Commissioner of Agriculture

Commissioner Farmer's biography

Richie Farmer was elected Kentucky's Commissioner of Agriculture in November, 2003, and was sworn into office in January, 2004. He was re-elected to a second four year term on November 6, 2007.

Since taking office, Commissioner Farmer has fought vigorously on behalf of Kentucky's consumers and for Kentucky's agriculture industry. Commissioner Farmer recently spearheaded an effort to protect Kentucky motorists by persuading the legislature to fund a new state-of-the-art motor fuel quality laboratory. He has improved the efficiency of the Department's public protection functions by streamlining processes and introducing new technology, and by working with legislative leaders to strengthen consumer health and safety legislation. He has fought vigorously for the expansion of the state's world-class animal health diagnostic laboratories, which play a vital role in protecting the public health, as well as our signature horse industry and other vital animal agriculture industries. He has also created the Department's signature Kentucky Proud marketing program, which is helping to expand the markets for Kentucky farm products. Since the inception of the program in 2004 has grown from just under two dozen members to over 1500, and has resulted in the sale of roughly a quarter billion dollars in Kentucky Proud food and farm products since 2006.

Commissioner Farmer just ended a term as President of the Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture, an organization that represents farmers and other agricultural interests from Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, Puerto Rico, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia, and the US Virgin Islands. As a national agriculture leader, the Commissioner promoted the interests of Kentucky producers in the creation of the 2007 Farm Bill and other legislation.

The Commissioner believes that children are Kentucky's most important crop. As such, he has boosted funding for agricultural youth programs such as 4H and FFA, as well as youth livestock shows, even in tight budget times, because he believes they are an important investment for Kentucky's future.

Born in Clay County on Aug. 25, 1969, he is the second of Virginia and Richard Farmer's three children. Before taking office, Commissioner Farmer worked as an investment advisor in Clay County. He lives in Frankfort with his wife Rebecca and their three sons, Trey, Thomas and Tate. A 1992 graduate of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Commissioner Farmer earned a Bachelor of Science degree with a double major in Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management. He was also a standout player for the UK basketball Wildcats under Coach Rick Pitino.

Over the years, Commissioner Farmer has given his time to such charitable organizations as the Boys and Girls Clubs, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, Children's Miracle Network, American Cancer Society, and Kicks for Kids.

Contact Commissioner Farmer at richie.farmer@ky.gov.

Commissioner's Corner

Give the gift of Kentucky Proud.

The hustle and bustle of the holiday season is upon us with Thanksgiving next week and Christmas just around the corner.

But the joy of the Christmas season is sometimes squelched by the stress of finding just the right gifts for your friends and loved ones.

I have a fantastic gift idea: Give the taste of Kentucky this holiday season – Kentucky Proud foods and products.

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA) has an Internet search engine to help you find Kentucky Proud foods and products. It’s free, easy to use and enables you to search through some 1,800 Kentucky Proud members selling thousands of products grown, produced or processed in Kentucky.

From the KDA’s Web site, www.kyagr.com, go to the “KY Proud” pull-down menu on the top right side of the home page. Click on “Find KY Proud Producers” and enter any combination of the company name, the county and the city to find Kentucky Proud producers. Or click on “Find KY Proud Products,” select one or more product categories and then select one or more product names. You can narrow your search to a specific county or city, or search for all products in a county or city.

The search result provides links for viewing details of each Kentucky Proud member’s listing. Each listing contains contact information for the member, products the member produces and/or sells, the member’s physical address and the Web site address if it has a site.

Kentucky Proud products are also available in stores throughout the Commonwealth. Look for the familiar blue, green and red logo at Doll’s Market, Good Foods Co-Op, the Kentucky Proud Market, Kroger, Liquor Barn, Meijer, Paul’s Market, Rainbow Blossom, Remke Markets, Save-A-Lot, Slone’s Signature Markets, ValuMarket, Wal-Mart, Whole Foods and numerous independent grocery stores.

Kentucky Proud sales generate economic activity in our rural communities. The program accounted for $250 million in retail sales through Kentucky Proud member retailers during the past three years.

The Agricultural Development Board’s total investment in Kentucky agriculture is closing in on $300 million since 2001, and one of its best investments is Kentucky Proud. A University of Kentucky report published last year said every $1 of tobacco settlement money invested in Kentucky Proud generated up to $4.70 in new farm income.

Kentucky Proud businesses offer a vast array of products in every price range. One Kentucky Proud member is offering an extravagant gift for bourbon lovers in this year’s Neiman Marcus Christmas Book. For $7,500, the gift recipient can serve as master distiller for the day at Maker’s Mark Distillery in Loretto, Ky.

The VIP package includes an all-day tour of the bourbon production process and two golden bottles etched with the likeness of the recipient and dipped in gold wax with 24-karat gold flecks. Each recipient will also get to hand dip in red wax and take home six 375-milliliter bottles, share a gourmet dinner with Maker’s Mark president Bill Samuels Jr. and spend the night in a luxury hotel of his or her choosing in nearby Louisville.

Whether your Christmas budget is $7,500 or $7.50, you can buy gifts with a distinctly Kentucky flair, support our state’s producers and keep your gift-giving dollars right here at home. The recipient of your gift of Kentucky Proud foods and products will find what you already know, that “Nothing else is close.”