LOUISVILLE, KY— Nearly 200 Kentucky agriculture stakeholders representing 60 farm organizations, farms, and businesses met in Louisville today to release its Strategic Roadmap for Kentucky Agriculture: 2025-2030.

The plan was commissioned by the Kentucky Agricultural Council (KAC) members and developed by a diverse cross-section of Kentucky’s agriculture community. In fact, more than 300 individuals provided input through interviews, focus groups, working groups and meetings.

According to roadmap facilitator Michele Payn of Cause Matters Corp., the goal was to outline achievable, measurable, and evolving strategies to shape and propel Kentucky agriculture forward.

“Throughout the strategic roadmap process, we posed questions to help stakeholders consider solutions and lead into the future,” remarked Payn. “Extensive efforts were made to engage a variety of agrifood system leaders, spanning generations, farm types, minority groups, food experts, leaders from all sizes of agricultural organizations, healthcare, agribusinesses, and community groups.”

For Dr. Tony Brannon, KAC chair, farmer, and former dean of the Murray State Hutson College of Agriculture, the launch of the roadmap moves the focus from “planning the work to working the plan.”

“During the past year, I witnessed a core group of agricultural leaders— who, through their “deeds” and based on their knowledge, passion, service, commitment, and leadership—have provided a unified, strategic roadmap to guide Kentucky’s farm families and Kentucky agriculture to a brighter and more profitable tomorrow,” said Brannon. “I would like to thank every member of the Kentucky Agricultural Council for their diligent work and great contributions.”

Nine primary themes and 38 tactics were shared with attendees of the Kentucky Agricultural Summit with remarks from Senator Jason Howell, Representative Richard Heath, and Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell. Sessions at the Summit were designed to provide insight into critical issues such as economic development, farmland transitions, supply chain coordination, education, workforce development, innovation, food and health, and bringing Kentucky agriculture groups together.

KAC will also present the plan to the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, which supported the project with Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement funds.

Thanks to strategy leads, several projects and tasks listed within the roadmap are well underway. Those strategies and leaders are:

1. Help protect farm transitions and sustain Kentucky farmlands. - Brent Lackey, Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development
2. Engage agriculture in Kentucky’s economic development discussions. - Warren Beeler, Kentucky Department of Agriculture
3. Prioritize workforce development to meet employer needs by expanding career opportunities in agriculture. - Laurie Mays, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Foundation
4. Foster more supply chain coordination to improve market access. - Dr. Ashton Potter, The Food Connection, University of Kentucky
5. Continue diversification and innovation across farm, food, fuel, and fiber. - Dr. Tony Brannon, WAVE Agriculture Initiative
6. Develop agriculture partnerships in the food and health space. - Marianne Smith Edge, RDN, The AgriNutrition Edge
7. Create more value-added markets across the Commonwealth. - Kati Bowman, Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development
8. Build understanding around farm, food, fuel, and fiber amongst all Kentuckians. - Dr. Will Snell, University of Kentucky and Kentucky Agriculture Leadership Program
9. Grow collaboration, coordination, and communications within Kentucky agriculture. - Tod Griffin, AgriBusiness Association of Kentucky

The complete roadmap may be viewed at www.kyagcouncil.org. KAC also encourages anyone who wants to contribute to the roadmap and its tactics to contact Jennifer Elwell at kyagcouncil@gmail.com.