By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Jonathan Shell is making rounds across the state as he visits with FFA members, 4-H members, and Kentucky county clerks to spread the word about the Ag Tag Program.
“Today’s youth are the future for tomorrow’s agriculture,” Shell said in a press release. “For years, people renewing their farm license plates have been given the opportunity to strengthen that future by donating to the Ag Tag fund. Through the years, millions have been donated, and our youth are the ones benefiting.”
Every year, when owners renew their farm license plates, they can make a $10 donation, which goes into a fund divided equally among Kentucky 4-H, Kentucky FFA, and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to support Kentucky’s agriculture youth and other organizations and programs benefiting Kentucky’s farm families.
Barren County FFA president Matthew Estes said the local chapter received roughly $1,000 through the Ag tag program last year. County clerk Helena Chase Birdwell encouraged those who could to make the $10 donation at the same Barren County Fiscal Court meeting.
“That money really does…come back to our local chapter and can meet some of the needs they have,” said Birdwell. “Some counties turn over a whole lot more [than Barren County] and I really wish Barren County being the largest ag producing counties in Kentucky would do better.”
FFA chapters were free to use the money to meet the greatest needs in their community, such as FFA jackets for students in need or helping cover travel costs to leadership events, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture press release states.
Last year, donations to the Ag Tag program reached a record high of $931,201.81 and Shell hopes to get the amount to its $1 million goal.
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