The value of our county Farm Bureaus is immeasurable

As we approach the last few weeks of 2024, to say it has been a busy year on and off the farm is quite an understatement. From an advocacy perspective, Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) has been busier than ever working with our local, state, and national lawmakers to move our agricultural industry forward by way of the priorities that begin with our county leaders throughout the state.

As a grassroots organization founded more than a century ago, the value of our county Farm Bureaus is immeasurable. Thanks to their continued support, KFB has established a solid foundation with a presence in all 120 counties.

From an insurance perspective, no other company can say that.  We are unique in that no matter what community you call home—be it in the most rural of areas to the largest metropolitan cities, you will find KFB there providing protection and support to our members.

My involvement in Farm Bureau began as a young farmer over 40 years ago. Throughout that time, I have witnessed the advocacy efforts this organization makes on behalf of our agriculture and insurance industries.

Those efforts include working with our government leaders at all levels to ensure rules, regulations, and laws that are proposed and/or passed will be beneficial to this organization and our membership of more than 480,000.

I often say that being a part of KFB is like being a part of one big family. I think that is another thing that makes us so unique. Our meetings and conferences held throughout the year have a close-knit family feel to them.

And like any family, we don’t always agree on everything, but we do work together to reach a common solution and ultimately achieve our goals.

Since taking the helm as KFB President nearly one year ago, I have had the privilege of working with so many dedicated leaders from a variety of organizations in our beloved commonwealth and across the country.

One thing that helps to ensure the success we have at KFB is the relationships we have built at a national level. When federal farm policy is being discussed, we have enjoyed a place in those discussions and have been a leader in guiding policy to benefit all farm families and our rural way of life.

One particular program we began earlier this year is called the Kentucky Farmland Transition Initiative. As we have seen continual losses in farmland over the last few decades, we must continually look for ways to address the loss of Kentucky farmland and the decline in Kentucky farmers.

We have had great support for this initiative and look forward to continuing our efforts to ensure a new generation has every opportunity to continue a farming tradition that, quite frankly, none of us can do without.

As we prepare for the KFB annual meeting, we look forward to seeing our members from across the state gather to help adopt policy that will lead us for the coming year and into the future.

Thanks to all of you for your continued support of KFB and may you all have a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

Eddie Melton, President
Kentucky Farm Bureau