Allen County Farm Bureau Holds Annual Meeting
The Tabor Family, owners of the Aubrey and Lois Tabor Family Farm, received the Legacy Farm for 2025. Here John Pedigo is presenting them their plaque and certificate.
By Chris Cole,
Staff Writer
The Allen County Farm Bureau is more than insurance, as Todd White, the Agency Director for Allen County Put it. “The non-profit organization serves as the voice of agriculture, supports local youth development, strives to increase net farm income and improve local health and safety through a variety of year-round initiatives.”
That was certainly a major part of the work that was highlighted on Tuesday, Sept. 30 at the Allen County Primary Center, the location of the Allen County Kentucky Farm Bureau meeting. Not only was the past year given a review in terms of how their partnerships with the local FFA and 4H chapters are helping to encourage and educate the next generation of farmers, it was seen even before the meeting began as free health screenings through the Allen County Health Department, including tests for high blood pressure and flu shots were given.
Jacob and Ashley Vernon and their son Will were named the Young Farm Family of the Year.
Another unique portion of the evening was an initiative to get books outlining the importance of farming into the hands of elementary and primary age children. For a donation of $10, attendees could get agricultural books into selected classrooms in the Allen County Intermediate and Primary Centers. They’d even be given a special bookshelf to sit on shaped like the front of a barn.
Just prior to the meeting as well was a meal catered by Earl G. Dumpling’s.
Once the meal was over the meeting began. Jonathan Bitterling, who was selected as the Outstanding Farm Bureau Youth, shared his essay on Eminent Domain, a controversial power of government that can seize ownership or control of privately owned land in order to be used for public good.
Katelyn Young was named Farm Woman of the Year. She’s being presented her plaque by the previous Farm Woman of the Year for all of KFB, Kori Thomas of Peachtree Farms.
In his speech he stated that every level of government should honor the rights that American citizens have to private land ownership and that all governments should honor contracts. While acknowledging that private land being used for public good isn’t necessarily a bad thing, Bitterling believed it should be after a fair agreement between the owner and the government is reached.
After the speech, Emma Charlton, Isabella Bitterling and Olivia Grace Bitterling each sang a song. Emma Charlton was awarded first, Isabella, second and Olivia Grace, third. They all received a monetary award.
Emma Charlton, Isabella Bitterling, Olivia Grace Bitterling and Jonathan Bitterling each received special recognition. The three young ladies played an instrument and sang while Jonathan wrote an essay which he also read aloud.
Several Farm Bureau members were also given special recognition. The Tabor Family was honored as the Legacy Farm Family; Freda Rigsby was named the Excellence in Agriculture Literacy Honoree for her work in teaching Ag at ACPC and the engagement she has with her students; Jacob and Ashley Vernon and their son Will were named the Young Farm Family of the Year, where they work land that was once owned by his grandparents and have beef cattle; and Katelyn Young was named Farm Woman of the Year as she operates a farm with her husband, Joe Young Jr. in addition to a career she has in AG and volunteers with local agricultural groups.
The business portion of the meeting saw the election of officers and board members for the upcoming year. They included John Pedigo, President; Bart Jones, first Vice President; Dennis Arterburn, second Vice President; and Sarah Jones, Secretary/Treasurer.
Immediate Past President Al Pedigo, Past President Charlie Guy, Women’s Chair Martha Arterburn, Young Farmer Chair Joe Young Jr., Generation Bridge Micah Thomas and at-large board members Paul Napier, Stephen Howard, Marlin Moody and Dr. Tim Gardner were also recognized.
Allen County KFB President John Pedigo welcomed everyone and kept the meeting on schedule.
Proposals and resolutions up for vote at the meeting included government (local, county, state, federal) should honor any contract made with farmers; that local USDA/FSA offices should be adequately staffed; and that access to drivers license renewal by offering REAL ID and other drivers license renewal should be done in each county. The resolutions passed with unanimous support.
FFA Chapter President Addison Ausbrooks and 4H District representative Emma Charlton also addressed how partnering with Kentucky Farm Bureau has been beneficial to their organizations.
Marietta Napier was telling KFB members about an initiative they were undertaking to get books about the importance of farming and agriculture into select ACPC and ACIC classrooms. For a $10 donation a book would be placed in a specially made bookshelf that looks like a barn.
Special guests who addressed the meeting included KFB State Board Member Scott Davis; Area Program Director Jeremy Roy; Agent Support and Marketing Manager Ethan Berry and KFB State Generation Vice Chair Katie Pedigo.
In total, the meeting was attended by approximately 200 people. In addition to the business conducted, the various families and individuals given special recognition, the resolutions passed and an update on the current state of affairs within KFB, door prizes were also given out with a combined value of over $2,000. Additionally, any child under the age of 11 who came up and said their name into the microphone was given a $5 bill.
In the lead up to the business portion of the evening, various partners with KFB, including the Allen County Health Department, did free health screenings and flu shots for individuals 60 and over.
