Author: Sarah Drysdale
Planning Unit: Ballard County CES
Major Program: Economic Development
Plan of Work: Empowering Community & Extension Leaders
Outcome: Intermediate Outcome
The 4th annual, WAVE River Counties Ag Day, was held in Downtown Hickman, KY in Fulton County on July 22 from 7:30 am to 12:00 pm. The goal of the initiative when it first started was to host an Ag Day in all four river counties. Due to COVID-19 we were unable to have an event in 2020. The theme “Lets Grow With It” was chosen yet again as it encompasses the goal of the WAVE committee: to utilize what we have at hand in the four river counties and grow upon it.
The WAVE Ag Day is a joint venture including all four County Judge Executives, the University of Kentucky Cooperative Extension Agents from each county, various Ag businesses, several local banks, the county Farm Bureaus, the Ballard Chamber of Commerce, River Valley Ag Credit, Murray State University, and Ballard school officials. Numerous planning meetings were held throughout the year. Sponsors were obtained to help fund the Ag Day. The platinum sponsors presented four awards: Farmer of the Year, Ag Business of the Year, Friend of Agriculture, and a Young Farmer award.
The day started off with a sponsored breakfast to honor and show appreciation for our local farmers, producers, and Ag businesses in the four river counties. With an attendance of over 300 people, the group listened to keynotes by Richard Fordyce, Brian Lacefield, and Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles about strong agricultural and community economic development for the river counties. On hand were other legislators and the County Judge Executives.
Following the breakfast and awards program, people could browse vendor booths set up to tell agriculture’s real story. Over fifty exhibitors and vendors were set up for the public to visit and view. Jason Hodge with the Kentucky Ag Mobile Classroom was set up. There was food, fun, and things to do all centering on agriculture. Chairman Phillip Bean, Carlisle County producer, said "Even though are numbers are down slightly this year due to COVID-19 concerns, the day was a great success." Everyone is looking forward to the event next year.
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