Kentucky Sites to Visit During National FFA Convention

     Next week is an exciting time for Kentucky residents as we welcome thousands of FFA members to the Bluegrass State for the 87th Annual National FFA Convention. Louisville is the final destination for convention goers and most members will travel by bus or van across Kentucky and have the opportunity to stop and visit with some of  the state's producers and agriculture businesses. I'm using this year's convention theme and asking Kentucky to "Go All Out" in welcoming this great organization to the state.

     There are many must-see places in and around Louisville that I'm sure many chapters will visit including the Kentucky landmark Churchill Downs. Live racing returns on October 26, perfect for group tours to visit the barns and get a behind-the-scenes look at the horse racing industry and see the amazing animals. http://www.churchilldowns.com/plan-your-visit  The Kentucky Derby Museum has a page dedicated to the FFA Convention and planning a visit. http://www.derbymuseum.org/ffa/

     I want to make a few suggestions for agriculture-related stops and give links and information making it easier for FFA chapters to plan and meet more of our producers and visit ag-businesses. Many of the nations agriculture teachers are way ahead of me and use their network of friends, colleagues, and fellow producers to plan stops along the way.

     The Kentucky Department of Agriculture is a great resource for planning your trip. Visit the following link for a wealth of information about Kentucky agriculture. http://www.kyagr.com/      The KDA also has an outstanding Agri-Tourism site called Kentucky Farms are Fun. You can search by region, according to your travel route, or by type of business such as orchards, horse farms, livestock, farmer's markets, etc. http://www.kentuckyfarmsarefun.com/  Kentucky Proud is a program sponsored by the KDA which promotes Kentucky grown or Kentucky made products. Look for this logo when making purchases.

     The Kentucky Horse Park in Lexington is an excellent choice for a fun and educational tour about the equine industry. The park is the world's only park dedicated to the horse and is home to the Rolex Kentucky 3-Day Event, a competition of dressage, cross-country, and jumping. Set in the heart of Thoroughbred country the park and museum highlights all areas and breeds of the equine industry. http://kyhorsepark.com/

     I'm including several of my favorite farm/orchard/farmer's market stops that are working farms with excellent products and unique features. My first is Chaney's Dairy Barn, just south of Bowling Green. Here you can get a tour of the farm and enjoy lunch or dinner and delicious homemade ice cream.

Food is always excellent and they have a large selection of Kentucky Proud products. http://www.chaneysdairybarn.com/index.html

   
     Hinton's Orchard and Farm Market, near Hodgenville, offers a full Kentucky Proud market featuring seasonal fruits and vegetables. A highlight of visiting this time of the year is a chance to conquer the corn maze. http://hintonsorchard.com/

     Kentucky is 8th in the nation in beef production and has the largest number of beef cattle of any state east of the Mississippi River. Visiting any of our purebred or commercial producers is only a phone call away. Contact the Kentucky Cattlemen's Association http://www.kycattle.org/ for help in locating beef producers along your travel route through Kentucky, or you can contact national breed association offices for suggestions.



     Now for some non-ag, unique to Kentucky destinations.

The Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, located just off I-65 is a great stop. What teenager doesn't like to look at sports cars? http://www.corvettemuseum.org/

     The Louisville Slugger Museum in Louisville, one of the most popular museums in the state. Great to visit at any time but especially now during the World Series.  http://sluggermuseum.com/

     If you plan to stop at any locations and especially if you have a large group, call ahead so the business can be prepared and make your visit the best possible. Wishing all the FFA members safe travels and hoping your visit to Kentucky is great!!