Each year KFB offers several ag-related events to provide educational opportunities for members and teachers. 

LOUISVILLE, Ky. - While we have heard the saying, “Learning is a lifelong process,” there is no place that rings truer than at Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB.) Each summer, various events are held to help participants learn more, be stronger advocates, and better communicate the story of agriculture.  

KFB President Eddie Melton said that bringing educational programs to members is a tradition that has stood the test of time.

"For as long as I can remember, we have brought programs and educational opportunities to our members as a way to foster future leaders, to assist in local education endeavors, and to ensure participants are up to date on policy and priority issues," he said. “The summer months are often the best time to hold many of these events and we appreciate all those who participated this year.”

Some of those events included the Institute for Future Agricultural Leaders (IFAL) held at Murray State University and the University of Kentucky and the Young Farmer Summer Outing.  KFB also sponsored the annual Beef Tour and Certified Farm Market Tour (held in March) and teacher workshops, held across the state.

Scott Christmas, the KFB Director of Women and Ag Education programs said the four regional teacher workshops were well attended with each receiving excellent evaluations.

“There were 349 educators from 60 counties who participated in our 2024 training programs, with alternate tracts offered for middle and high school educators,” he said. “Teachers expressed their appreciation for KFB’s continued commitment to education.”

Kentucky Farm Bureau has hosted Regional Teacher workshops throughout the state for nearly 20 years. Each year the workshops highlight a variety of state and national agricultural lessons designed to address Kentucky's core competencies.

“These thematic lessons and materials help educators enhance learning retention and better equip them to teach Mathematics, Social Studies, English, and Science through the real-life application of agriculture,” Christmas added.

Taylor Nash, the KFB Director of Young Farmer programs said while IFAL helps to get young people introduced to KFB and ag-related policy, the Young Farmer programs take that a step forward as they become a prominent voice in state and national agricultural issues.

“The IFAL experience brings together youth throughout the state and teaches them about Kentucky Farm Bureau and Kentucky agriculture,” he said. “After IFAL, we see the participants' excitement lead them to continue to grow through their Farm Bureau and agricultural involvement, and often we later get to serve alongside them as leaders in our organization.”

Each year, the Young Farmer Summer Outing accomplishes two major roles, Nash added.

“The event provides an opportunity for Young Farmers to network, discuss agricultural needs and innovations, and discover new practices they can apply in their operation,” he said. “In addition, these conversations include policy development sessions where the Young Farmers' voice is heard and policy recommendations are made, displaying the KFB grassroots structure.”

The Beef and CFM Tours have a rich history dating back decades in which participants visit farms and agricultural operations in different regions of the country to learn from their farming “neighbors” and to enlighten others about the ag industry in Kentucky.

KFB Commodity Division Director Renee Carrico helps oversee the Beef and CFN Tours. She said it’s amazing how open and honest the farming operations are that are part of these tours.

“Farmers, no matter what part of the country, seem to always want to help their neighbors find a way to succeed,” she said. “These tours give our members a chance to learn from others in their sector of the industry and push them to think through new ways of operating. Whether it is farm markets in Texas or cattle operations in New York, there is something new to learn and bring back to our home farms.”

The KFB Generation Bridge program also held its annual summer summit in July. Kyle Kelly, director of the KFB Public Affairs Division and staff lead for Generation Bridge said the summit, in its fourth year, is moved to various locations throughout the state each year so attendees can see the different regions in the state and how different their ag sectors can be.

“While the networking opportunities of the summit are always a good thing, the educational aspect of seeing how Kentucky agriculture differs from region to region is beneficial to our members,” he said. “We also invite a couple of legislators from each region in which the meeting is located so those involved in the GB program can meet them and gain experience in connecting with their representatives."

Kelly added this program provides many opportunities to a specific demographic of Farm Bureau members.

“It bridges the gap for those farmers and those members between the ages of 36 and 49 as they age out of the Young Farmer program,” he said. “However, you don't necessarily have to be in a leadership role locally to be active in the GB program. It still offers all involved an ability to stay engaged with Farm Bureau at the local, regional, and state levels. But at the heart of this and other Farm Bureau is advocacy, which is the pillar of our organization going back over a hundred years.”

There has been substantial growth in the GB program throughout the state and it also is serving as a national model for other state Farm Bureaus.