ELIZABETHTOWN, KY (June 21, 2018) – A public screening of the documentary, Farmers For America, and a panel discussion made up of local agricultural producers will be held on Tuesday, June 26 at 6:00 p.m. at The Historic State Theater located at 209 W. Dixie Ave in Elizabethtown. This event is free and open to the public.
Central Kentucky Community Foundation and Hardin County Farm Bureau are pairing up to sponsor a screening of the film Farmers For America. A panel discussion featuring the local farmers will take place following the film. The panelists will discuss the challenges and changes that are facing the agricultural community in our region.
The panel discussion with be moderated by Warren Beeler. Mr. Beeler lives on a 220 acre livestock farm in Caneyville, KY (Grayson Co.) with his wife DeeDee. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Agriculture Policy and has over 16 years of experience with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. Mr. Beeler graduated from Western Kentucky University with an Animal Science degree. He is in the Kentucky Pork Producers Hall of Fame, Western Kentucky University Agriculture Alumnus of the Year, and University of Kentucky Animal and Food Science Hall of Fame. He has judged livestock shows for over 40 years in 43 states.
The panelists are:
Matt Adams – Operates Adams Farm with his wife, Molly, a farming operation that raises beef cattle, corn, soybeans, wheat and hay on owned and leased land in Hardin, Hart, and LaRue Counties. While Matt comes from a dairy farming family, the family farm was sold in 1992, and his operation began from scratch through an FFA project. Matt focuses on the genetics of the beef cattle herd, producing a superior end product, some of which is sold directly to consumers as freezer beef. Adams Farms also produces alfalfa and timothy hay for equine farms. Matt serves as the University of Kentucky Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent in Hardin County and is active in the agriculture community, including Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, Hardin County Farm Bureau, and Kentucky Farm Bureau Young Farmers.
Mark Thomas – Mark is a multi-generational farmer from Hardin County where he raises corn, soybeans, sweet corn, hay and beef cattle on 2,200 acres alongside his parents and with his fiancée, Wesley. He graduated from the University of Kentucky with a bachelor’s degree in Agriculture Economics. He is active on the Hardin County Farm Bureau Board of Directors, Farm Bureau Young Farmers, and is past president of both the Hardin County Cattleman’s Association and the Kentucky Young Farmer Association.
Caleb Ragland – Caleb’s farm consists of corn, soybeans, winter wheat, and raises a 4,000-sow farrow to wean hog operation alongside his wife, Leanne and his family. He is a 9th generation farmer in LaRue County in his 11th year of farming full-time. Caleb received a bachelor’s degree in Economics/Finance and Business Management from Bryan College. He has served on numerous national, state, and local organizations including a National Director for the American Soybean Association, President of the Kentucky Livestock Coalition, among many other positions and titles.
Jeremy Hinton – Jeremy and his wife Joanna own and operate Hinton’s Orchard and Farm Market. They raise and grow over 30 different crops on 250 acres and flowers and plants in 6 greenhouses. The majority of the farm’s fruits and vegetables and plants are sold at their two retail markets, one on the farm and one in Elizabethtown. Soybeans and burley tobacco are also part of their operation. The farm’s location welcomes approximately 3,000 students every fall for educational field trips and hosts a variety of special events throughout the year. Jeremy has a degree in Agriculture Education from the University of Kentucky. Both Jeremy and Joanna have been active in the community and agriculture industry for the past 20 years.
Daniel Hayden – Daniel is a young farmer from Daviess County where he raises broiler chickens and 200 Gelbvieh and Red Angus beef cows alongside his family. Daniel enjoys sharing and educating about his farm and day-to-day activities through social media and internet at haydenfarms.org.
Ray Allen Mackey – Ray Allen and his wife Jan purchased their first farm in 1986. He now manages a diversified farming operation on 4,500 acres in Hardin and LaRue Counties. Current enterprises include 4,000 acres of corn and soybeans, 80 acres of tobacco, 100 beef cows and 6,000 wean to finish hogs. Ray Allen serves in various agriculture leadership roles, such as Farm Bureau, Kentucky Corn Producers, U.S. Grains Council and U.S. Meat Export Federation.
To reserve your free ticket contact CKCF at 270-737-8393 or info@ckcf4people.org or Hardin County Farm Bureau at 270-737-7377.
About Central Kentucky Community Foundation
Central Kentucky Community Foundation is the philanthropic focal point in the region, serving as a resource, leader and catalyst to people who wish to improve life in their community. For more about CKCF visit www.ckcf4people.org.
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