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FRANKFORT,
Ky. — Kentucky Kate and Kentucky Joe were the
guests of honor in a celebration June 2 in Bowling Green
to kick off June Dairy Month in the Commonwealth.
“Kentucky
farmers earned more than $208 million from dairy products
in 2002,” Agriculture Commissioner Richie Farmer said.
“Dairy farming has been a mainstay of Kentucky agriculture
for generations. I salute the hard-working dairy farming
families of the Commonwealth for all they do to produce
fresh, nutritious, high-quality products and contribute
to Kentucky's rich agricultural heritage.”
The
kickoff event at Chaney's Dairy Barn in Bowling Green
featured Rodger Bingham, a Kentucky Department of Agriculture
official and star of the television series “Survivor.”
Families gathered on the front porch to hear Bingham,
also known as “Kentucky Joe,” tell stories about his
“Survivor” adventures.
“Kentucky
Kate,” the Kentucky Milk Producers Association's milkable
fiberglass cow, inspired children of all ages to try
their hand at milking. Kentucky Kate's appearance was
made possible through contributions from the Dairy Products
Association of Kentucky, Kentucky Dairy Boosters, Kentucky
Farm Bureau, the Southeast United Dairy Industry Association,
and the KDA.
Kentucky
has approximately 110,000 head of dairy cattle and 1,452
dairy farms. Kentucky's leading dairy counties based
on milk production are Barren, Adair, Fleming, Metcalfe,
and Lincoln.
Other
June Dairy Month events include:
- June 5 – Monroe
County Dairy BBQ
- June 11- Adair County
Dairy Farmer Picnic
- June 19- Barren County/Hiseville
June Dairy Day
- June 24- Taylor County
June Dairy Milking Contest and Dairy Show
- June 24- Pulaski/First
Southern National Bank Ice Cream Social
- June 26- Chaney's Ice
Cream Barn June Dairy Day
- All Month- Pulaski County
June Dairy Events.
For
more information on June Dairy Month activities, contact
Eunice Schlappi, dairy marketing specialist for the
Kentucky Department of Agriculture, by phone at (502)
564-4983 or by e-mail at eunice.schlappi@ky.gov.
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