Our Mission
WE ARE WORKING TO BUILD:
Accurate knowledge of food, fiber, and renewable energy production
Appreciation for agriculture’s impact on the economy and quality of life
Trust in the farming practices of the Kentucky farmer
The Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom, Inc. works with our agricultural, environmental, and educational partners to produce and distribute Kentucky-based and standards-aligned resources and programs that showcase how our Kentucky farmers utilize our natural resources to produce sustainable food and renewable goods. All our lessons and programs can be used as teaching supplements in all subject areas.
GOAL 1
To assist in developing and disseminating educational materials and programs to increase agricultural and environmental literacy among educators and their students.
GOAL 2
To assist in building strong partnerships among the agricultural and environmental community and the education system.
GOAL 3
To assist in implementing a statewide promotional campaign and public information network about agriculture and the environment in the classroom.
GOAL 4
To encourage and assist in the development of educational programs that respond to the trends and demands of the food and fiber industry, environmental issues, natural resources system, world marketplace, and global society.
GOAL 5
To establish ongoing evaluation measures of existing and future agricultural/environmental literacy materials.
We accomplish these goals through several program areas.
HISTORY
KyAEC was formed in 1992 under the leadership of Jeff Rice, Billy Joe Miles, the late Buddy Adams, and former Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Ed Logsdon. They realized that more agricultural education programs were needed across the state.
A number of other individuals were instrumental in the development of KyAEC and agricultural/environmental education programs:
Libby Jones
Sister Amelia Stenger
Rayetta Boone
Dr. Jack Morgan
Billy Ray Smith
Jim Lacy
Dr. Wendy Stivers
Faye Lowe
Bill Sprague
Millie Crawford
Dr. Terry Wilson
Dr. Pete Driesbach
Debbie Ellis
Eric McClain
Dave Maples
Mike Ovesen
Sherleen Sisney
Sam Moore
Todd Barlow
and many others
Current Leadership
Executive Committee
Chair - Tod Griffin, Agribusiness Association of Kentucky
Vice Chair - Becky Kinder, Kentucky Soybean Board
Treasurer - Jamie Guffey, Kentucky Poultry Federation
Executive Director - Jennifer Elwell
Steve Coleman, Citizen-at-Large, Retired from Kentucky Division of Conservation
Board of Directors
Jennifer Burgan
Ky Association of Conservation Districts
Bradon Burks
Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association
Scott Christmas
Kentucky Farm Bureau
Sarah Coleman
Kentucky Horse Council
Niki Ellis
Kentucky Pork Producers Association
Denise Jones
The Dairy Alliance
Laura Knoth
Kentucky Corn Growers & Kentucky Small Grain Growers Associations
Josh Mitcham, Ex-Officio
Kentucky FFA Leadership Training Center
Ashley Osborne, Ex-Officio
Kentucky 4-H
Lindsay Phillips
Farm Credit Mid-America
Leanne Ragland
Home Educator, Farmer, Citizen-at-Large
Jeff Rice, Citizen-at-Large & KyAEC Founding Member
Rice Agri-Marketing
Cara Rogers, Ex-Officio
Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Chelsea Smither, Ex-Officio
Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy
OPEN
Retired Teacher