Webster County farmer Eddie Melton was re-elected as President of Kentucky Farm Bureau today. He has served on the organization’s executive committee for the past 16 years. Also re-elected were Shane Wiseman of Clark County as First Vice President and Larry Clark of Green County as Second Vice President. 

Mr. Melton, a former President of Webster County Farm Bureau, is the Past Chair of the KFB State Resolutions Committee and Past President of the Board of Directors for the Kentucky Center for Agriculture & Rural Development. Mr. Melton also serves on the Board of Directors for Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company and the American Farm Bureau Federation. He produces corn, soybeans and beef cattle on his farming operation in Sebree, Ky. He and his wife, Regina, have a daughter and two grandchildren.

Mr. Wiseman is Past President of Clark County Farm Bureau and is a fourth-generation farmer producing beef cattle, hay, corn, soybeans and wheat. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Kentucky University and earned a master’s degree and Rank I in agriculture education from the University of Kentucky. Mr. Wiseman taught agriculture for 26 years. He is Chair of the KFB Resolutions Committee, a member of the AFBF Agricultural Labor Issues Advisory Committee, and a member of the Kentucky State University College of Agriculture, Health and Natural Resources Dean’s Council. Mr. Wiseman is also a member of the Clark County Soil Conservation Board and Chair of the Agriculture Tourism Committee. He and his wife, Stephanie, have three children.

Mr. Clark farms in Green, Metcalfe and Adair counties where he grows corn, beans and tobacco. He also raises beef cattle. He currently serves as a member of the KFB Insurance Company Audit Committee and as Chair of the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation Audit Committee. Mr. Clark is a Past President of Green County Farm Bureau and is a Past President of the Green County Cattlemen’s Association. He and his wife, Sundown, have two children.

Five new members were elected to the KFB Board of Directors this year: Dr. Laura Stephenson of Fayette County will serve on the Board in her role as Dean of the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment; Jed Clark of Graves County will serve on the Board as the Chair of the State Generation Bridge Core Leadership Committee; Justin Imel of Greenup County will serve on the Board as Chair of the KFB State Young Farmer Advisory Committee; Brandon Sears of Madison County will serve on the Board as the representative of the Kentucky Association of County Agricultural Agents; and Matt Chaliff of Rockcastle County will serve on the Board as the representative for Career & Technical Education for the Kentucky Department of Education. 

Returning Board Members are:  

Sharon Furches of Calloway County; David McGlone of Carter County; Tim Goodlett of Casey County; Glenn Howell of Fulton County; Scott Barnes of Garrard County; Mark Kinsey of Grant County; Ray Allan Mackey of Hardin County; Larry Thomas of Hardin County; Alex Barnett of Harrison County; Mitchel Logsdon of Hart County; James Runion of Henderson County; Tyler Ferguson of Johnson County; Cloyce Hinkle of Knox County; Todd Brock of Laurel County; Joe Paul Mattingly of Marion County; Bettie Bean of McCracken County; Zack Ison of Mercer County; Scott Davis of Monroe County; Mary Kate Kordes of Muhlenberg County; PJ Milburn of Nelson County; Mark Haney of Pulaski County; David Taylor of Pulaski County; Stewart Hughes of Scott County; Terry Lawson of Rockcastle County; Victor Rexroat of Russell County; and Tammy White of Union County.

The new Vice Chair of the Young Farmer Committee is Erin Arnett of Green County, the new Secretary is Ann Margaret Hughes of Wayne County, and the new Social Media Chair is Adam Benham of Meade County.

The new Vice Chair of the Generation Bridge Committee is Katie Cecil-Pedigo of Daviess County; the new Secretary is Scott Bouldin of Warren County. 

Bettie Bean of McCracken County was re-elected as Chair of the State Women’s Advisory Committee. Re-elected as First Vice Chair was Jennifer Newby of Boyle County, and elected as Second Vice Chair was Carol Sullivan of Taylor County.