Kentucky Agricultural Council has appointed Mackenzie Nichols as the new Executive Secretary.
Mackenzie holds a bachelor's in Animal Sciences from the University of Kentucky and a master's in Agriculture from Murray State University. With a decade of experience in agricultural marketing, she has worked with organizations including Kentucky Cattlemen's Association, Kentucky Pork Producers, and Kentucky Soybean Association.
A native of Lexington, Mackenzie currently resides in Berea with her husband and two dogs. She enjoys spending time with family, watching her nieces show lambs, and needlepointing. Mackenzie looks forward to building relationships with KAC members and working on the Strategic Roadmap.
John and Randy Seymour of Upton have been selected as the are the recipients of the 2025 Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award®.
The award honors farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who go above and beyond in the management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land.
John and Randy Seymour, who own Riders Mill Farms and Roundstone Native Seed LLC, were presented with the award at the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts’ Annual Convention on August 5. They receive $10,000 for being selected.
Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust will present Leopold Conservation Awards to landowners in 28 states this year. In Kentucky, the award is presented annually with the Kentucky Agricultural Council, and the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts.
Given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, the awards recognize farmers, ranchers, and forestland owners who inspire others with their dedication to environmental improvement. In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold advocated for “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.
Kentucky landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award this year. Applications were reviewed by an independent panel of agricultural and conservation leaders from Kentucky. Among the many outstanding landowners nominated for the award were finalists Steve and Melanie Kelley of Carlisle County, and Dr. James “Greg” Kuhns of Bullitt County.
ABOUT JOHN AND RANDY SEYMOUR
Former tobacco fields, overgrown forests, and limestone outcroppings usually are not the makings of a conservation showplace. That is, unless you are talking about the father and son team of John and Randy Seymour.
Their original plan was to raise beef cattle, grow tobacco and row crops, and pursue timber production on land where others had struggled to make a living in remote northwest Hart County. The ravaged land was gullied and stripped of soil nutrients. Quality timber had been selectively stripped. Small, abandoned farms had been sold to others on speculation. Neglect had left the area ecologically damaged.
Undeterred, the Seymours spent four decades piecing together 28 parcels contoured with rolling hills, narrow valleys, and sandstone capped ridge tops into a 2,150-acre tract named Riders Mill Farms.
The Seymours dug 16 ponds to water cattle and protect the water quality of Roundstone Creek. Fences were built to protect the forest from cattle, and soil conditions were improved. The invested resources to control invasive species and repair severe erosion, and managed woodlands for timber production with the assistance of the Kentucky Division of Forestry.
Despite these conservation advancements, the Seymours were intrigued by protecting rare and threatened plants species and creating habitat for diverse and abundant wildlife populations. By prioritizing their farm’s diverse flora and fauna they saw an opportunity to diversify their income stream.
Abundant remnants of native grass, legumes, and wildflowers indicated the site would be ideal for their production. A survey of the farm’s flora found over 900 species. Each was collected, mounted, labeled, peer-reviewed, and included in an on-site herbarium for public study.
Roundstone Native Seed LLC (RNS) was established to specialize in growing seeds native to an ecologically distinct region. With more than 340 species in their seed catalog, the business helps other landowners establish native plants that reduce erosion, build soil health, and improve water quality.
A large demand comes from agencies and organizations that collect seeds from their own properties and send them to RNS to be cleaned and conditioned. RNS coordinates with other area landowners to grow seed under contract. In addition to native seeds an average of 500 acres of soybeans and oats are grown each year.
Riders Mill Farms contains a cave that serves as a maternity site for 36,000 gray bats, a federally listed endangered species. The Seymours vigorously protect the cave, closing it to only biologists from April through October.
The Seymours have an agreement with Kentucky Department of Fish & Wildlife to provide public fishing access along a half mile of Roundstone Creek, which the agency stocks with trout. They also host long-term studies of reptiles and amphibians in collaboration with conservation organizations and universities.
More than 100 acres have been restored as oak savanna at the farm, which has served as a release site with habitat for Ruffed Grouse. The Seymours also partnered with neighbors to provide a 5,000-acre protection zone for turkey.
In 2024, they hosted an event with the University of Kentucky that attracted more than 100 forestland owners interested in conservation. It’s proof that their willingness to share innovative native plant propagation methods has spread the Seymours land ethic far beyond their remote, but rejuvenated piece of Hart County.
ACCOLADES
“The Kentucky Agricultural Council is proud to once again partner in recognizing exceptional stewardship and conservation work as demonstrated by the Seymour family,” said Tod Griffin, Kentucky Agricultural Council’s chair. “The winner of the 2025 Leopold Conservation Award represents lifelong work to promote good stewardship in their farming operation and also through their agribusinesses, Roundstone Native Seed Company, that works to spread that stewardship nationwide.”
“Kentucky’s 121 conservation districts promote the sound management of all our natural resources, and we are excited to join in recognizing the well deserving Seymour family,” said Allan Bryant, Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts President. “This year’s Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award recipient is truly a working family farm and native seed business with a strong land stewardship ethic.”
“These award recipients are examples of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and CEO. “Their dedication to conservation is both an inspiration to their peers as well as a reminder to all how important thoughtful agriculture is to clean water, healthy soil, and wildlife habitat.”
“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the award recipients,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO. “At AFT we believe that exemplary conservation involves the land itself, the practices employed on the land, and the people who steward it. This award recognizes the integral role of all three.”
The Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award is made possible thanks to the generous support and partnership of American Farmland Trust, Kentucky Agricultural Council, Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts, Sand County Foundation, Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation, U.S Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, AgriBusiness Association of Kentucky, Farm Credit Mid-America, Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, Kentucky Corn Growers Association, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Kentucky Pork Producers, Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board, Kentucky Tree Farm Committee, Kentucky Woodland Owner’s Association, and the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
For more information on the award, visit www.leopoldconservationaward.org.
Article from Morning Ag Clips
The Kentucky Agricultural Council is seeking a dedicated and detail-oriented part-time executive secretary to support our association’s operations and enhance member engagement. This role offers an opportunity to develop or refine association management skills while making meaningful professional connections within Kentucky’s agricultural sector.
Position Details:
Responsibilities:
Qualifications:
Interested candidates should submit their resume along with a cover letter or introduction video detailing their relevant experience and interest in the role via email to kyagcouncil@gmail.com by June 30, 2025.
For additional information about the Kentucky Agricultural Council, visit www.kyagcouncil.org.
Three finalists have been selected for the 2025 Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award®.
The award honors farmers and forestland owners who go above and beyond in their management of soil health, water quality, and wildlife habitat on working land.
Named in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold, this award recognizes landowners who inspire others with their dedication to environmental improvement. In his influential 1949 book, A Sand County Almanac, Leopold advocated for “a land ethic,” an ethical relationship between people and the land they own and manage.
Sand County Foundation and national sponsor American Farmland Trust present the Leopold Conservation Award to private landowners in 28 states. In Kentucky, the $10,000 award is presented with Kentucky Agricultural Council and the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts.
The finalists are:
Kentucky landowners were encouraged to apply, or be nominated, for the award. An independent panel of Kentucky agricultural and conservation leaders reviewed the applications.
The award recipient will be recognized at the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts’ Annual Convention in August. Last year’s award recipient was Michael W. Wilson of Lawrenceburg in Anderson County.
“The Kentucky Agricultural Council is excited to recognize private landowners across the state who practice exceptional environmental stewardship,” said Tod Griffin, Kentucky Agricultural Council Chair. “Farmers are innovators in conservation and protecting our natural resources to ensure food and fiber production for future generations of Kentuckians.”
“KACD and conservation districts promote the sound management of all our natural resources, and we are excited to recognize these well deserving landowners in Kentucky,” said Allan Bryant, Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts President. “The Association and conservation districts work daily to assist private landowners in their efforts to adopt sound soil and water conservation practices on their land that benefit us all.”
“These award finalists are examples of how Aldo Leopold’s land ethic is alive and well today,” said Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation President and CEO. “Their dedication to conservation is both an inspiration to their peers as well as a reminder to all how important thoughtful agriculture is to clean water, healthy soil, and wildlife habitat.”
“As the national sponsor for Sand County Foundation’s Leopold Conservation Award, American Farmland Trust celebrates the hard work and dedication of the award finalists,” said John Piotti, AFT President and CEO. “At AFT we believe that exemplary conservation involves the land itself, the practices employed on the land, and the people who steward it. This award recognizes the integral role of all three.”
The Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award is made possible thanks to the generous support and partnership of American Farmland Trust, Kentucky Agricultural Council, Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts, Sand County Foundation, Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation, U.S Department of Agriculture’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, AgriBusiness Association of Kentucky, Farm Credit Mid-America, Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association, Kentucky Corn Growers Association, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, Kentucky Pork Producers, Kentucky Soybean Promotion Board, Kentucky Tree Farm Committee, Kentucky Woodland Owner’s Association, and University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment.
(Louisville, KY) - Kentucky Agricultural Council (KAC) member organizations elected their 2025 board of directors at its annual meeting on February 13.
Elected for another term are:
Laurie Mays, Senior Workforce Development Project Manager at the Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Foundation, will serve her first year on the board of directors. She replaced Mark Barker of Farm Credit Mid-America, who served as a director since 2016 and chaired the KAC from 2019 to 2021.
Appointed directors for 2025 are:
Following the members' meeting, directors elected KAC officers for 2025:
Jennifer Elwell will continue to serve under contract as Executive Secretary.
The Kentucky Agricultural Council grows connections among agricultural organizations and businesses across the Commonwealth. KAC brings value through networking, leading strategic discussions, and building collaborative relationships between farm, food, fuel, and fiber groups. This work includes:
KAC’s 50+ members include non-profit organizations, trade associations, commodity groups, state and federal agencies, and higher education institutions.
Learn more at www.kyagcouncil.org.
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:
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.
Kentucky’s agricultural sector is at a crossroads, brimming with potential and facing evolving challenges. To navigate this dynamic landscape, the Kentucky Agricultural Summit will be held November 14-15, 2024, in Louisville, Kentucky. The summit will convene industry leaders, farmers, and stakeholders for a two-day exploration of the future of Kentucky agriculture.
Get ready to make a difference and be inspired!
During the Kentucky Agriculture Summit, we'll unveil the Strategic Roadmap for Kentucky Agriculture: 2025-2030, a groundbreaking plan developed by over 300 stakeholders to propel the farming community forward. This roadmap outlines achievable, measurable, and evolving strategies that will shape the future of agriculture in our state.
"Plan your work, and work your plan,” remarked Tony Brannon, KAC chair. “For the past year, the KAC has networked with all Kentucky agriculture organizations and agriculture leaders from all over the Commonwealth to 'plan our work.' The Kentucky Agriculture Summit begins the transition to 'work our plan.' It's not just another meeting; it's a meeting of the minds to continue to merge the great past of Kentucky Agriculture into an even brighter future. Join us as we share this vision and discuss how we can all work together to make it a reality.”
This premier event, presented by the Kentucky Agricultural Council (KAC), the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and Kentucky State University, is a critical platform for exchanging ideas, fostering collaboration, and charting a course for continued growth and prosperity. The Summit will delve into critical themes like:
Speakers include Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Johnathan Shell, Kentucky Economic Development Secretary Jeff Noel, and Kentucky Venues CEO David Beck. Matt Lohr, a farmer leader who has served as chief of the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service and is currently the Virginia Secretary of Agriculture and Forestry, will provide the opening keynote address on leading agriculture into the future.
In addition, the Kentucky Agriculture Summit offers attendees a unique opportunity to:
Registration for the Kentucky Agriculture Summit is now open. Visit www.kyagcouncil.org by October 25 to secure your spot and help shape a brighter future for Kentucky agriculture.
About the Kentucky Agricultural Council
The Kentucky Agricultural Council is a non-profit organization that advocates for and promotes Kentucky agriculture. The Council brings together diverse stakeholders to address critical issues impacting the community and create a thriving agricultural environment for the Commonwealth.
Contact:
Jennifer Elwell, Executive Secretary kyagcouncil@gmail.com
(Frankfort, KY) A sample of 2024 Kentucky State Fairgoers expressed their gratitude and trust in Kentucky farmers during a food survey conducted by the Kentucky Agricultural Council (KAC) and the Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom (TeachKyAg). It was the processing, however, that food buyers believed should be more transparent.
The consumer survey was a tactic developed as part of the Strategic Roadmap for Kentucky Agriculture: 2025-2030, in which more than 300 agriculture stakeholders participated. The tactics for the roadmap’s nine strategies will be released to the public during the Kentucky Agricultural Summit, November 14-15, 2024, in Louisville.
“We had many great conversations with the public about food,” remarked Jennifer Elwell, executive director of TeachKyAg. “In general, most people believed their food was safe and met their expectations concerning production and quality, but they had concerns about processing after the product left the farm.”
The survey group of more than 400 respondents made food decisions for themselves or their families, were primarily women between the ages of 35 and 75, and 40 percent lived in areas they classified as suburban. However, there was an even distribution among those in the remaining small town, rural, and urban locations.
Internet searches, traditional news outlets, and personal experience were among the leading sources of food information for those surveyed, but more than 19 percent mentioned they asked experts; Cooperative Extension, farmers, and groups at the Kentucky State Fair were among those responses.
Regarding confidence in food safety and quality, more than 70 percent of respondents said they were mostly to extremely confident farmers provided safe, high-quality food. Taste and affordability were the characteristics that dominated food purchase decisions, followed by safe and fair working conditions for farm workers, nutritional content, ingredients, animal welfare and environmental impact, in that order.
TeachKyAg asked survey participants to provide their thoughts on food processing, which showed to have the largest impact on food purchase decisions. Some people said they believed food processing is necessary and can make food safer and more affordable, while most shared concerns about the negative effects of processing on nutrition and health and prefer fresh or minimally processed foods.
Finally, respondents were encouraged to provide questions they had about food production. Those included the need for more information about processing, the use of additives, more transparency in food production and processing, and how to better support local farmers and gain access to fresher, minimally-processed foods.
“Overall, the survey revealed a range of views on food production and processing, with some consumers valuing convenience and affordability, while others prioritize freshness, health, and ethical production methods,” said Elwell. “There is a general desire for more transparency and education about food, and this information will help us develop communications tools for connecting with consumers in a more meaningful way. I was encouraged that many see the value in meeting farming experts at events such as the Kentucky State Fair.”
Full results of the consumer survey will be shared with members of the Kentucky Agricultural Council and at the Kentucky Agriculture Summit in November.
Whispering Hills Farm of Lawrenceburg is the recipient of the 2024 Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award®.
Whispering Hills Farm’s owners, Mike and Tammy Wilson, were presented with the award at the Kentucky Association of Conservation Districts’ Annual Convention on July 16. They receive $10,000 for being selected.
Read more
Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture Asked for Additional Input
KAC Chair Tony Brannon welcomes the crowd to the June 5 meeting in Lexington.
The Kentucky Agricultural Council (KAC) met on June 5 in Lexington to continue work on the Strategic Roadmap for Kentucky Agriculture, where about 70 stakeholders continued to refine and add to the draft tactics presented. Many of those stakeholders were new to the process, moving the total participation to about 250 individuals.
"This was another great day of construction by KAC members on the Strategic Roadmap,” remarked Dr. Tony Brannon, KAC chair. “There was great input, great ideas, and great discussion from great leaders planning our work. Let's get to work, Kentucky agriculture!"
Roadmap contributors refined tactics for these nine strategies identified by stakeholder focus groups and developed by working groups of industry professionals:
"The leaders of Kentucky agriculture involved in the strategic roadmap have focused on the big picture to serve farm, food, fuel, and fiber partners across the state,” noted Michele Payn of Cause Matters Corp., who has facilitated the process. “I’ve been impressed with their concern for the future and ideas to creatively address challenges to help build a stronger agriculture. The goal of the strategic roadmap is to be a living, breathing document that is updated as tactics are delivered."
Payn will follow up with the strategy leads, and additional conversations will occur before another in-person meeting on August 15. The plan will be released on November 14-15 at the Kentucky Agricultural Summit in Louisville. However, many of KAC’s member organizations are already working on the strategies and tactics presented.
“I believe this exercise was a reminder of how urgent many of the issues facing Kentucky agriculture really are,” said Jennifer Elwell, administrator of KAC and executive director of the Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom. “Many of us found ways we can contribute and have already rolled up our sleeves to get to work.”
Examples of immediate actions that are underway or planned in the next few months include:
Tod Griffin, Michele Payn, and Jennifer Elwell spoke to the Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture in Frankfort, Ky. on June 6.
On June 6, Elwell, Payn, and KAC executive committee member Tod Griffin testified to the Interim Joint Committee on Agriculture in Frankfort on the Strategic Roadmap, sharing the process, themes, and tactics. House and Senate members were encouraged to ask questions and share insights on what was important to them. Those notes will be shared with each working group to see how they may be included in the roadmap.
"We thank Chairman Heath and the committee members for the opportunity to report on the plan's progress,” said Griffin, who is also executive director of the Agribusiness Association of Kentucky. “It's imperative that the members of the General Assembly know what key policy changes are needed to make sure Kentucky agriculture and rural communities remain vibrant and relevant to our citizens."
Strategic Roadmap for Kentucky Agriculture and the Kentucky Agricultural Summit updates can be found on the KAC website at www.kyagcouncil.org.
The Kentucky Agricultural Council is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Administrative Address: PO Box 722, Shepherdsville, KY 40165
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