FRANKFORT — Commissioner of Agriculture Dr. Ryan Quarles will lead five in-person forums across the commonwealth to strengthen ties between agriculture and manufacturing in an effort to increase income and create jobs.

The fifth annual series of LAND (Linking Agriculture for Networking and Development) forums will open July 14 and continue through Sept. 14. The forums are sponsored by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA), Kentucky Association of Manufacturers (KAM), and financed in part by a grant from the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund.

“Kentucky’s agriculture and manufacturing sectors collaborate already in many ways. The LAND forums are intended to strengthen this for the benefit of both,” Commissioner Quarles said. “The goal of these forums is to make sure our manufacturers are aware of the plentiful raw agricultural resources available in their own backyard before they consider importing foreign goods. Our department, along with the entire KAM team, works to make sure these forums are beneficial to both sides of these two important industries.”

“Manufacturers come in all shapes and sizes, and many Kentuckians don’t realize that Kentucky’s manufacturing industry is tied directly to our agricultural industry,” said Lee Lingo, KAM executive director. “If an agricultural product is transformed or processed in any way, it becomes a product of the manufacturing industry. We’re excited to partner once again with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture to showcase the close relationship of our state’s two largest Gross Domestic Product producers and we look forward to working with Commissioner Quarles and his team to highlight the roles of agriculture and manufacturing throughout Kentucky.”

The dates and locations of the 2021 LAND forums are:

• July 14 – Western Kentucky University Agricultural Exposition Center, 406 Elrod Road, Bowling Green;

• Aug. 5 – Beck’s Hybrid’s, 5741 Airline Road, Henderson;

• Aug. 12 – Maysville Community and Technical College, 1755 U.S. 68 Business, Maysville;

• Sept. 9 – Robinson Center for Appalachian Resource Sustainability, 130 Robinson Road, Jackson;

• Sept. 14 – Gallrein Farms, 1029 Vigo Road, Shelbyville.

The partnership between KDA and KAM is designed to bolster collaboration between agriculture and manufacturing to develop and expand upon the existing supply chain for agricultural product to the manufacturing sector. The LAND forums are intended for manufacturers, agricultural leaders, economic development professionals, local and state officials, academia, and other stakeholders.

The on-site forums will begin at 10:30 a.m. local time and include a Kentucky Proud lunch for those pre-registered.

For more information about the LAND forums, or to register, go to https://kam.us.com/land-forums.

— Kentucky Department of Agriculture

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