Give to the 'Ag Tag' Fund to Invest in the Future of Kentucky Agriculture

Wed, 03/06/2019 - 10:16pm — Diane Dyer

“Deep roots grow leaders” is the theme of this year’s Ag Tag campaign to raise funds to invest in organizations building the leaders of tomorrow. Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles stopped by Butler County on Wednesday afternoon to promote the Ag Tag campaign.

When farmers come into the clerk's office to renew their farm tags they are asked if they would like to donate $10 to the Ag Tag Fund. The donations are divided equally among Kentucky 4-H, Kentucky FFA, and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA).

Butler County Clerk Sherry Johnson and staff welcomes Ryan Quarles.

"Half of the 4-H and FFA funds come back to Butler County," said Sherry Johnson, Butler County Clerk.

The Kentucky Department of Agriculture uses their share of the fund for initiatives that promote agriculture in Kentucky, such as the Kentucky Leopold Conservation Award and the Kentucky Ag Athletes of the Year scholarship program that we conduct annually with the Kentucky High School Athletic Association. The fund supports many commodity organizations and events, from the Kentucky Agricultural Leadership Program (KALP) to AgLand at the Kentucky State Fair.

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Kentucky FFA provides over $20,000 in grants to agriculture programs to make a capital investment in their curriculum or facilities. It provides $1,000 to each of the 12 FFA regions to recognize students at regional FFA banquets and more than $13,000 of travel scholarships for Kentucky FFA members who compete at the National FFA Convention. It also supports statewide initiatives such as the Kentucky FFA website, state officer leadership development, and support for teacher educators at the university level.

The Kentucky 4-H Foundation uses its portion of its Ag Tag funds to support statewide programs such as STEM events, Issues Conference, the Performing Arts Troupe, 4-H Summit, and state officer scholarships.

County 4-H councils use Ag Tag dollars to provide opportunities, such as 4-H camp scholarships and travel for life-changing, educational experiences, to enable local 4-H youth to grow as leaders and engaged citizens. FFA chapters are free to use the money to meet the greatest need in their community, such as FFA jackets for students in need or helping cover travel costs to leadership events.

Kentucky farmers donated more than $612,000 to the Ag Tag Fund last year.

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