Farm Bureau supports youth with more than $810,000 in scholarships statewide – The Owensboro Times
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By John Kirkpatrick
October 21, 2025 | 12:13 am
Updated October 20, 2025 | 11:41 pm
This story is sponsored by Daviess County Farm Bureau.
Kentucky Farm Bureau (KFB) continues to invest heavily in the next generation of agricultural leaders, awarding more than 600 scholarships totaling over $810,000 this year to students pursuing degrees in both traditional and technical fields.
Eddie Melton, KFB president, said the program reflects the organization’s long-standing commitment to education and workforce development across the Commonwealth.
“Our organization has always supported scholarship programs and our young folks going to college,” Melton said. “We’ve expanded that now to include proprietary schools, because there are so many opportunities out there for students to get into one of the trades — like welding or mechanics — that are vital to our industry.”
Last year, 601 scholarships were distributed statewide through a combination of funding from the KFB Education Foundation and local county Farm Bureaus. The Daviess County Farm Bureau alone awarded six scholarships totaling $10,000.
Local recipients included Ava Preston, Nathan Goins, Landon Block, Sarah Payne, and Briley Jerome, each recognized for their academic achievement, leadership, and community involvement.
Melton said those efforts are supported through annual fundraising events such as the Farm Bureau Federation Golf Classic, which draws more than 200 participants and helps sustain the Education Foundation’s scholarship program.
In addition to scholarships, Melton emphasized Farm Bureau’s continued focus on youth engagement through partnerships with organizations like FFA, 4-H, and state education leaders. The group collaborates with the Commissioner of Agriculture, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Department of Education to bring “Ag Week” learning programs into elementary schools each spring and fall.
“We’ve always supported our youth programs,” Melton said. “We want to teach young people about agriculture early on — whether that’s through speech contests, talent events, or educational partnerships— and show them there are many paths to a successful career in agriculture.”
He added that modern agriculture offers far more than on-farm opportunities, with growth in areas like technology, agronomy, and equipment engineering.
“There’s a lot of technology involved in agriculture right now, and a lot of young people really enjoy working in that field,” Melton said. “There are so many areas where people can be involved in agriculture and not actually be a farmer, but still help support the farming industry.”
For more information on Kentucky Farm Bureau’s scholarship programs and youth initiatives, visit kyfb.com.
October 21, 2025 | 12:13 am
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