot during the May Tri-State Honor Flight and has been given the honor of laying the wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.  

“This is a great honor, but it is not about me,” he said. “It’s about those who have served our country and will be visiting their respective memorials in Washington D.C. that commemorate their service, and the ones who gave their lives for this country.”

Cheryl Popp, the board chair and flight director of Honor Flight Tri-State, said she is thrilled to be working with artist Joe Bonomo and Steven Caudill on the “ Patriot project”.

“The patriot represented in the painting is based on the re-enactment of a patriot from the Revolutionary War,” she said. “These soldiers fought from the very beginning for the American dream of Freedom, Liberty and the pursuit of happiness and their vision has made this country the best on earth. The veterans that we serve at Honor Flight are the ones that have followed in their footsteps and preserved that legacy.”

To learn more about Honor Flights Tri-State, go to www.honorflighttristate.org.   

Tires were built to be indestructible. While that’s great for your vehicle, it’s bad news for the Earth. In the past, tires often ended up as junk in landfills, stockpiles, vacant properties, on the side of the road, and in waterways. Repurposing tires was almost unheard of just 25 years ago and back in 1990, only 11 percent of scrap tires each year were recycled, according to the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA).

Thanks to aggressive repurposing efforts at the national and state level, innovative technologies, and environmental regulations, the recycling of tires is now a priority in the U.S. While tires are one of the most recycled products in the U.S., the end-of-life markets are not keeping pace with the annual generation of scrap tires, according to the USTMA. 

The 2021 Scrap Tire Management Report, the most recent report available, revealed that about 71% of scrap tires were recycled in 2021. This is down from 96% in 2013, when scrap tire recycling peaked.

“Three decades after we successfully eliminated 94% of the over one billion scrap tires stockpiled around the country, this report reveals that efforts to find and develop new uses for scrap tires have stalled,” said Anne Forristall Luke, president and CEO of USTMA. “We must take immediate steps to grow new and existing markets to recycle 100% of scrap tires. This not only protects our health and the environment - it drives innovation and jobs.”

The Kentucky Division of Waste Management (DWM) estimates that about 4 million scrap tires are generated annually in Kentucky. The DWM strongly encourages consumers to leave worn tires with the retailer when purchasing a new set. For a small fee, that retailer can manage the tire in an earth-friendly way.  

For individuals who prefer to manage proper tire disposal themselves, the state-run Waste Tire Collection Program allows Kentuckians to drop off unwanted tires at specific locations within their county at no cost. The division warns that residential pickup services will not take used tires, and not all landfills will, either.   

So what happens to tires when they retire from life on the road? Luckily, used tires can be made into many awesome things, like:    

• Tire-derived fuel
  The majority of used tires are turned into a more economical alternative to fossil fuels. This gas is commonly used in cement kilns, paper mills, and industrial boilers. 
   
• Ground rubber
  More than 60 million used tires in the U.S. each year are recycled as rubberized asphalt, sport surfaces like fields and running tracks, mulch, and rubberized asphalt. Never heard of rubberized asphalt? This method results in quieter, more durable roads.    
   
• Civil engineering
  Tire shreds are a lightweight alternative to fill materials such as gravel or sand. Recycled tires work great for road and landfill construction, septic tank leach fields, and embankments. Their compress­ibility and high permeability make tire shreds a perfect fit for building retaining walls. Tire shreds drain much better than gravel, and provide 9 times more thermal insulation than gravel.      
   
• Do-it-yourself home projects
  There are plenty of things you can do with used tires around your house. Turn them into colorful flowerbeds, or give your kids the gift of an old-fashioned tire swing. You can even paint one and stuff a pillow inside for a wonderfully fluffy pet bed. Just be aware that if you allow water to collect in a tire, it can become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.   

For more information on Kentucky’s Waste Tire Collection Program, click here.
 

>> KFB lives and works in the Bluegrass State. To see some of the ways we’re invested in helping Kentucky flourish, click here.

Kentucky’s diverse terrain makes it the perfect landscape for some ATV fun. Want a sweeping panoramic view? Traverse the trails of eastern Kentucky to reach a sprawling ridge top. River bottom riding more your style? Western Kentucky has you covered. There’s no doubt about it: Four-wheeling is fun… but it’s important to keep in mind that ATVs are not exactly toys.   

According to statistics from ATVSafety.gov, a service of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kentucky is one of the top five states in the nation for average ATV fatalities. 

Kentucky Farm Bureau Insurance offers the following tips to help keep ATV riders safe across the Bluegrass State:

1. Get schooled! | Before heading for the trail to an off-road adventure, check out a driver education course specifically designed for ATVs. Proper instruction will inform riders of the correct ways to control an ATV on the various types of terrain that might be encountered. A formally-trained driver has a lower risk of accidents and injuries than one with no formal instruction.
2. Always wear a helmet. | In Kentucky, it’s the law. All riders (operator and passengers) 16 or over on public property must wear a helmet, except those using the ATV for agricultural or business purposes. All riders (operator and passengers) under age 16 must wear helmets no matter the circumstance.
3. Don’t forget special riding gear. | Like fly fishers who wear waterproof waders and snowboarders adorned in big bulky jackets, ATV riders should also come equipped for the elements they will encounter. Wear goggles, gloves, pants, boots that sit over the ankle, and long-sleeved shirts to avoid the cuts and scrapes that are more likely to occur when brushing up against trees, shrubs, rocks, and other debris with exposed skin.      
4. Stay off the road. | ATVs are designed to be operated off-highway and can actually be hard to control on paved surfaces. Under Kentucky law, ATV use on public roads or highways is prohibited, except to cross these roads or for agricultural use. Many ATV fatalities occur because a rider was traveling on a paved road.
5. Keep size in mind. | ATVs are growing bigger and faster than ever. Some ATVs can weigh up to 600 pounds and exceed 70 mph. ATVs can be too large for smaller kids to handle safely, even if it's legal for them to be riding them. The CPSC reports that almost 1/5th of ATV-related injuries treated in emergency rooms involved children less than 16 years of age. The National Ag Safety Database offers information – and additional safety tips – on the recommended ages for youth operation of ATVs and their various sizes and power.     
6. Don’t ride with a passenger. | Most ATVs are designed with only one rider in mind – the driver. Adding a passenger to the vehicle is not only a distraction, but it also interferes with the driver’s ability to move in tandem with the machine while navigating rough terrain. The inability to freely shift one’s weight from side to side limits the driver’s ability to maintain safe control of the ATV and could lead to an accident.      
7. Don’t drive under the influence. | Recreational use of ATVs can make for an enjoyable afternoon of adventure, but mixing those experiences with alcohol or drugs only impairs a driver’s judgment and reaction times.

We’re all for enjoying Kentucky’s beautiful sights via four-wheeler, but practice these tips to help reduce ATV injuries and fatalities this year and for years to come.       
 

>> In Kentucky, there’s so much to live for. Join us in driving distraction-free. To learn more about distracted driving’s prevalence in the Bluegrass State, click here.

Can you write down what you had for breakfast this morning? Easy! What about dinner two nights ago? Starting to get a little fuzzy. Now, what if someone gave you a pen and asked you to write down every possession in your home AND each item’s worth? Nearly impossible.      

This is a very real scenario for someone whose home has just been burglarized, burned down, or ravaged by a natural disaster. Identifying all of your items for an insurance claim can be both challenging and frustrating. Some items are obvious, like a computer, but what about the smaller, lesser used items, like your grandma’s antique jewelry in the bedroom drawer?   

To avoid this panic-inducing situation, consider making a home inventory. What’s that? A home inventory logs the valuables in your home and each item’s worth. An accurate and up-to-date home inventory can help you make sure you initially elect the right amount of insurance protection, and in the event of a loss, it can make filing a claim much simpler.

Where do you start? One way is to walk through your home with a printed version of our home inventory form, and jot down valuables using a pen and paper. You can also store the form electronically, using our fillable home inventory PDF. Luckily, these days there’s also smartphone technology (like this free app) that makes this process essentially fool-proof.  

Regardless of the method you choose for storing your inventory, follow these tips to maximize its usefulness:

• Organize your belongings by room.
• Consider taking photos – or even doing a video tour –  of your home. Get close-up shots of expensive electronics, and try to capture serial numbers when possible.
• Store the list in a secure place. If anyone were to find it, like a thief, you’re essentially giving them the road map to your home’s valuables.
• Compile receipts for already-purchased items if possible, and keep receipts for new items as you add them to your personal inventory. 
• Update your inventory at least once a year – or more often if you make a major purchase.  
   

>> At Kentucky Farm Bureau, we’re just as invested in your home as you are. We protect what’s important to you – from farms and fishing boats to minivans and mobile homes. To see a full list of products we insure, click here.

*The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration identifies May as Motorcycle Safety Awareness Month.   

Sun in your face, wind in your hair, and endless bluegrass-lined roads before you: An evening or weekend cruise on a motorcycle can be exciting, relaxing, and adrenaline-fueled all at the same time.   

But that exhilaration can come at a hefty price. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), per vehicle miles traveled, motorcyclists are approximately 28 times more likely than people in passenger cars to die in a traffic crash. Additionally, when motorcycles and other vehicles collide, it is usually the other (non-motorcycle) driver who violates the motorcyclist’s right-of-way. In 2022 (the latest statistics available), 6,218 motorcyclists were killed on U.S. roadways. 

One piece of protective gear has the ability to greatly re­duce the above statistics: a helmet. On average, unhelmeted riders are three times more likely than helmeted ones to sustain traumatic brain injuries in a crash, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).     

Motorcycles in Kentucky
Motorcycling is a common hobby in our state. According to the Kentucky State Police, there are more than 95,000 motorcycles currently registered in the Bluegrass State. 

Kentucky first enacted a motorcycle helmet law for all riders in 1968. This law was amended in July 1998 to require helmet use only by:   

•  Motorcycle operators and passengers under the age of 21;
•  Motorcycle operators who possess a motorcycle instruction permit;
•  Motorcycle operators who have had an operator’s license for less than one year.

When Kentucky repealed the law in 1998, motorcycle fatalities increased by more than 50 percent (NHTSA).  

In comparing states with and without helmet laws, the statistics are rather telling. In states where a helmet is required for all riders, 9 percent of motorcyclists killed in 2011 were not wearing a helmet. That same year in states without a universal helmet law, 65 percent of motorcyclists killed were not wearing helmets.

Battling excuses
Some riders claim that helmets reduce their peripheral visibility, but a helmet approved by the DOT (Department of Transportation) will not impair your visibility. A study of more than 900 motorcycle crashes did not find even one case in which a helmet kept a rider from spotting danger.

Other motorcycle riders will only bring along a helmet during long trips. Research shows that most crashes happen on short trips (less than five miles long), according to the Kentucky State Police.

Still yet, others will argue that protective head gear is not necessary on a low-speed cruise. However, research shows that most riders are traveling slower than 30 mph when a crash occurs. At that speed, a helmet can cut the number and severity of head injuries by as much as 50 percent.

Picking the right helmet
Finding the right helmet could literally be the defining factor between life and death.

Always look for the DOT symbol on the outside back of the helmet. This proves it has passed safety standards and will protect the head and brain in the event of a crash.

For a helmet to be DOT-approved, it must have:

• A thick inner liner. The minimum Federal safety standard requires a one-inch-thick inner liner made of polystyrene foam.
• Sturdy chin strip and rivets.
• A substantial weight. Helmets meeting the safety standard generally weight about 3 pounds.

Beware of “novelty helmets.” The NHTSA reports that retailers annually sell more than 800,000 of these unsafe helmets, which are usually peddled online, come in flashy colors and are less expensive than DOT-approved helmets. These helmets offer little protection and are bought for style rather than safety, and while they are cheaper, they may cost you your health in the event of an accident.

>> We want you to be safe out there on the road… but accidents still happen.
At Kentucky Farm Bureau, we’ve got agents in all 120 counties.  Click to find one near you.

As warmer temperatures hit the Bluegrass State, more and more Kentuckians will be out enjoying the weather via bicycle. Some may hop on a cruiser for a casual neighborhood pedal, while others might opt for a high-speed road ride to their favorite coffee shop.   

Americans are increasingly using bicycling as a true means of transportation – the number of cyclists traveling to and from work has more than doubled in the last decade. By law, bicycles on the roadway have the same rights and responsibilities as motorized vehicles. When it comes to the motorist-cyclist relationship, everyone needs to remember that it’s a two-way street! A mutual respect between drivers and bicyclists must exist for each type of traveler to arrive at their destination safely.

Check out these tips and help make Kentucky’s roadways peaceful for both those behind the wheel and those behind the handle bars:
 

If you are a bicyclist:

1. Do not drink and ride! In Kentucky, it’s actually illegal to operate a bike if your blood alcohol content (BAC) exceeds .08. Under KRS (Kentucky Revised Statute) 189.520, “No person under the influence of intoxicating beverages or any substance which may impair one's driving ability shall operate a vehicle that is not a motor vehicle anywhere in this state.” According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 21 percent of bicyclists killed in crashes had a BAC of .08 or higher – the illegal limit in most states.    
2. Get the right bike. One that’s too big or too small will be harder to control. Make sure it’s tuned up and works right (it doesn’t matter how well you ride if the brakes don’t work!).
3. Wear equipment that makes you more visible to others, like bright clothes during the day and reflective gear and lights/reflectors at night. According to the NHTSA, bicyclist deaths occur most often between 6 and 9 p.m.
4. Ride one per seat, with both hands on the handlebars!
5. Be predictable. Learn the proper turn signals and use them consistently. Ride where drivers expect to see you and go with the flow of traffic. Obey all traffic signals and signs as if you were in a car.
6. Avoid or minimize sidewalk riding. Cars don’t expect to see moving traffic on a sidewalk and don’t look for you when backing out of a driveway or turning. Sidewalks sometimes end unexpectedly, forcing the bicyclist into a road when a car isn’t expecting to look for a bicyclist.
7. Carry all items in a backpack or strapped to the back of the bike.
8. Tuck and tie your shoe laces and pant legs so they don’t get caught on your bike. Avoid baggy clothing or shoes that impede your ability to properly ride.
9. Plan your route carefully. If driving as a vehicle on the road, choose routes with less traffic and slower speeds. According to NHTSA, the vast majority (71 percent) of bike crashes happen in urban settings. Your safest route may be away from traffic altogether, in a bike lane or on a bike path.
    

If you are in a vehicle:

1. Do not underestimate the speed of a cyclist! This will help avoid turning in front of a bicyclist traveling on the road or sidewalk, often at an intersection or driveway.
2. Always search your surroundings for bicyclists, just like you would for other vehicles.
3. If you’re turning right on red, look to the right and behind to avoid hitting a bicyclist approaching from the right rear.
4. Give cyclists room! Kentucky state law says vehicles should leave at least three feet of space when passing bicyclists. Move back into the lane only when well clear of the bicyclist.
5. Understand a bicyclist’s vulnerability. In a collision, it’s a two-ton car versus a 20-pound bike.

Share the road! Click here for a complete look at Kentucky’s laws regarding drivers and bicyclists.   
 

>> We want you to be safe out there on the road… but accidents still happen.
At Kentucky Farm Bureau, we’ve got agents in all 120 counties. Click to find one near you.