greater owensboro chamber of commerce
Vol 18/Issue 2
CHAMBER MATTERS 2020 FEB.
DAVIESS COUNTY FARM BUREAU, DAVIESS COUNTY COOPERATIVE EXTENSION SERVICE TO CO-SPONSOR FEBRUARY ROOSTER BOOSTER Service is the foundation of everything we do at Kentucky Farm Bureau. Whether it’s sponsoring a little league baseball team, helping legislative leaders meet the needs of Kentucky farmers, serving as the voice of Kentucky agriculture, or helping policy holders recover form a loss, we are committed to serving Kentuckians. The Daviess County Farm Bureau is just that, your service provider and your voice of Kentucky agriculture. We are active in all legislative aspects of our county, state, and national governments. At the local level, we support our community by sponsoring our local 4-H clubs, FFA Chapters, teachers educating students about agriculture in the classroom, the Farm-City Breakfast and the Annual Ag Expo. We also provide five academic scholarships for our members’ students, as well as promoting many other local initiatives involving agriculture and education. You can also visit any of our four local offices to serve your insurance needs. Why Farm Bureau? Because together we will make Kentucky a better place to live and work. Farm Bureau members enjoy state and local discounts from many of Farm Bureau’s participating retailers and partners. To learn more about the benefits of being a Farm Bureau member, please visit kyfb.com and daviess.kyfb.com.
Daviess County has a rich tradition of collaboration and cooperation for success in the agricultural sector. The Farm City Breakfast, presented by Daviess County Farm Bureau and the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce, is an annual celebration of the Daviess County agriculture economy and its partnership with the city community. The program for the 41st Farm City Breakfast will include presentation of the Farm City Humanitarian Award, which recognizes an outstanding leader who has led a life of ser vice improving the well-being of citizens throughout Owensboro and Daviess County. Tickets to the event are $7 and can be purchased in advance at the Chamber of fice or
at the door. Sponsorships for the event are available through Febr uar y 19 for $50. Please contact the Chamber at (270) 926-1860 for more information. This year’s Farm City Breakfast featured speaker will be Kirby Green. Kirby, Field Sales Representative for DeKalb & Asgrow at Bayer Crop Science, was recently recognized as the national winner of the American Farm Bureau Federation’s Young Farmers & Ranchers “Excellence in Agriculture Award.” In addition, Kirby hosts a podcast for young professionals called Sharpen. Kirby holds a bachelor’s degree in ag education and a master’s degree in agriculture. She is a wife to Tyler and mother to Cora and Caroline.
Agri-business panel to speak at Thursday’s Rooster Booster Breakfast A panel of agri-business leaders will speak to the Chamber community at the February Rooster Booster Breakfast, held this Thursday, February 6 at 7:30 a.m. at the Owensboro Convention Center. Rooster Booster reservations can be made online at chamber.owensboro.com or by calling the Chamber at 270-926-1860. The panel, moderated by Rod Kuegel, will include Senator Matt Castlen, Brandon Gilles, Daniel Hayden and Suzanne Cecil White.
Daniel Hayden Daniel Hayden is a commercial cow/calf and broiler poultry producer in Whitesville Kentucky. After receiving an Agriculture Business degree from Murray State University in 2011, he returned home to manage his family’s farm. Since returning to the farm he has focused on growing the farm to sustain future generations and implementing best management practices throughout his operation. Passionate about giving the public a glass walls approach to the farm, Daniel shares his day-to-day work life through his Social media accounts. In 2018, he had added the first “viewing room” in the United States to the farm’s newest poultry houses Daniel Hayden in order to allow visitors to fully experience the farm.
The Daviess County Cooperative Extension Service provides our community with science-based education relevant to people of all backgrounds in the areas of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Family and Consumer Sciences, Horticulture, and 4-H Youth Development. We provide soil testing and diagnostic services for plant diseases, insects, weeds, and management recommendations. The Supplemental Nutrition Education Program (SNAP-Ed) is federally funded and conducted by UK Cooperative Extension. SNAP-Ed provides nutrition education, cooking tips, recipes, and money-saving ideas to limited-resource families. 4-H offers many programs to youth ages 5-19. Youth ages 9-15 are provided with a unique opportunity to experience the best week of summer at West Kentucky 4-H Camp! Youth attending 4-H Camp have the chance to interact with other Daviess County youth, as well as campers from surrounding West Kentucky counties, to gain independence skills and enjoy the outdoors. This 4-day, 3-night event provides everything from crafts and cooking to canoeing and swimming. Teens 16-17 can join us in mentoring these campers to gain valuable leadership experience for future resumes! Adult volunteers are also imperative to make this camping experience possible. For more information, call the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Office at 270-685-8480!
Senator Matt Castlen Matt Castlen, a local entrepreneur and small business owner, is one of the youngest members ever elected to the Kentucky State Senate. His 8th district includes Daviess, McClean, and Hancock counties. Castlen started Castlen Steel at Senator Matt Castlen the age of 19. 11 years of growth has transformed the company from himself and his wife, to 120 employees with four different branches and two recent major expansions. Matt grew up working on the family farm from an early age, primarily raising corn, soybeans and burley tobacco. He graduated from Daviess County High School and obtained an American Welding Society welding degree from Owensboro Community and Technical College. His pride and joy are his three
precious children: Claire, Abram, and Cyrus, who were the main driving force for ensuring the next generation are able to live the same American dream that prior generations have. In the State Senate, Castlen currently serves on the Appropriation and Revenue, Vice-Chairman of Agriculture, Natural Resource and Energy committees, and Sub-committee chairman on Human Resources. He is a former State Representative for the 14th district for a term, board Member of Independence Bank, Men’s Brotherhood at Yellow Creek Baptist Church, former Executive board member of Greater Owensboro Economic Development, former FAME Executive board member, 2016 Owensboro Community and Technical College Distinguished Alumni, Kentucky Corn Growers Association state board member, and serves as a Deacon at Yellow Creek Baptist Church. Castlen was the co-founder of Huts for Haiti mission team in 2014. He is the co-owner of Mid-American Grain Solutions and has been a member of the Owensboro Chamber of Commerce since 2010.
Brandon Gilles
Brandon Gilles
Brandon’s passion for all things agriculture began at an early age. He was born and raised on his family’s farm in western Daviess County. Raising livestock, grain, and tobacco, he gained an appreciation for the farm and all the lessons it taught. Upon graduating high school, he moved to Lexington where he earned his degree in Agricultural Economics at the University of Kentucky. Brandon is currently a Financial Officer at Farm Credit Mid-America serving the Owensboro marketplace. He is still involved on the farm part-time and is an active member of many agricultural organizations throughout the community and state. Brandon is also a 2021 MBA Candidate at Northern Kentucky University.
Rod Kuegel Rod Kuegel farms in western Daviess County with his two sons, Luke and Clay. Rod has served a number of community organizations and currently serves on the Greater Owensboro Chamber Board of Directors. He is a member of Pleasant Grove Baptist Church where he is a deacon and Sunday school teacher. Kuegel is a graduate of the University of Kentucky with a Bachelor of Science degree in Accounting. His wife, Lois, is a retired schoolteacher from West Louisville Elementary. He Rod Kuegel
has three beautiful granddaughters that are the light of his life.
Suzanne Cecil White
Stanford & Wake Forest Universities. In 2011, Suzanne was presented with the With overwhelming passion in her opportunity for complete career and heart, Suzanne has lifestyle change. She now operates always “believed she Cecil Farms Produce, LLC, a commercial could”. An educator fruit and vegetable operation where from her youngest her produce is reaching major grocery days, Suzanne’s chains across the nation, as well as personal mission regional schools, restaurants and local from late childhood homes weekly throughout Kentucky’s has been to be a harvest season. Suzanne Cecil White positive, encouraging Her husband and two children example for others in all that she does. support her ambition and dreams As a high school Mathematics teacher tremendously. With educating coming and accelerated learning programs naturally, she operates multiple facilitator with a Master’s Degree in community educational programs for Educational Administration for nearly 10 students from her farming operation. years, she poured daily inspiration into Most recently Suzanne has opened young minds. Facilitation and teaching her second business, diving into the took Suzanne across the country to wedding industry headfirst with her premiere venue: the White Chateau. lead programs at locations such as