Kentucky Young Farmers Go Back to the Start
The farming landscape of Christian County looked very different 50 years ago when the Kentucky Young Farmer Association hosted the first Summer Tour in 1976. However the county's agriculture industry proved to be innovative and inspiring as KY YFA visited again for this year's Summer Tour.
Over 100 YFA members attended the 50th Annual Summer Tour to visit a wide array of agribusinesses, fellowship, and host the annual business meeting.
Friday morning highlighted Christian County's wheat industry by visiting Krusteaz and Siemer Milling Company. The Krusteaz Company’s Hopkinsville plant is the region’s largest food production facility and a driving force behind the city’s nickname, the “Batter Capital of the World.” Since opening in 1999, the facility has produced millions of pancake, waffle, muffin, and other baking mixes
Krusteaz and Siemer Milling Company are connected by an innovative pipeline system, that allows both companies to be more efficient and environmentally friendly. Seimer Milling supplies many of the nation’s leading food manufacturers with consistent, reliable flour they can trust creating many of the common snack items you may enjoy at home. Beyond manufacturing, the Hopkinsville mill is a strong supporter of the local economy, purchasing millions of bushels of locally grown wheat each year to produce a diverse portfolio of specialty and all-purpose flours.
Lunch was catered by Billy Goat Hill, where they believe the best way to do that is to start with “natural” food containing no man made additives or preservatives, that hasn’t been shipped from place to place and handled by multiple people, hence the “Farm to Table” theme. After lunch members toured Martin Till, Kentucky Organic Farm & Feed, Kanagy Custom Butchery, Golden Rule, and Fortera Metals.
Kentucky Organic Farm & Feed, Inc. (KOFFI), located in Guthrie, Kentucky, is a farmer-founded cooperative producing 100% certified organic, non-GMO animal feed and fertilizer. Kanagy Custom Butchering, LLC is a family-owned meat processor in Guthrie, Kentucky, serving farmers, livestock producers, and families across southern Kentucky. Fortera, LLC is a sheet metal fabrication company located in Guthrie, Kentucky, specializing in the precision bending and forming of sheet metal for agricultural, commercial, and industrial applications. Golden Rule Building Supply is a locally owned lumberyard and building supply company in Guthrie, Kentucky, serving contractors, farmers, builders, and homeowners across southern Kentucky and northern Tennessee. Martin Industries began in 1990 when Howard Dean Martin, with the help of his family, started manufacturing the row cleaners he invented from his 40-acre farm near Elkton, Kentucky. What began as a small family operation has grown into a thriving manufacturing company.
Friday evening wrapped up with dinner, entertainment, and fellowship at Casey Jones Distillery. Master Distiller Arlon “AJ,” crafts spirits using family recipes and a still modeled after Casey’s final 1967 design.
Saturday started with a pancake breakfast sponsored by the Hopkinsville Visitor Center.
After breakfast we toured Hampton Premium Meats who has been serving western Kentucky for nearly 50 years, earning a reputation for quality, craftsmanship, and exceptional service. As a USDA-inspected processor in Hopkinsville, the company partners with local farmers to provide custom processing and premium hand-cut meats for wholesale and retail customers.
After the tour, members had lunch at the Christian County Extension Office to host a business meeting and to recognize two individuals whose dedication to the program is truly unmatched. Congratulations to Terry Arnold and Paul Winkler on attending all 50 Kentucky Young Farmers Summer Tours! For five decades, they have faithfully supported the Kentucky Young Farmers program, building friendships, sharing knowledge, and helping preserve a tradition that has impacted generations of agricultural leaders.
Kentucky Young Farmers is very grateful to all the sponsors who helped make the 50th Annual Summer Tour a success. We appreciate your support to helping young farmers grow and succeed.
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