We Are Kentucky Ag


HOTEL INFORMATION

If you need a hotel room on the evening of November 14, we have secured a special room rate at the Hyatt Regency Louisville for $115 + taxes and fees. 

Book a Room 

Hyatt Regency Louisville
320 West Jefferson Street
Louisville, KY 40202
502-581-1234

Kentucky Agriculture Summit

Merging the Future of Kentucky Agriculture

November 14-15, 2024
Louisville, KY

Join us for a premier event to celebrate the crossroads of Kentucky's future in farm, food, fuel, and fiber on November 14-15 in Louisville. The Kentucky Agriculture Summit will feature farmer and dynamic leadership speaker Matt Lohr, who’s also served as chief of USDA NRCS and Virginia’s Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry. 

The Kentucky Agricultural Council will reveal of the final Strategic Roadmap for Kentucky Agriculture: 2025-2030 and guests will be treated to a wonderful Taste of Kentucky showcasing the Commonwealth’s finest food and beverages in the evening. 

Panels made up of farmer, agribusiness, food, and health leaders, will be provided both days, discussing how they’ve built partnerships for agriculture. Summit attendees will:

  • Discuss experiences, legal needs, and challenges with farmland transitions with a young farmer, lawyer, and experts. 
  • Listen to how Kentucky can increase their workforce development efforts and meet farm and agribusiness needs. 
  • Consider economic development for Kentucky’s future and trends impacting agriculture’s future.
  • Gather ideas around innovation from agribusinesses with experience.
  • Network in a meaningful way with leaders shaping the future of farm, food, fuel, and fiber.
  • Collect unique ideas to take agriculture into classrooms. 
  • Explore how to be a part of creating a healthier Kentucky through the products we grow and the people who grow them.

Registration has closed.

PDF Agenda
or view below sponsors information.

Meet the speakers and moderators


Agenda

PDF Agenda

Day 1 at Hyatt Regency Louisville
All times are EST

10:15 a.m. - Registration open

11:00 a.m. 
Emcee: Dr. Tony Brannon, Kentucky Agriculture Council Chair
Welcome and Keynote from Matt Lohr: "Merging the Legacy and Future of Kentucky Agriculture." 

Noon
Lunch & Launch of the Strategic Roadmap for Kentucky Agriculture: 2025-2030
Remarks from Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell and invited dignitaries: Senator Jason Howell and Representative Richard Heath confirmed. 

1:15 p.m. 
Breakout Option 1: How Can We Create a Healthier Kentucky Through Agriculture?  Connecting the dots between Kentucky food, prioritizing farmer mental wellness, and working with health partners points to a need for more collaboration. Our panel will offer insight to help you to integrate health into your work and partnerships. Facilitated by Heather Graham, The Food Connection. Panelists:

Dr. Kristie Guffey, Murray State University
Dr. Ashton Potter, The Food Connection
Dr. Alison Gustafson, Food as Health Alliance
Marianne Smith Edge, MS, RDN, Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky

    Breakout Option 2: How Does Agriculture Grow Economic Development? 
    Building prosperity for Kentucky’s future necessitates innovative economic development opportunities across farm, food, fuel and fiber. Listen and learn from innovative fuel, fiber, and community success stories.  Facilitated by Dr. Will Snell. Panelists:

    Mick Henderson, Commonwealth Agri-Energy
    Tom Womack, AgLaunch
    Danielle Milbern, Kentucky Cabinet forEconomic Development
    Erica Rogers, Director of Ag Development for Lexington/Fayette County
     

    2:30 p.m.
    Networking Break and Panel Discussion Follow-up

    3:00 p.m.

    Breakout Option 1: How Do We Expand Kentucky's Agriculture Workforce? 
    Creating opportunities to attract and retain more employees in all facets of agriculture means a different approach to the workforce. Our panel will share solutions to address this gap and attract the next generation to Kentucky’s vibrant agricultural scene.  Moderated by Tod Griffin, Agribusiness Association of Kentucky. Panelists:

    Adam Hinton, Hinton Mills
    Laurie Mays, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Ag & Equine Talent Pipeline
    Scott Ebelhar, Peterson Farms

    Breakout Option 2: How Do We Build Understanding Around Farm, Food, Fuel, and Fiber Across Kentucky? Finding new ways build agricultural literacy across a wide variety of classrooms. These experts will share their hands-on experience working with non-traditional partners, such as elementary teachers and food & consumer classrooms. Moderated by Jennifer Elwell, Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom. Panelists:

    Jamie Guffey, Kentucky Poultry Federation
    Dr. Carrie Ballinger, Superintendent, Rockcastle Co. Schools
    Dr. Christa Steinkamp, Georgia Agriculture Education

    4:00 p.m.
    Snacks and Networking Break focused on Ag Innovation & Diversification

    4:30 p.m.
    General Session: How Can We Better Connect Farm and Food Between Gate and Plate? Fostering connections between chef, food distributors, and farms requires communications, coordination, and curiosity. Gather ideas and insight from a chef, food distributor, and farmer selling direct to consumers about how to create better connections around the food plate. Moderated by Myrisa Christy, Community Farm Alliance. Panelists: 

    Alvio & Ela Lapinet, Cured (Restaurant Owners and Chef)
    Ryan Burnette, Hickory Grove Farm
    Anna Haas, What Chefs Want
     

    6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
    Taste of Kentucky Reception

    Day 2 at Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville

    8:30 a.m.
    Breakfast & General Session: How Do We Protect Kentucky Farmland? Answering the call to help first generation and young farmers succeed while normalizing farm transition discussions to safeguard agriculture in the future. Our panel will share expertise directly from the farm, law office, and Kentucky Farmland Transition Initiative. Moderated by Jessica Wilkerson, Kentucky Attorney. Panelists:

    Renee Carrico, Kentucky Farm Bureau
    Ryan Bivens, Fresh Start Farms
    Michael McCain, Mattingly, Smith, Robinson & McCain PLLC

    10:00 a.m.
    Networking Break

    10:30 a.m.
    General Session: Where is the future of agriculture in the Commonwealth headed?
     
    Two well-known leaders provide insight on unique opportunities and challenges, as well as how they connect to the strategic roadmap for Kentucky agriculture. Moderated by Michele Payn, Cause Matters Corp.

    Kentucky Economic Development Cabinet Secretary Jeff Noel
    Kentucky Venues President and CEO David Beck

      Noon
      Agribusiness Industry Network Farm City Luncheon - Tickets will need to be purchased separately. 


      "Kentucky Agricultural Council" is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization.
      Administrative Address: PO Box 722, Shepherdsville, KY 40165
      Official Address: 105 Corporate Drive, Frankfort, KY 40601

      Powered by Wild Apricot Membership Software