In his efforts to place people of his choosing in state government posts before his voter-forced exit, now-former Gov. Matt Bevin made many appointments on his way out. Among them were eight new members of the State Board of Agriculture.
Whether new Gov. Andy Beshear lets them fill out their terms remains to be seen, Beshear has already dissolved Bevin’s state school board to make room for people who are advocates of public education.
One of the new members of the ag board is a Logan Countian. He is Sam F. Halcomb of Schochoh. Representing crop farmers for a term expiring Aug. 1, 2020, Faulkner raises corn, soybeans, wheat, barley and rye on his family’s Walnut Grove Farms.
“Welcome to the new members of the State Board of Agriculture,” Commissioner Ryan Quarles said. “This is one of the most important boards that works with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture throughout the year. I look forward to working with each member to advance the priorities of Kentucky’s farm families.”
The other new members appointed Nov. 22 by Gov. Matt Bevin are:
· Jed Clark of Graves County, who represents crop farmers for a term expiring Aug. 1, 2023, grows soybeans, corn, and hemp near Lynnville;
· Daniel Hayden of Daviess County, who represents animal agriculture for a term expiring Aug. 1, 2023, manages Hayden Farms, his family’s poultry and cattle operation;
· Adam Hinton of Fleming County, who represents agribusinesses for a term expiring Aug. 1, 2023, is vice president of Hinton Mills in Cynthiana;
· Robert Coleman James III of Fayette County, who represents crop farmers for a term expiring Aug. 1, 2022, raises tobacco, corn, wheat, and rye on his family’s historic Walnut Lawn Farm;
· Micah Lester of Trigg County, who represents crop farmers for a term expiring Aug. 1, 2021, grows corn, soybeans, and wheat for Lester Family Farms near Gracey;
· Eddie Melton of Webster County, who represents Kentucky Farm Bureau for a term expiring Aug. 1, 2021, is first vice president of KFB;
· Louie Rivers Jr. of Franklin County, who represents farmers at-large for a term expiring Aug. 1, 2020, previously served as director of county operations for Kentucky State University’s Cooperative Extension Program.
Five board members were reappointed: Mary Bach of Bath County, Becky Brady of Fayette County, Tony Cowherd of Taylor County, Mark Reding of Nelson County, and Billy Glenn Turpin of Madison County.
The first meeting of the new board will be at 1:30 p.m. Monday, Jan. 6 in Frankfort, following the swearing in of Kentucky’s constitutional officers, including the Commissioner Quarles, in the Capitol rotunda. The meeting will include an orientation session and a review of the duties of members.