Boyle county is a growing community in terms of population and industries. From 2020 to 2025 Boyle County's population is expected to grow 2.2% according to a recent population projection by Kentucky State Data Center. The Boyle County Chamber of Commerce annual leadership program introduces participants to many different industries in the county through site visits with local professionals. With new professionals moving into the county this program lets participants learn the industries present and available resources in the county. The Boyle County Horticulture, Family Consumer Science, and Agriculture and Natural Resources Agents and chamber representatives planned an inclusive and diverse look at agriculture and food in Boyle County. 

Participants learned about the services and roles of different agriculture-based organizations within the county such as Boyle County Farm Bureau, Boyle County Conservation District, Clarks Run Environmental Educational Corporation (CREEC), and Resilient Boyle. Participants also heard from Boyle County extension agents about the role of extension and the programs offered. Following the classroom session, the participants visited three field sites: Central Kentucky Wildlife Refuge, Circle G Farms, and Caverndale Farms. Participants were able to see various kinds of operations from fruit and vegetables production, small grains, seed production, cow-calf, and backgrounding operations. After returning from site visits participants completed a group food insecurity activity lead by the FCS Agent.  

The participants are professionals from many diverse backgrounds including health care, education, finance, public service, and local industry. Some of the participants are more established professionals seeking to learn more about the community and some are new to the area hoping to grow as a leader and come away from the program with a different scope of the county.  

At the start of the program, participants were individually asked what they knew about Boyle County agriculture and what their favorite local product was. 62 percent of participants were unsure of local agriculture products from the county. By the end of the program this number declined 12 percent.