The gap between the average consumer and their connection to production agriculture has grown to three to four generations removed from the farm.  In recent years production agriculture has become under scrutiny for common practices and its environmental impact.  As a result the need to advocate for agriculture has become a focus for many commodity organizations at the local, state, and national level.  LaRue county has become a high growth area due to economic development with industry moving in due to its location along the I-65 Corridor.  When asked to participate with the local Chamber of Commerce Leadership Program the LaRue County Extension Service continued the tradition but with a different twist.

As part of an established program the Extension Service chose to host an "Ag Day" and chose to highlight the impact of agriculture in the local community.  Approx. 65% of the land mass in LaRue County is devoted to agriculture with an economic impact in the 40 million dollar range.  A program was developed to highlight the producers in the community and tour their operations to discuss the footprint and expose the leadership participants to the diversity of agriculture in the county.

There were 11 participants that were a part of the program of which only one was involved with agriculture on a daily basis.  The range of professionals were from bankers, law enforcement officers, business owners, and executive secretaries.

The impact of this program was to explain and show the community the impact that agriculture has on the economy and the scale to which it is involved.  After conducting some exit interviews with participants all were unaware of the monetary impact that agriculture had on the local economy.