At their 97th annual statewide organizational meeting, the Kentucky Farm Bureau chose its leaders and outlined their priorities for the upcoming 2017 legislative session.
Delegates re-elected Pulaski County farmer Mr. Mark Haney as president of Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) Saturday, on the concluding day of the organization's meeting. Also re-elected were Webster County's Mr. Eddie Melton as First Vice-President and Hart County's Mr. Fritz Giesecke as Second Vice-President. They comprise KFB's Executive Committee along with Executive Vice President Mr. David S. Beck.
Haney has served on the Executive Committee for 17 years and has been a state director since 1993. He and his brother, Don, produce apples and peaches near Nancy, KY, where they also raise beef cattle. He and his wife, Marlene, have two sons and a daughter.
Melton, a former president of Webster County Farm Bureau, is chairman of KFB's State Resolutions Committee and the Farm Bill Working Group. He and his wife, Regina, have a daughter.
Mr. Giesecke serves as the chair of KFB's Beef Cattle Advisory Committee. He has been an active member of the Hart County Farm Bureau for over 30 years where he has held a variety of leadership positions, including county president. He and his wife, Lydia, have a daughter and a son, and farms in Horse Cave, KY.
Returning board members are: Randy Chrisman of Anderson County; Marshall Coyle of Bath County; Jay Coleman of Barren County; Patrick M. Henderson of Breckinridge County; Tripp Furches of Calloway County; David McGlone of Carter County; Shane Wiseman of Clark County; Bige Hensley of Clay County; Kim McCoy of Cumberland County; Dr. Nancy Cox of Fayette County; Glenn Howell of Fulton County; Brandon Davis of Green County; Larry Thomas of Hardin County; Roger Fannin of Harlan County; Alex Barnett of Harrison County; Terry Rowlett of Henry County; Cloyce Hinkle of Knox County; David L. Campbell of Lincoln County; Joe Paul Mattingly of Marion County; Kelly Thurman of McLean County; Mary Kate Kordes of Muhlenberg County; David Chappell of Owen County; Terry Lawson of Rockcastle County; Scott Travis of Spencer County; and Carroll Amyx of Wolfe County.
New to the board this year are Victor Rexroat of Russell County; Larry Clark of Green County; Zack Ison of Mercer County; Vickie Bryant of Monroe County; and Greg Drake of Butler County.
Members concluded the meeting with its board of directors approving priority issues for the upcoming 2017 legislative session.
Wildlife management is one of KFB's top priorities, with farmers having dealt with damage to crops and property for a long time, caused by ever increasing wildlife populations. A priority issue seeks effective wildlife management that will reduce the wildlife population in an effort to alleviate continued crop and livestock losses, automobile accidents, human injuries, and loss of life.
Another state priority issue is rural roads. Specifically, the organization supports the rural secondary and county road aid programs and continuation of the 22.2 percent allocation of the state gasoline tax revenue for rural roads. With road fund revenue declining, continuing the current road fund formula is critical to maintaining farm to market roads.
On the topic of water, KFB supports the Kentucky Water Resources Board and advocates for a coordinated effort to manage water resource projects across the Commonwealth.
Also on the list of state priorities is support of the current provisions of House Bill 44 (KRS 132.010), passed in 1979, which limits revenue from real property taxes to four percent plus new growth. Proposals to exceed four percent should automatically go to the voters.
From a national priority perspective, KFB supports a thorough regulatory review to ensure regulations do not impose an undue economic burden on any segment of society and the regulatory process is transparent and results achievable.
The 2017 national priorities also included national farm policy. Congress will soon begin discussing the 2018 Farm Bill. KFB has already begun discussions to ensure that the next farm bill will provide the necessary provisions for a strong safety net for agriculture. A component of that debate will be the development of additional water resources.
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Farm Bureau Elects Board, Prioritizes Issues
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