By: Ag. Reporter Mollie Goode
During the 2025 Kentucky General Assembly, legislators passed Senate Bill 28, which establishes the Kentucky Agriculture Economic Development Board.
The new board will operate within the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Office of Agricultural Policy and members will serve on the board for one year. Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell will serve as the Chairman of the Board and will appoint Dr. Kenny Burdine, Lori Noel, Kevin Fields, Neil Denton and Missy Vanderpool to serve on the inaugural board.
The board was established as a result of the “Agriculture is Economic Development” movement created by Shell, which supports initiatives that foster growth and economic development within agriculture.
Shell says the Kentucky Agriculture Economic Development Board is a commitment between the Department of Agriculture, farmers and other valuable agriculture stakeholders. He adds how excited he is for the coming year and says he couldn’t ask for a better group.