10.14.11
Posted in Kentucky Horse Council, Kentucky Proud at 9:49 pm by EPR
There has been a lot of interest in the new Kentucky Proud for Horses
program.
The day of the announcement we added detailed info on how to apply to the Kentucky Horse Council website. Here is that information, which is also found at http://www.kentuckyhorse.org/kentuckyproud/
Below are the steps you can follow to register your farm as Kentucky Proud:
1. Print out and fill out the Kentucky Proud Equine form. (link) This is a specially designed form just for equine farm applicants.
2. If you would also like to apply for a marketing grant through the Kentucky Proud program, also print and fill out the Kentucky Proud Grant Application. (link) This form can also be found at http://www.kyproud.com/Members/index.htm. You may apply for a marketing grant at a later time as well.
3. Mail all forms to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture. They will verify your acceptance into the program and the status of your grant request. Kentucky Department of Agriculture
Attn: Vicky Stucker
100 Fair Oaks Lane, 5th floor
Frankfort, Kentucky 40601
OTHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE KENTUCKY PROUD PROCESS
FROM THE KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE:
It generally takes 2-3 weeks to process a membership application. Any questions regarding membership should be directed to Ms Vicky Stucker at 502-564-4983 or vicky.stucker@ky.gov
As for the grant applications, those applications requesting less than $5,000 can be reviewed immediately. Those requesting more than $5,000 must be reviewed by the Kentucky Proud Executive Committee which meets once a month, generally the first Tuesday of each month. Any questions regarding the Kentucky Proud grant application should be directed to Mr. Bill Clary at bill.clary@ky.gov or 502-564-1137.
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10.06.11
Posted in Kentucky Horse Council, Kentucky Proud at 2:47 pm by EPR
Lexington, KY (October 6, 2011) — The Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP), and the Kentucky Horse Council (KHC) announced today that horses have been added to the Kentucky Proud program. As new members of Kentucky Proud, horse farms in the Commonwealth will be eligible to receive financial grants from the state Department of Agriculture, will be eligible to participate in a cost-share program, and will be able to use the Kentucky Proud logo in advertising their equine products.
The Kentucky Proud program was created to promote Kentucky-agricultural products. Over the years, the program has grown significantly and now includes businesses that support and sell Kentucky products as well as those that promote the concept of buying agricultural products from Kentucky.
“Both KEEP and KHC have worked for years to promote Kentucky’s equine industry,” said Patrick Neely, KEEP Executive Director. “The addition of horses to the Kentucky Proud program will allow Kentucky horse farms to apply for grants and to grow their businesses by joining the well-known Kentucky Proud advertising and marketing initiatives. We appreciate that the Kentucky Department of Agriculture has taken this important step to assist our signature industry and the thousands of jobs it creates.”
Anna Zinkhon, President of the Kentucky Horse Council Board, added: “The Kentucky Horse Council is glad to partner with KEEP on this important new program. Two years ago my predecessor, Madelyn Millard,, initiated the idea by approaching KDA regarding a Kentucky Proud for Horses. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s interest in adding horses to this highly successful agricultural program enhances our farms’ abilities to market their horses nationally and internationally.”
Individually, farms should contact KEEP or the Kentucky Horse Council for applications and more information on the Kentucky Proud program. Forms may also be found on the Kentucky Horse Council website at www.kentuckyhorse.org/kentuckyproud/. Once approved, farms will have access to all the services and support that the Kentucky Department of Agriculture gives to members of that program, including marketing assistance and product promotion, as well as participation in a cost-share program. “In working with KEEP and KHC to add horses to the program, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture is expanding its support for Kentucky farmers,” commented Richie Farmer, Commissioner of Agriculture. “Kentucky is known for its equine industry. We are excited to have these producers add their horses to our list of Kentucky Proud products.”
Formed in 1972, The Kentucky Horse Council is a nonprofit organization dedicated, through education and leadership, to the protection and development of the Kentucky equine community. For more information on KHC, visit www.kentuckyhorse.org, email info@kentuckyhorse.org or call 859-367-0509.
KEEP was formed in May 2004 to promote and protect Kentucky’s horse industry. For more information on KEEP, visit www.horseswork.com, email info@horseswork.com or call 859-259-0007.
To learn more about being a part of Kentucky Proud program, contact Cara Stewart with KEEP (cstewart@horseswork.com) or Ginny Grulke with KHC (director@kentuckyhorse.org).
For Kentucky Proud Equine forms, you may visit the Kentucky Horse Council site at www.kentuckyhorse.org/kentuckyproud/
Kentucky Proud is the official farm marketing program of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. Kentucky Proud generated more than $200 million in retail sales of Kentucky farm products just through member retailers in 2010. More than 2,800 farmers, processors, retailers, restaurants, school districts, farmers’ markets, Kentucky state parks, and Kentucky Farm Bureau roadside markets are members of Kentucky Proud. For more information about Kentucky Proud, contact Bill Clary, Kentucky Proud program manager, at 502-564-1137 or bill.clary@ky.gov.
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09.27.11
Posted in Kentucky Horse Park, Kentucky Proud at 8:01 pm by EPR
LEXINGTON, KY (September 27, 2011) The Kentucky Horse Park will offer a Kentucky Proud Weekend and Gift Shop/Tack Shop Sale Oct 8-9, 2011, to celebrate some of the things that make Kentucky wonderful: our military, our horse industry, our music, our food and more!
Kentucky Proud Weekend will be a great time for families to enjoy the park while getting a taste of Kentucky home-grown and home-made products. To make it even easier for families, children ages 12 and under will be admitted free of charge.
Highlights will include:
– Meet two Kentucky Derby winners,
– Cooking demonstrations with Chef Adam Wade, 2:30 pm both days,
– Kentucky Proud product sampling,
– Harvest sale at the Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop (25% off fine jewelry, 20% off apparel, 25% off framed art, 25% off everything in the Tack Shop!),
– Bluegrass Army Depot displays – honoring our military,
– Vendors: mums, pumpkins, handmade soaps, Old Kentucky Chocolate candies, Rimmer Family Favorites, etc.,
– Kentucky performers – clogging, singing,
– Tour the Maker’s Mark Secretariat Center on Saturday to see retired, adoptable Thoroughbred racehorses in a retraining program,
– Book signing by Kentucky cookbook authors,
– Tour new $10-million Al Marah Arabian Horse Galleries with lots of interactive displays for children,
– “Ancient Bronzes of the Asian Grasslands” special exhibition in the International Museum of the Horse, a Smithsonian Affiliate,
– “Celebrities: Saddlebreds and Personalities from the Silver Screen, Cinema and History” special exhibition in the American Saddlebred Museum,
– Plus all that the park offers on a daily basis, including live equine presentations, Hall of Champions, and much more!
The Kentucky Classic Combined Driving Event will also be taking place that weekend. The Kentucky CDE is a competitive horse driving event made very popular during the Alltech FEI World Equestrian Games. Visitors will enjoy watching this great competition with their park admission.
Visitors can also enjoy having lunch or a snack in the Kentucky Horse Park’s new Bit & Bridle Restaurant.
For more information on Kentucky Proud Weekend, call our switchboard, 859-259-4200 or our Kentucky Horse Park Gift Shop, 859-259-4234.
Park Hours and Rates: Through November 6, the park is open seven days a week. Admission is $16 for adults, $8 for children 7-12. From November 7 to March 14, the park is open Wednesdays through Sundays. Winter admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages 7-12. Children age 6 and under are always admitted free of charge. Admission includes the International Museum of the Horse – a Smithsonian Affiliate, and the American Saddlebred Museum and Gift Shop.
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09.24.11
Posted in Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen, Kentucky Bred, Kentucky Horse Council, Kentucky Proud at 11:13 pm by Thomas
I had the great opportunity to be a part of the Kentucky Horse Council Equine Industry Planning Session today at the Fayette County Extension Office. This was scheduled as an all day event starting at 8 AM so it was wonderful to see a solid group of close to 50 participants. This was a varied group across all areas of the horse industry from Thoroughbred breeders and members of several Equine Departments of our major Universities and Colleges to small local organizations like myself representing the Fort Harrod Back Country Horsemen.
The facilitator was Colonel Walter Herd (Retired U.S. Army) who is also on the KHC Board. He did an excellent job and was very engaging which set a very positive tone for the day. The primary topics of discussion were coming up with ideas to bring Kentucky closer to that idea of a “haven for horses” that we all dream of by developing the “culture of the horse in Kentucky”. Ultimately in simple terms, we are the Horse Capital of the World, which is derived from the impact of the Thoroughbred Horse, how do we expand that definition to be all inclusive of everything Equine in the State or at least that was my take.
I am not going to go into all the details because there was lots of great discussions and ideas. One tidbit I will report on, we did hear from a member of KEEP that the Kentucky Proud Program was being expanded to include horses and that specific program would be called Kentucky Bred.
At the end of the day we voted on all of these and the KHC is going to digest those results and come up with an action list to start working on in November when they are planning on scheduling the next set of meetings. I will report on what comes out of those meetings as we get more concrete objectives to act on.
Kentucky Colonel
Thomas Demond
KyWEGO®
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