In a world where tariffs rage, farmers are concerned and political division has created rifts wider than corn rows, Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell found a moment of reprieve and respite Thursday morning — serving as the guest of honor for the 2025 Trigg County Country Ham Festival Kickoff Breakfast at the Lexie Bush Convention Center.
And while Shell touched on those subjects, he noted that festivals like the one held in Trigg County can bring about change and hope in a rural community.
Shell said that there has been a lot of attention turned to a “Make America Healthy Again” movement, particularly when it comes to the country’s classrooms and hospitals.
Something, he said, needs to change.
According to Shell, and after just one year of implementation, Kentucky is now leading the nation in elementary agriculture education — courtesy of new programming and curriculum that mixes modern concepts with daily basics like reading, writing and arithmetic.
Much of that growth, he said, came through Louisville and the Jefferson County Public Schools district — and has now disseminated across the Commonwealth.
Shell also touched on the corn industry as it stands today, and because of its recent challenges made mention of Kentucky’s “Raising Hope” initiative directed at the Commonwealth’s farmers and their mental health.
Specifically, Shell said the U.S. is two billion bushels in surplus for corn, created depressed markets.
On a lighter note, of all the crops Shell has raised in his life, it’s pumpkins, he said, that fittingly bring he and his family the most joy.
Growing the fall squash, he added, helps provide sage advice.
Shell’s full speech here:
