The application period for CORE Class 7 is now closed. We’re excited to introduce the new class soon — stay tuned!

Take Your Farming Profession to New Heights.

Since 2009, the CORE Farmer Program has been a major component in Kentucky Corn Growers Association’s effort to empower farmers with knowledge, friendships and understanding.

The program concept aligns with Kentucky Corn Growers Association’s mission to “develop and enhance a sustainable environment for Kentucky corn growers’. Its two-year curriculum is designed to achieve three main objectives:

1.

Deliver classroom-style instructional learning — we tap into our local experts and bring experts from around the country to present on topics that matter for a farm’s bottom line. The educational goal of the program is to sharpen participants’ ability to make decisions in the field, in the office, in the machine shed, and elsewhere on the farm.

2.

Expand participants’ peer network — in most situations, the best way to get better is to be challenged. Perhaps, more importantly, the best way to avoid a mistake is to receive advice from trusted colleagues. Both of these concepts require strong, trusted, competent peers. We fold a strong networking component into the CORE Farmer Program because career-lasting relationships are where the real learning comes into play. We want this program to foster healthy professional relationships, and it makes the learning sessions more fun!

3.

Gain perspective from other business endeavors and learn by seeing — we know that learning expands outside of classrooms, especially in farming. So, travel is part of this program, although we are careful not to overdo the travel to respect the time you need to spend on the farm.

A recent example of a learning mission was to Yuma, Arizona and Southern California to learn about water management from the most intense irrigation program in the world. Other previous classes have traveled to Illinois to visit with Gregg Sauder, to Georgia to visit Randy Dowdy, and to Missouri to see Greenseeker in its infancy. Some classes chose to travel to areas outside of corn production to learn cropping systems and processing/marketing processes for other crops: cotton, sugar cane, blueberries, olives, peanuts, and many others around the country — the visits created more great opportunities to compare notes and apply tactics to their operations.

The Experience Continues After Graduation!

After completing the program, opportunities for professional growth continue. Graduates from all classes continue to learn and build their peer network through international travel within CORE’s alumni program. These missions are primarily on a self-pay basis, they are always fun, and they always contain education that relates back to corn farming. The program has organized learning expeditions to Brazil, France, Scotland, Panama and multiple visits to Argentina.

These travels have opened participants’ eyes to global competition and production systems. The travels introduce new learning partners and allow groups to see issues like sustainability priorities and GMO concerns through different lenses.

CORE alums commonly host the international farmers who have hosted us onto their farms. Countless new friendships that will last a lifetime.

CORE Program Highlights

More than 95 farmers have participated in the CORE Farmer Program since 2009.

Corn farmer leadership training and education programs connect young farmers with association leaders and experts.

Learning sessions include farm visits and in-field practicals.

2019 Alumni Seminar in Argentina.

More than 95 farmers have participated in the CORE Farmer Program since 2009.

Corn farmer leadership training and education programs connect young farmers with association leaders and experts.

Learning sessions include farm visits and in-field practicals.

2019 Alumni Seminar in Argentina.

I thought that CORE Farmer Program provided a comprehensive study of agronomy and modern technologies used in production agriculture today. It was a great experience; providing an atmosphere for making and fostering relationships between myself, other producers and industry professionals. The practical education received with the CORE program combined with my activities as an alum, including a visit to an overseas farming region, really provided a fun, educational experience with a global twist.

Albert Peterson

Class I

Graduated Classes.

Class I Graduates

Ryan Bivens (LaRue County)
Brad Brookshire (Todd County)
Matt Gajdzik (Shelby County)
John Halcomb (Calloway County)
Sam Hancock (Fulton County)
Lucas Hernandez (Shelby County)
Brandon Hunt (Christian County)
John James (Fayette County)
Chris Kummer (Franklin County)
Kyle Lancaster (Webster County)
Woody Moore (Butler County)
Shane Patterson (Jefferson County)
Albert Peterson (Marion County)
Patrick Preston (Hardin County)
Jeremy Tucker (Shelby County)
Katie Sanger (Hickman County)
Curtis Weatherford (Hickman County)
Lee Welty (Boyle County)

Class II Graduates

Adam Bell, (Graves County)
Micheal Buckman, (Marion County)
Richard Colvin, (Hardin County)
Jason Hagan, (Daviess County)
Sam Halcomb, (Logan County)
Ben Hayden, (McClain County)
J.C. Hicks, (Henderson County)
Michael Highbaugh, (Hardin County)
Micah Lester, (Christian County)
Terrence McCain, (Washington County)
Daniel Reynolds, (Mercer County)
Joseph Sisk, (Christian County)
James Tucker, (Shelby County)
Terry Wimp, (Hardin County)
Nick Woodruff, (Trigg County)

Class III Graduates

Seth Bryant, (Henry County)
Nathan Brame, (Christian County)
Stephanie Halcomb, (Logan County)
Travis Hancock, (Union County)
Jason Head, (Todd County)
Mark Thomas, (Hardin County)
Kyle Bugg, (Graves County)
Brennan Gilkison, (Clark County)
Rob Sanger, (Fulton County)
Matthew Heppler, (McClean County)
Tyler Reynolds, (Taylor County)
John Bell, (Larue County)
Jessica Johnson, (Hardin County)
Grant Mackey, (Hardin County)
Seth Ellis, (Shelby County)
John Mahan, (Fayette County)
Caleb Ragland, (Larue County)

Class IV Graduates

Andy Alford, (Warren County)
Alana Baker, (Trigg County)
Megan Bell, (Graves County)
Daniel Carpenter, (Larue County)
Brad Hines, (Larue County)
Justin Jeffries, (Shelby County)
Willis Jepson, (Simpson County)
Mindy Jones, (Henderson County)
Bryan Kuegel, (Daviess County)
William Pearson, (Logan County)
Quint Pottinger, (Nelson County)
Robert Rouse, (Fulton County)
Eric Schwenke, (Boone County)
Spencer Sims, (Anderson County)
Zach Sheldon, (Daviess County)

Class V Graduates

Sarah Halcomb, (Logan County)
Clayton Heibert, (Hardin County)
Johnny Henderson, (Hardin County)
Houston Howlett, (Hardin County)
John Johnson, (Fleming County)
Randy Mann, (Simpson County)
Dale Medley, (Washington County)
Jared Melloy, (Webster County)
Kyle Mobley, (Hardin County)
Branden Pepper, (Larue County)
Daniel Peterson, (Marion County)
Andrew Reynolds, (Boyle County)
Jonathan Reynolds, (Fulton County)
Ben Rudy, (Fulton County)
Dalton Steinke, (Shelby County)
Wade Whipple, (Calloway County)
Grant Zilak, (Marion County)

Class VI Graduates

Casey Cochran, Peterson Farms (Marion)
Chris Dunn, River Bend Farm (Trigg)
Collin Cooper, Coopland Farms (Ballard)
Daniel Wright, Wright Farms & DeltAg (Livingston)
Dylan Lanham, Rice AgriMarketing (McClean)
Jacob Hunt, Hunt Farms (Warren)
Jennifer Tucker, Tucker Farms (Warren)
Matthew Spain, Sisk Farms (Christian)
Jacob Walters, Pleasureview Farms (Henry)
Redmond Greenwell, Greenwell Acres (Union)
Szymon Szprejda, Walnut Grove Farms (Logan)
Jay Kummer, Oak Hill Farms (Simpson)
John Pedigo, Pedigo Farms (Allen)
Zachary Bullock, Bullock & Sons Farms (Edmonson)
Brandon Hamilton, Long Vue Farms (Todd)
Judd McElroy, McElroy Farms (Union)

Latest CORE News.