Horses, Bourbon, Urban Sprawl and Community

VALOR traveled domestically in May to learn more about agriculture in Kentucky. It turned out to be an amazing trip and I found myself learning something new at each stop. I never realized the diversity of agriculture in Kentucky, even though I once lived there.

Our time in Lexington centered on horses. Wow! This is really a unique segment of agriculture and the impact on the state is huge. I have never been exposed to the Thoroughbred or racing side of the equine industry. We toured Keeneland, learned about quality horse feed at Hallway Feeds, and visited Three Chimney Farms. As a finance professional I caught myself at each stop thinking “you can make money on horses!” I only grew up knowing that horses were more of a hobby and costs money. Boy was I proven wrong in May.

We also got the opportunity to tour Maker’s Mark. This was a highlight of the trip for me and I can still recall the wonderful smells as we made our way to the tasting room! I loved that even in today’s modern world several traditions are still used today, especially the label printers.  But, what really amazed me at this stop was the fact that almost all products used are sourced locally.

One thing I had not thought about prior to visiting KY was urban sprawl. However, the area around Bowling Green is definitely growing. It is within close proximity to Nashville and farmers in this area are challenged with all that comes with a growing location. With more growth comes new homes, new industry, new schools, new roads and infrastructure. All of which takes more land. Our tour had us visit two local farms each dealing with their own issues brought on by a growing area. They spoke to us about learning to be proactive and how they need to work together with local leaders to balance the growth while maintaining supporting agriculture in the area.

Our final stop took us to the flood ravaged parts of eastern Kentucky. We heard the horrific story of losing your home, place of employment and friends and neighbors all in one night. What I noticed during this stop was that not once did these fine people ever stop smiling and their gratitude was front and center. Standing outside where a home once stood is where it all clicked. With the diverse regions across the state of Kentucky its people is what makes the state.

Communities, large and small, across the state of Kentucky, and around the world, all rely on agriculture. I am proud to be just a small part of this huge industry. Thanks Kentucky. I oved every minute of my visit!