James, 21, is scheduled to graduate from the University of Kentucky in December with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture economics and a minor in animal science. He has 440 acres in Scott County, more than half of which (270 acres) he rents. He raises 71 feeder beef cattle and 14 beef cows, and he has half interest with his dad in 60 head of replacement heifers. James also tends 68 acres of corn, 35 acres of alfalfa, 20 acres of soybeans and 8 acres of tobacco. And he sells 5,000 square bales of hay every year.
Jared, 22, is a member of Apollo FFA in Owensboro, Ky., and is among the four finalists for the Star in Agribusiness award, FFA’s highest achievement for a person pursuing a career in agribusiness. He owns his own lawn mowing and landscaping business, Hodskins Lawncare, and manages five part-time employees. Jared’s business is booming – after starting with 11 yards in 2004, he maintained 78 last year. That’s more than a seven-fold increase in five years.
I believe that Kentucky’s number one crop is our youth, and both of these young men are the cream of that crop. They represent the best that Kentucky agriculture has to offer.
The Kentucky Department of Agriculture supports FFA and 4-H, sponsors youth livestock shows and travels the state teaching children agricultural science.
Despite budget cuts the past two years, the KDA has contributed a total of more than $600,000 to Kentucky FFA and Kentucky 4-H since I took office in 2004. Our Commonwealth has more than 15,000 FFA members in 150 chapters statewide, and 230,000 Kentuckians ages 9-19 participate in 4-H.
Hundreds of young people show thousands of animals at livestock shows conducted annually throughout the state by the KDA, highlighted by the three Kentucky Junior Livestock Expos and the Kentucky State Fair. Exhibitors earn Kentucky Proud points at each show, and the top scorers in each species are honored at a year-end banquet.
Two Mobile Science Activity Centers visit schools around the state. Each 42-foot trailer has 10 work stations where students apply scientific principles and processes to agricultural materials to make products such as corn plastic, lip balm and ice cream.
The KDA is committed to preparing the next generation’s leaders and citizens. James and Jared are excellent role models for the youth of Kentucky.
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