FRANKFORT, Ky. – The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board has approved $6,020,205 for agricultural diversification and rural development projects across the Commonwealth at its recent monthly board meeting.

“The Kentucky Agricultural Development Board strives to assist Kentucky’s farmers achieve greater diversity in our agricultural landscape,” said Ryan Quarles, Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture and board chair.

“The projects awarded will help reach this goal as the board and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture continue to put the best interest of the Commonwealth’s farmers in the forefront,” he added.

Among the state- and county-funded projects awarded is the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, which was approved for $2,876,000 in state funds to fund the Kentucky Proud Program.

Melanie McPartlin, Kentucky Department of Agriculture Office for Agricultural Marketing executive director, said, “The Kentucky Proud program was introduced by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture in 2004 as a central platform to raise awareness of the Commonwealth’s ever-expanding agricultural efforts, and to promote Kentucky’s farm families and farm impact products.”

In 2008, Kentucky Proud officially became the Commonwealth of Kentucky’s agricultural marketing brand by legislative action, she said.

She said Kentucky Proud promotes locally-grown food, farmers’ markets, farmstands, agritourism sites, and many other products and destinations with roots in Kentucky soil.

“Kentucky Proud products are raised, grown, or processed in Kentucky by Kentuckians,” she said. “From exciting promotions and strategic media campaigns, to grants for members and event sponsorships, Kentucky Proud’s central goal is to connect consumers who are eager to find the very best from Kentucky farms with local farm businesses and quality products.”

Asked how this award of $2,876,000 in state funds will help the Kentucky Proud program, she said, “In addition to a marketing brand to promote Kentucky agriculture and farm products, Kentucky Proud utilizes state funds to offer several grant programs to assist eligible local agricultural businesses.

“The Kentucky Proud Point of Purchase Promotional Grant provides up to a 50/50 match on eligible promotional expenses for advertising and marketing based on the applicant’s Kentucky direct farm impact,” she said. “The program continues to be a cornerstone of Kentucky Proud.”

She said eligible items include traditional media advertisements, branded collateral, packaging, web development and promotion, and various other proven marketing initiatives and items.

“These awarded funds assist small businesses with marketing expenses that they may otherwise find difficult to justify and afford, while ensuring the Kentucky Proud brand is visible on Kentucky farm products,” she said.

“Since 2017, the (Kentucky Proud) Point of Purchase program has approved over 800 grants, and generated more than $4,400,000 in marketing expenditures promoting Kentucky farms, farm products, and value-added goods (including an 119-percent participant match of funds),” she added.

She said Kentucky Proud has steadily increased brand awareness and market saturation throughout the Commonwealth.

“In 2022, a brand assessment found that 70 percent of respondents statewide had heard of Kentucky Proud (including 89 percent of Louisville respondents, and 84 percent of Lexington respondents),” she said.

“Through targeted marketing efforts, the Kentucky Proud brand remains an invaluable asset to help Kentucky’s farm families elevate their presence and distinguish their products in a competitive and constantly evolving marketplace,” she added.

Among the state- and county-funded projects also awarded is the Kentucky Horticulture Council, which was approved for $1,848,395 in state funds to expand technical assistance, education, research, and market analysis for the Bluegrass State’s horticulture industry.

Established in 2001, the Kentucky Horticulture Council is a non-profit coalition of professional member organizations of the horticulture industry, including specialty crop producer groups growing produce and ornamental crops, said Cindy Finneseth, Kentucky Horticulture Council executive director.

Currently, she said, the council has 12 member organizations: “Since its inception, the council has focused on developing cross-sector connections between producers, buyers, and the general public. The respective member groups work collaboratively within the council and with other agriculture organizations to strengthen viability, and increase visibility of the specialty crops industry in Kentucky.”

She said, “The award will allow us to increase our programs and partner with the land grant (the University of Kentucky and Kentucky State University), regional, and private institutions across Kentucky on research and education projects.

“Through our partnerships with the University of Kentucky and Kentucky State University, collectively, we will provide direct, on-farm technical assistance to existing and prospective horticulture operations in Kentucky,” she said. “The technical assistance spans production, marketing, and food safety to ensure safe production of high-quality crops sold through different market channels.”

She said direct-to-consumer sales channels, such as farmers markets, community-supported agriculture groups and on-farm markets are particularly important to Kentucky’s agriculture industry.

“One exciting expansion is providing research opportunities at the regional and private post-secondary institutions in Kentucky with agriculture programs that have an emphasis on horticulture,” she said. “Another area is expansion of grower technical assistance and cost-share programs.

“We will have two of these programs in 2023/2024: one supports growers interested in wholesale markets that require third-party GAP (Good Agriculture Practices) audits, and the other is focused on on-farm water management practices,” she added.