The six winners were announced at the Boys Sweet 16 High School Basketball Tournament. Kentucky Department of Agriculture photo shows (From left): Kenton Johnson, Jackson Major, Aiden Manley, Commissioner Shell, Abby Knarr, Harper Richey, and Laney Pease.
Frankfort Reporter
The six winners were announced at the Boys Sweet 16 High School Basketball Tournament. Kentucky Department of Agriculture photo shows (From left): Kenton Johnson, Jackson Major, Aiden Manley, Commissioner Shell, Abby Knarr, Harper Richey, and Laney Pease.
LEXINGTON, Ky. (KT) – Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell awarded six Kentucky high school student-athletes involved in agriculture the 2025 Kentucky High School Athletic Association-Kentucky Department of A6griculture Ag Athletes of the Year awards, during the Boys Sweet 16 High School Basketball Tournament at Rupp Arena in Lexington.
“Being part of high school athletics teaches you teamwork, leadership, and resilience. Those are the same skills and strengths you need to find success in agriculture,” Shell said. “These same skills can also translate to a successful academic career. At the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, we recognize a solid educational foundation can translate to great success in life, whether that education is through a four-year institution or a trade school. We are pleased to join our partners at the KHSAA to reward scholarships to the Commonwealth’s best young athletes and agriculturists.”
Two $2,000 scholarships and four $1,000 scholarships were awarded. The honorees were:
–Outstanding Ag Athlete of the Year: Abby Knarr, Williamstown Independent High School ($2,000).
–Outstanding Ag Athlete of the Year: Aiden Manley, Menifee County High School ($2,000).
–Kenton Johnson, Mason County High School.
–Jackson Major, Fulton County High School.
–Laney Pease, Fleming County High School.
–Harper Richey, Caldwell County High School.
The one-time scholarships, which are payable to an institution of higher learning, are awarded to high school seniors involved in athletics and agriculture, and who plan on continuing their education at a two- or four-year institution or trade school.
The scholarships are supported by the “Ag Tag” Fund, which is financed by voluntary donations from Kentucky drivers when they buy or renew their farm vehicle license plates. Last year, Kentucky farmers donated $931,201.81 to the Ag Tag Program. The scholarships are just one way the funds are used to support Kentucky’s agriculture youth.
“Ag Tag” donations 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 farm families.
Frankfort Reporter
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