Carlisle County

Farm Profiles

Kelley Farms

Kelley Farms is operated by Steve and Melanie Kelley in Bardwell, Ky. Steve returned to his home farm after graduating from Murray State in 1973. He has expanded the farm with his wife to raise row crops, beef cattle, and 2,500 acres of hay. 

Steve said his purpose is to leave his farmland in better condition than when he received it. “This isn’t only my duty as a farmer, but my joy.” They use cover crops and other best practices to conserve soil, water, and nutrients.

In addition to his grain and livestock operation, Kelley also has a solar farm, timberland to produce saw logs, and leases land for duck, deer, and turkey hunting.

Steve Kelley was named the Kentucky Farmer of the Year in 2019 by the Kentucky Farm Bureau.

Carlisle County Articles

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Meet Our Kentucky Farmers: Caleb and Lukas DeWeese
Meet Our Kentucky Farmers: Caleb and Lukas DeWeese

While the DeWeeses also have hill ground and various other soil types to work with, the river bottoms are tricky. Like many other row crop farmers in the far western portion of the state, the DeWeese brothers have turned to contract growing of hogs in order to diversify their operation and maximize their profit margin.

Reddick Farms Lead the Way in Regenerative Agriculture
Reddick Farms Lead the Way in Regenerative Agriculture

When farmers think of leaders in regenerative agriculture, they may not think of a farm tucked away in Carlisle County, Kentucky, or a family that has been tending the land since the Civil War. But after just a few minutes of visiting with Brad Reddick and his son, Joel, it’s easy to see that these men eat, sleep, and breathe soil health.

Eden ElwellC