Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer and Alan Stein, CEO of the Lexington Legends, show off the official T-shirt of the Bluegrass State Games. Kentucky Proud is a sponsor of the Games this year. (Photo by Ted Sloan)

 

 

Kentucky wineries excel in Florida competition

 

KAN staff report

 

Kentucky winemakers went toe-to-toe with some of the biggest names in the business and brought some hardware back to the Bluegrass State in the 2008 Florida State Fair International Wine and Grape Juice Competition in February in Tampa.

 

Seven Kentucky wineries won 20 medals at the event, which attracted 1,628 entries from 36 states and 10 countries.

 

“The Florida State Fair contest is a very large and prestigious wine competition,” said Stacia Alford, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s grape and wine marketing specialist. “Some of our wineries distinguished themselves against some of the biggest and best winemakers in California, Oregon, Washington and New York.

 

“The five Best of Show wines came from five different states. That says a lot of good wine is being produced in different places all over the country. Kentucky has an excellent climate for growing grapes, and our wine industry is growing in numbers as well as quality. Kentucky wineries should be able to compete at the national level.”

 

Kentucky wineries that earned medals at the Florida State Fair competition were:

• Acres of Land of Richmond (silver, Chambourcin)
• Brooks Hill Winery of Louisville (bronze, Cabernet Sauvignon)
• Chrisman Mill Vineyards of Nicholasville (bronze, Norton)
• Elk Creek of Owenton (silver, Merlot and Petite Syrah, and bronze, Cabernet Sauvignon, Rose and Pinot Grigio)
• Jean Farris Winery of Lexington (silver, Super Tuska and Mariot Dry Red, and bronze, Merlot, Rose and Marito Dry White)
• Stonebrook Winery, Melbourne (silver, Elderberry and Blackberry, and bronze, Strawberry, Raspberry and Vidal Blanc)
• Talon Winery & Vineyards, Lexington (silver, Monarch, and bronze, Chardonnay)

 

 

FCS photo contest deadline is April 30

 

Special to KAN

 

Amateur shutterbugs are invited to put their best “Farm Faces” forward for the Farm Credit Services of Mid-America photo contest.

 

Entries will be judged in five categories: black and white photography, color photography, children (under 18), young adults and adults (18 and older), and farm animals. One grand prize will be recognized, and the winner will be awarded $1,000. Five category winners each will win $500. No professional entries may be entered into the contest. Photos must be original work.

 

The deadline to enter is April 30. Digital entries may be submitted on a compact disc or via e-mail to rbarbee@e-farmcredit.com. Entries submitted by mail must be postmarked by April 30 and mailed to P.O. Box 34390, Louisville, KY 40232 or 1601 UPS Drive, Louisville, KY 40223.

 

Winners will be notified by mail and will be announced on www.e-farmcredit.com on or before June 30.

 

For more information and contest rules, go to www.e-farmcredit.com and click on FCS Photo Competition or visit your local FCS office.

 

 

Rogers is new 4-H Foundation director

 

UK College of Agriculture

 

Keith L. Rogers has been named executive director of the Kentucky 4-H Foundation.

Rogers previously served as the executive director of the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy and chief executive officer of the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board and Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation. He served as State 4-H President in 1977-78 and State 4-H Leaders Council President in 1989-90.


Rogers and his wife, Holly, live near Glendale in Hardin County.