By: Ag. Reporter Mollie Goode
January marks one year of Jonathan Shell serving as Commissioner of Agriculture and he recently highlighted several items during a year in a review.
During Commissioner Shell’s time serving he has incorporated a number of initiatives and movements that he feels are designed to help strengthen agriculture.
One of the first being the Food is Medicine campaign. This movement is a partnership with the Kentucky Hospital Association and focused on bringing farm fresh produce into hospital cafeterias across the Commonwealth. Shell says this project has a huge impact on local farmer profitability, and his team goes on to reiterate that since food is medicine, the agriculture industry and healthcare work better together.
Shortly after taking office Commissioner Shell launched Agriculture is Economic Development in the state, and Shell says he is trying to showcase the important role production plays in economic development. He adds this project not only advances agriculture, but ensures its long-term prosperity.
As part of Shell’s work with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture he made quite the appearance at the 120th Kentucky State Fair. Shell says the fair is a great place to showcase all Kentucky has to offer including the growth made from agriculture education in the state.
Throughout the year Commissioner Shell and his team worked to spotlight different commodity groups in the state which included, lamb, goat, beef, dairy, alpaca, poultry, pork, and Farm to School month proclamations.