Beaver Dam, KY (September 25, 2014) — Agriculture Commissioner James Comer joined officials from Perdue Farms, the city of Beaver Dam, and Ohio County schools to launch the first “Ready, Set, Grow” school garden in Kentucky today at Beaver Dam Elementary School.

“The ‘Ready, Set, Grow’ program teaches children gardening skills that they can use all their lives,” Commissioner Comer said. “Some of the students in the program might even be inspired to take up a career in agriculture. I’m glad that Beaver Dam Elementary is offering this program for its students, and I’m grateful to the good folks at Perdue for providing the funding to make this project possible.”

Jim Booth, director of operations for the Perdue processing plant in Cromwell, Kentucky, presented a grant check for $5,000 for the project on behalf of Perdue and the Arthur W. Perdue Foundation.

"We are honored to be able to provide funding for a shelter for the outdoor classroom space at Beaver Dam Elementary,” Booth said. “This school has initiated an innovative learning program that teaches children about where their food comes from and how they can participate in its cultivation. This space will further enhance this wonderful learning opportunity for the children of this school."

“Ready, Set, Grow” is a partnership of Commissioner Comer and First Lady Jane Beshear to help Kentucky children learn how to grow fruits and vegetables. For more information, or to download the “Ready, Set, Grow” booklet, go to www.kyproud.com/readysetgrow.

Perdue Farms, started on Arthur Perdue’s farm in Salisbury, Maryland, in 1920, is the family-owned parent company of Perdue Foods and Perdue AgriBusiness. The Arthur W. Perdue Foundation, the charitable giving arm of Perdue Farms, was established in 1957 by Arthur Perdue and is funded through the estates of Arthur and Frank Perdue. The foundation provides grants on behalf of Perdue Farms in communities where large numbers of the company’s associates live and work.