Beeler Joins the TeachKyAg Team as EngAGe Program Spokesperson

Beeler speaking at the 2016 Kentucky FFA Convention. Photo Credit: Celeste Harned Communications/Kentucky FFA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(SHEPHERDSVILLE, Ky.) Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom (TeachKyAg) is pleased to announce the addition of Warren Beeler as its official EngAGe Kentucky Program Speaker. This contract role will allow Beeler, affectionately known as Mr. Kentucky Agriculture, to continue speaking to student, civic and leadership groups about farming issues and the importance of agricultural literacy.

“Warren has always been a wonderful advocate for the positive work of our farmers to groups within and outside the Kentucky farming community,” said Jennifer Elwell, TeachKyAg executive director. “We wanted to ensure his wonderful messages and stories could continue to be heard, and the EngAGe Kentucky program provides a perfect avenue for Mr. Kentucky Agriculture.”

EngAGe Kentucky is a joint program of the Kentucky Livestock Coalition and TeachKyAg, with support from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund and the Kentucky Soybean Board. The goal of the program is to encourage discussions about food production issues with students and the public so they may have a better understanding of sustainability, animal welfare, and food safety from the farm community’s point of view. The program closely mirrors the Engage program of The Center for Food Integrity and Operation Main Street of the National Pork Board. Both Beeler and Elwell have been through the national speaker training programs and have then provided trainings in Kentucky to local agriculture advocates.

Beeler joined Elwell in 2019 to speak at several EngAGe Kentucky advocacy trainings that were supported by the Kentucky Livestock Coalition, Kentucky Soybean Board, and Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund. Elwell honored Beeler with a t-shirt that sported his “Plain and Simple” catchphrase.

“I know how important it is to tell people what we do and how we do it,” remarked Beeler about the opportunity to resume his speaking engAGements. “It’s sad that we have allowed such a disconnect between the farm and the public, so I’m excited to be able to hit the road again and do what I love most.”

To book Warren Beeler as an in-person or video conference speaker, please visit www.teachkyag.org/engageky. In-state presentations are provided free-of-charge through the Kentucky Livestock Coalition’s contribution of the EngAGe Kentucky program. Teachers may also choose to request a member of TeachKyAg’s teaching team for a lesson and activity from a list of options. Due to COVID-19 guidelines, schools may only request a video conference at this time.

###

Kentucky Agriculture and Environment in the Classroom, Inc. is a 501c3 nonprofit coalition of agriculture organizations and businesses formed in 1992 to provide agricultural, environmental, career and financial literacy education programs across the Bluegrass. www.teachkyag.org