By: Ag. Reporter Mollie Goode
The Kentucky Electric Cooperative, wants to congratulate Tony Brannon for receiving the 2024 Distinguished Rural Kentuckian award. The award was presented to Brannon on behalf of the Kentucky Electric Cooperatives during the 78th Annual Meeting in Louisville.
Kentucky Electric Cooperatives President and CEO Chris Perry presented Brannon with the award, to signifies the continual efforts of an individual to dedicate themself to the betterment of Kentucky.
Brannon is well acquainted with rural Kentucky being the retired Dean of the Hutson School of Agriculture, he is among 39 other individuals to receive the award since 1982. Serving all of Kentucky is a challenging task, so being a recipient of this award will be a career highlight.
Brannon said, “Having been born and raised on a farm and cutting my teeth on the steering wheel of a Model B Allis Chalmers tractor, I certainly felt rural. Growing up as a teenager working in a dark tobacco patch, I’m not so sure I felt distinguished! However, this rural upbringing and modest farm hard work ethic, combined with my Murray State education and 35 years of employment motivated me to a lifetime of service for both agriculture and rural Communities.”
The award is just a piece of the puzzle when it comes to Kentucky, the co-op has been encouraging others to live by the mission of enhancing the quality of life here, for others.