Two noteworthy events are in the planning stage for the Agribusiness Industry Network, both of which hold considerable significance for the ag community in the Louisville region and beyond.
Sept. 11 our group plans to host a visit to Commonwealth Extracts, a processing facility for hemp products, including the popular CBD oil. More information will be communicated through this newsletter when arrangements are finalized.
Nov. 15 is the date for our annual Farm City Luncheon at the Kentucky Expo Center, where the Agribusiness of the Year winner is honored, and the Harold Workman Award recipient is announced. Kentucky Farm Bureau has agreed to serve as the name sponsor for the luncheon again this year.
Please hold those dates and plan to attend both. These events will cap off another busy year for AIN, which has included group activities at the National Farm Machinery Show, the legislative session in Frankfort and the new Diageo bourbon distillery in Shelby County.
The Farm City Luncheon is a traditional highlight in our annual calendar of events. We have organized and hosted the activity for more than two decades, and have enjoyed considerable support from a number of groups and organizations both inside and outside agriculture.
That list of participants and sponsors include such stalwarts as Greater Louisville Inc., the Kentucky State Fair Board, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Feeders Supply, the Kentucky Ag Council, the Louisville Ag Club, Farm Bureau, Farm Credit Mid America, Whayne Supply and Monty’s Plant Food.
Plus we’ve had consistent and very valuable support from such commodity organizations as Kentucky Cattlemen, Kentucky Pork Producers and Kentucky Aquaculture Association. Their donations of food items have been essential to keeping the event in fiscal balance.
As is prudent for any event of long-standing, AIN has begun a review of the structure and format of the luncheon, and is looking to gauge the level of interest among our current and previous partners to continue to include it on the annual Kentucky ag event calendar.
Some letters have already gone out to key stakeholders, and follow-up contacts are in the process of being made. If you are contacted as part of this review, we encourage you to give us a candid assessment of the luncheon format and agenda. We want the event to be meaningful, both as a standalone activity and as part of the North American International Livestock Expo’s two week run.
Meanwhile, the early preparations for this year’s luncheon are well under way. Sponsors are being lined up, commitments made and award nominations collected.
Thanks to all who have helped make this event a long-running success. We hope to see you at one (or more) of the tables Nov. 15.
