#KyProudWeddings Contest Will Offer Prizes for Sharing Farm Venue Wedding Moments

FRANKFORT (April 10, 2018) — Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles announced today that Kentucky couples will have the chance to walk away with a $5,000 grand prize package in the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s (KDA) first Kentucky Proud Weddings Contest.

“Kentucky couples want to share their love of their Commonwealth as well as each other,” Commissioner Quarles said. “This contest will provide an added incentive for couples to make Kentucky Proud an integral part of their ceremony while giving Kentucky Proud businesses a bigger slice of the $72 billion U.S. wedding industry. We are excited about this opportunity to raise awareness of all the great products and services that Kentucky Proud members have to offer.”

Entrants must post a qualifying picture or video with the hashtag #KyProudWeddings and must tag a Kentucky Proud vendor and/or member through any social media outlet by 11:59 p.m. EDT June 30, 2018. To be eligible to win the grand prize, a wedding must have taken place at a Kentucky Proud agritourism venue between January 1, 2017 and June 30, 2018. The agritourism venue must be tagged or mentioned in the post.

One grand prize winner will be awarded $5,000 at the conclusion of the promotion in July. An independent committee comprised of media and agriculture industry leaders throughout the Commonwealth will select contest winners. Monthly winners will be awarded a Kentucky Proud gift basket at the conclusion of each month throughout the competition. No purchase is necessary to win. Entrants must be Kentucky residents 18 years of age or older. TOPS Magazines of Lexington and Louisville will serve as the contest host and media partner.

“When the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board awarded funding for Kentucky Proud for 2018 and 2019, it challenged us to find innovative ways to promote Kentucky Proud products and destinations,” Commissioner Quarles said. “With this contest, we feel like we have started doing just that. We anticipate that it will generate a lot of buzz and get people thinking about how they can incorporate Kentucky Proud businesses into their wedding plans.”

In February, the KDA launched kyproud.com/weddings to make it easy to find Kentucky Proud businesses that offer picturesque farm venues for weddings and receptions, delicious local foods and beverages, catering, flowers, gifts, and other goods and services. Funding for the contest prize is provided by the generous support of contributing direct farm impact Kentucky Proud business members. For a full list of contact sponsors and more information, visit kyproud.com/weddings/sponsors.

For more information, including contest rules, go to kyproud.com/weddings.