Each year, Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) recognizes an individual whose efforts not only strengthen the state’s agriculture industry, but also show service and leadership both on and off the farm.

This year’s finalists are Jed Clark of Graves County, Tom Folz of Christian County, and Brenda Paul of Bourbon County. Each finalist is a fitting example of the thousands of Kentucky farm families across the state committed to the agriculture industry, efficient in their farm practices, sound in their fiscal management, and leaders in their communities. 

Jed Clark of Graves County 
Clark has been farming in Mayfield, Kentucky since he graduated high school in 1998. He raises corn, soybeans, wheat, and tobacco across nearly three thousand acres in west Kentucky. He also owns Seed Smart LLC., a seed and crop protectant dealership. He and his wife, Chrissy, have three children they are raising on the farm.

Like all farmers, Clark has faced challenges. In 2021 following the devastating tornadoes that tore through the Mayfield community, Mayfield Grain, the number one purchaser of grain in the area, was destroyed. Due to Mayfield Grain no longer operating, the distance his grain must travel during harvest has become longer and waits at riverports have become common. Nevertheless, Clark and his family have persevered, diversified, and continue to farm.

“Being a successful farmer goes beyond working fourteen-hour days and producing a high yield crop,” said Clark. “It is supporting the younger generation of farmers, taking time to educate consumers, and dedicating your time to ensure the future of agriculture. I am always honored to get to share our farming story. 

Tom Folz of Christian County 
Tom Folz and his family raise corn, soybeans, wheat, and tobacco plants on more than 4,500 acres in western Kentucky. In addition to his farming operation, he runs a Beck’s Hybrids dealership which is an integral part of his business. 

Folz considers sustainability to be an important part of his farming. He implements no till and minimum till practices to gain the benefits of airing out the ground and evening residue all while avoiding any challenge brought on by full-till farming. He soil samples regularly and can use data to create variable rate seed and fertilizer prescriptions. He uses moisture probes under irrigation pivots to maximize water efficiency, and not overuse a scarce resource.

"Farming is in our blood and we could not imagine doing anything else,” said Folz. “To plant our crops and to watch God take care of them as they grow is so satisfying. I am blessed to see my children have interest in the farm, and want to follow in my footsteps, which is such a blessing.”
 
Brenda Paul of Bourbon County
Brenda Paul and her family raise cattle, alfalfa, hay, sorghum, and soybeans on her nearly six-thousand-acre farm. She is a graduate of Purdue University and she and her husband have been farming their land in Bourbon County for the past thirty years. 

Paul has been adopting more on-farm technology such as ultrasound equipment, precision pasture seeding, and spraying utilizing tractor guidance and section control. All cattle have an electronic identification tag in their ear for improved record keeping, health, and weight history. Individual weights are recorded each time an animal moves through the chute to better track growth throughout the year. With everchanging technological advances, she is always looking to improve her ability to make decisions using data analysis.

“As a first-generation farm operation, I hope my agricultural experiences offer encouragement to younger farmers building their own farm businesses,” said Paul. “I enjoy sharing my farming story with consumers and speak from the perspective of both a beef producer and a mother.”