Agri-business

Local Expo

Agri-business luncheon features awards and tour of expo center

writer: TONYA S. GRACE

Standing inside the new expo center at the Christian County Extension Service, Jay Stone considered how supporters wanted to pay for the facility without placing an increased debt on taxpayers.

The Ag Foundation that owns the extension service’s building and grounds began saving money and had saved $500,000 by the time the project got its first support, a pledge of $100,000 that came from Farm Credit Mid-America.

The $1.7 to $2 million facility is now nearing completion, and Stone, county manager for the local extension service, said it should soon be fully operational.

“Hopefully Jan. 1 we are ready to open the doors and do a lot of great things here,” Stone told a group of people who toured the expo center following a luncheon of the Christian County AgriBusiness Association at the extension service on Pembroke Road.

That luncheon featured Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ryan Quarles and Hilda Legg, the state director of Kentucky USDA Rural Development, who announced the awarding of rural grants totaling $536,549 to 11 local recipients.

Additionally, the Christian County/Hopkinsville Development Corp. will use the $50,000 Rural Business Development Grant it received to help with building improvements and expansion of services at the Hopkinsville-Christian County Family YMCA. Award recipients

1

Carl Bullard and Son Inc.

2

Cayce Mill Supply

3

Bypass Warehouse LLC

4

Tom and Tony Folz Farms

5

William & Lynn Garnett Farms

6

Phillip & Marsha Garnett Farms

7

Isom Brothers

8

David Brame

9

Bolinger Family Farms

10

Means and Fort Electric Inc.

11

Legg said she hoped other people would learn about the USDA grants and be encouraged to apply for those funds.

“These small investments can open up big doors to economic growth and opportunities,” she said during the recent luncheon, noting that “the fundamental values of rural Kentucky and all of rural America are truly what make America great.”

Legg said Rural Development supports affordable housing, business and community programs. In the past three and a half years, efforts have helped 65 families in Christian County turn houses into homes, she said, provided $226 million for small rural businesses in Kentucky communities and supported community programs for libraries, hospitals, broadband and the like.

Legg credited the Trump administration and the efforts of U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue with helping rural businesses and communities in Kentucky.

Quarles lauded the efforts of farmers in Kentucky and elsewhere in making sure people haven’t gone hungry during the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We appreciate what farmers can do here in America despite a pandemic,” he said. “We will make sure no one goes to bed hungry, and that’s because of Kentucky farmers.”

Quarles also noted that the pandemic has cast a spotlight on the concept of buying local, with the volume of locally produced food up across the state.

He observed that agriculture in Kentucky is organized, something for which he said the state should be thankful; that’s not the case in other states, the ag commissioner said.

Quarles lauded Christian County for being “by far, the best organized.”

The luncheon also included recognition for David Wayne, who has served as the county executive director of the Farm Service Agency for Christian and Trigg counties. Wayne is leaving his position but says he has enjoyed serving the two communities.

“I really have enjoyed my time, and it’s been an honor working with all of you,” he said Tuesday.

Stone led several visitors through the new expo center following the agri-business luncheon, and he noted that it is intended to serve the community as well as the needs of agriculture.