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Kentucky names its Local Food Heroes for 2015

Four people were given the designation

By Diego Flammini, Farms.com

Four farmers representing Lawrenceburg, Danville, and Lexington in Kentucky were announced as the Local Food Heroes for 2015.

Heroes

The winners, Sidney Ratliff of Danville, Kathy Sink and Cindy Nabar from Lexington and Nathan Truesdell from Lawrenceburg received the most votes from their peers.

They were honored during the Kentucky State Fair by Agriculture Commissioner James Comer and Louisville Mayor Greg Fischer.

“These Local Food Heroes were selected by their fellow Kentuckians for their hard work and their dedication to the mission of producing fresh, nutritious foods for their customers to enjoy,” Agriculture Commissioner James Comer said. “These awards are a small token of our appreciation for everything they do.”

Sink and Nabar produce tomatoes while Ratliff owns Mozybeau Farms and produces heirloom seeds and other vegetables.

Truesdell, a first-time farmer who owns Circle T Farms said he’s honored to receive the award.

“As a first-year farmer, winning the Local Food Hero award is enough in itself,” Truesdell said. “But for my customers to believe in me, go and vote for me … I’m astounded, in awe of the support I have in my community.”

The award was created in 2013 by Seed Capital KY as a way to publicly recognize farmers of all operations in Kentucky for their hard work and dedication to keeping dinner tables plentiful.

“From small urban growers to larger rural farmers, each of these food heroes is an essential part of our local food system, and we are deeply grateful for their efforts,” said Caroline Heine, co-founder and project director of Seed Capital KY.

Join the conversation and tell us about farmers in your community who should be considered a local farm hero.


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The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

Video: The FCDC and AgSmart Bring Plant Breeding to a Wider Audience

In the vast prairies of Alberta, Olds College’s Field Crop Development Centre (FCDC) stands as a beacon of innovation and research in the agricultural world. The institution has become a key player in advancing agricultural technologies and practices. The FCDC’s commitment to applied research has driven them to seek effective means of disseminating their findings and creating a positive impact on the farming community.

One such avenue that aligns with their mission is AgSmart, an event dedicated to showcasing cutting-edge agricultural technologies. The coming together of the FCDC’s annual Field Day and Ag Smart has proved to be a natural fit, fostering a synergy that benefits both parties and propels the agriculture industry forward. The FCDC Field Day took part in conjunction with AgSmart for the first time this week on Aug. 1-2 in Olds, Alta. FCDC Program Director Kofi Agblor and Olds College VP of Development Todd Ormann sat down for an interview with Marc Zienkiewicz to discuss the significance of the two events taking part together and what the future holds.

The Intersection of Research and Technology The essence of the FCDC lies in its dedication to plant breeding and new seed varieties, particularly barley and triticale. While conducting research is essential, it becomes meaningful when its benefits are shared with the wider community. This is where AgSmart steps in, providing a key venue for the FCDC to showcase their research. This union between research and technology creates a holistic and enriching experience for farmers, ranchers, and industry professionals, the pair said.

Seeds as Technology For the FCDC, the partnership with AgSmart goes beyond mere event collaboration. It is about creating an environment that bridges the gap between seeds and smart technology, Ormann said. The college believes that for technology to truly revolutionize agriculture, it must begin with a strong foundation — high-quality seeds. As the saying goes, “it all starts with a seed.” To demonstrate this critical aspect, the collaboration aims to showcase the seed value chain as an integral part of the smartphone.

The Birth of a Powerful Alliance The idea of joining forces emerged when staff realized the potential synergy between AgSmart and the FCDC Field Day. With just a few days separating the two events, a proposal was put forward to merge them. The marketing and communications teams from both sides worked seamlessly to ensure the essence of both events remained intact, creating a powerful alliance that leverages the strengths of each, Agblor said.

Driving Advancements in Breeding For Agblor, the partnership with AgSmart has tremendous potential to drive advancements in breeding and other technology. With technologies like drones and imaging becoming integral to phenotyping, breeding is no longer confined to vast fields to assess thousands of plants manually. Instead, it benefits from the data-rich insights brought about by smart technologies. These advancements make breeding more efficient, precise, and instrumental in shaping the future of agriculture.

Overcoming Challenges Together While the partnership between Olds College and Ag Smart has been a resounding success, there are challenges on the horizon. Securing stable funding for long-term breeding initiatives is crucial to sustain progress. The college is committed to navigating these challenges and investing in agriculture’s future sustainably, Agblor said.

 

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