Kentucky Agricultural Council

The Kentucky Agricultural Council (KAC) is an umbrella group representing all sectors of Kentucky Agriculture. Its 35+ members include non-profit organizations, trade associations, commodity groups, state and federal agencies, and institutions of higher education — all interested in the advancement and development of Kentucky agriculture.

The KAC was established in the late 1970s by the Kentucky Farm Bureau's E. W. Kessler and other Kentucky agricultural leaders. Originally it operated as an informal group that met once or twice each year for the purpose of sharing information about common goals, projects and activities of the members. KAC became an incorporated non-profit organization in 1998 with Jeff Hall (Ag Project 2000 at the University of Kentucky and former director of the Kentucky Farm Service Agency), Jesse More (Kentucky State University), Steve Coleman (former director of the Kentucky Department for Natural Resources Division of Conservation), Todd Barlow (former Executive Director of the Kentucky Corn Growers Association), and David Beck (former Kentucky Farm Bureau Executive Vice President and current President and CEO of Kentucky Venues) as it’s first directors.

KAC works to:

  • Plan programs for its members and disseminate information that creates an understanding and appreciation of Kentucky agriculture.

  • Enable member agencies and/or organizations to better understand available programs so that Kentucky agriculture may progress more rapidly.

  • Serve as liaison between private and public agricultural organizations, the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Governor, and the legislature in order to develop and effectively utilize our agricultural resources to the fullest extent.

  • To receive an disperse funds for the purpose of promoting Kentucky agriculture.

Since 2006 Kentucky's governors have asked the KAC to assume a leadership role in planning to help increase net farm income and to improve the quality of life in rural Kentucky, resulting in the publication of A Pathway for Kentucky's Agriculture and its Rural Communities: 2007 to 2012 Strategic Plan. A second strategic plan followed, titled Connecting Strategies to Better Kentucky’s Agricultural Economy and Rural Communities: 2013-2018.

Through the strategic plans, the KAC board established six committees centered on key goals that continue to drive forward the implementation of its recommended actions, provide accountability toward meeting the plan's benchmarks, and that will help update the plan on a periodic basis. Those goals are Next Generation Farming, New Market Identification and Development, Regional Agriculture and Rural Community Development, Education, Consumer Outreach, and Policy-Maker Education.

More recent action items for KAC have included sponsorship of the annual Leopold Conservation Award and organization of several Beginning Farmer Summits to help new farmers find the best financial, marketing, and educational resources for their ventures. The group also led efforts to promote Kentucky agriculture at the 2018 Sunbelt Ag Expo in Moultry, Georgia.

A third strategic roadmap, 2025-2030, for Kentucky agriculture is underway.

KAC holds quarterly meetings (open to the public) to update members on topics of broad interest as well as to focus on the ongoing progress of the strategic plan. Those meetings typically occur during the following events:

  • National Farm Machinery Show (February at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center)

  • Kentucky FFA Convention (June at the Hyatt Rupp Arena in Lexington)

  • Kentucky State Fair (August at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center)

  • North American International Livestock Expo (November at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center)

Current Leadership:

KAC Officers

Chair – Drew Graham, Kentucky Farm Bureau

Vice Chair – Dr. Tony Brannon, WAVE Ag

Treasurer - Niki Ellis, Kentucky Pork Producers Association

Executive Secretary – Jennifer Elwell, Kentucky Agriculture & Environment in the Classroom

Immediate Past Chair – Mark Barker, Farm Credit Mid-America

Board Members

Warren Beeler - Kentucky Department of Agriculture

Dr. Nancy Cox, University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food & Environment

Debbie Ellis - Kentucky Soybean Association

Tod Griffin - AgriBusiness Association of Kentucky

Laura Knoth - Kentucky Corn Growers Association

Joe Cain - Burley and Dark Fire Tobacco Producers

Nikki Whitaker - Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association

Web Site - http://www.kyagcouncil.net

Advocacy, Education, PromotionJennifer Elwell