This has been a very busy spring for the CORE Farmer Program. For nearly 20 years, the CORE Program has been committed to investing in farmers at critical stages in their careers by enhancing knowledge and creating robust peer networks for farmers, especially those who are on the cusp of beginning their careers. Class 6 recently celebrated their completion of the program in Bowling Green during their seventh and final session.
The graduates spent some time reflecting on their experience and discussing how they will maximize the experience for themselves and those around them. They acknowledged their responsibility to not only be a resource for their classmates but for the entire Kentucky corn farming community, whenever possible, by sharing the knowledge that has made them better. They showed an enthusiasm to advocate for their industry.
Class 6 graduate, Jay Kummer from Simpson County commented about his experience in the program. “As one of the youngest members of CORE 6, this program helped to mold the start of my farming career and build confidence in myself, as well as find my voice in advocating for agriculture in Kentucky. We gained knowledge in many areas including agronomy, how to better manage our operations, and how to become a group of leaders and advocates for agriculture. All of which, we wouldn’t have had access to without the CORE Program.”
The alumni portion of the program has been very active, too. Kentucky Corn organized and facilitated an educational experience to agriculture regions in Brazil for about 20 alumni. This opportunity was mostly on a self-pay basis. All six graduated classes were represented in the travel delegation.
Adam Andrews is the staff coordinator for the CORE Program. “I was incredibly proud of those who participated in this,” said Andrews. “They obviously considered it important to understand how they compare to their competitors since they covered their own travel costs to leave their families and farms for about ten days.”
The group visited several farms and cooperatives in a few distinct regions of the country. They shared meaningful dialogue with host farms about the evolution of farms in various regions, agronomy techniques, and farm business management strategies.
Jonathan Reynolds, a CORE alum from Hickman County shared his perspective. “This visit was very eye-opening, particularly because farmers in Brazil face many of the same challenges as those of us here in Kentucky. Though they may be one of our greatest competitors, I am very grateful they took the time to meet with us and share about their farming experience.”
Kentucky Corn’s farmer leaders consider this program a valuable resource for young and beginning farmers. They remain committed to its continuation and are enthusiastic about enrolling a new class soon. If you are interested or know of a great candidate for this program, keep a look out for announcements about plans for Class 7 this summer. The application process will begin this fall or next spring.