During this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann sit down with 2026 Golden Owl award recipient, Mr. Ben Prevette. Prevette is one of 3 Agriculture teachers and FFA advisors at Hopkins County Central High School in Madisonville, KY. During this episode we learn about how the "joys and discomforts of agricultural life" have shaped Mr. Prevette into the agriculture educator that he is today.

2027 Golden Owl award nominations are now open! You can find them at the link below.

https://kyffa.org/ky-golden-owl-award/

https://kyffa.org/home-teach-ag-kentucky/how/

In this special episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann sit down with the very talented members of the Blue Bridge Boys. A homegrown bluegrass band from Owensboro, KY these boys were the 2026 Kentucky FFA State talent winners and will be showcasing their talent at the 9th annual KY FFA Blue & Gold Gala!Listen till the very end for a brand new song performed by the Blue Bridge Boys!Learn more about the Blue & Gold Gala:https://kyffa.org/foundation-gala/Learn more about the Blue Bridge Boys:https://thebluebridgeboysofficial.com/

This week on Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann sit down with Mr. Cyrus Bivens. Cyrus was selected as the 2026 KY FFA State Star in Ag Placement. At the very same convention, Cyrus was also elected to serve as the 26-27 KY FFA State Sentinel. Listen to hear all his S.A.E and more!Use this link to watch Cyrus's KY FFA State Star Highlight!https://youtu.be/jDVxaJ8diGM?feature=shared

In this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth and sit down with former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft. Craft is a "lifelong Kentuckian", a successful American businesswoman, and former diplomat who has much to say about the future of Kentucky and the future of Kentucky FFA.

More on Ambassador Craft at the link below!

https://kyffa.org/ambassador-kelly-craft-establishes-forever-blue-fund-to-benefit-glasgow-and-barren-county-ffa-chapters/

In this episode of Growing Kentucky’s Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann sit down with Kentucky FFA Foundation Board member, Caroline Peterson Meehan. We get to hear about Caroline’s start in the Nelson County FFA chapter, her career, her love for the future of Kentucky FFA, and so much more!

2026-2027 Kentucky FFA State President Garett Zimmerman and State Reporter, Haylee Tucker share insights on leadership & their experience as Kentucky FFA State Officers.

During this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, hosts Sheldon McKinney and Ruth Ann Fink discuss the brand new "100 for 100" plan leading up to Kentucky FFA's centennial celebration in 2030!Kentucky FFA Website

Forever Blue Endowment Information

Plan Your Gift

On this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann are joined by Adrienne Correll, Executive Director of the River Foundation and board member of First Southern National Bank. Adrienne shares her unique journey from commercial lending to leading a foundation that tithes 10% of the bank's pretax earnings to support Christ-centered ministries locally and globally.

Links:

First Southern National Bank

SAE Launch Grants

Give, Save, Spend

On this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann speak with Dr. Scott Wright, a world-renowned cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic and a former Kentucky FFA State President (1982-83). Dr. Wright shares how his roots in McCreary County and his formative years in the FFA provided the leadership foundation necessary to excel in the global medical field.

Links:

Mayo Clinic

McCreary County FFA

On this episode of Growing Kentucky’s Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann are joined by Claire West, Customer Education Manager at Farm Credit Mid-America. A former high school agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Nelson County, Claire shares her journey from finding her place in agriculture as a student in Marshall County to pioneering an innovative, agriculture experience for her students. Join the conversation as she discusses the importance of agricultural education and her transition to educating the next generation of leaders in a new capacity.

Links:

Farm Credit Mid America

Nelson County FFA

Marshall County FFA

Balance Sheet Basics

Growing Forward Program

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