When Jonathan Shell stepped up as Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture, he was on a mission to put more emphasis on livestock shows across the state, which led the charge of House Bill 370.
House Bill 370 is called a “reorg” bill. Reorganization bills happen when a new commissioner is elected and wants to reorganize the department. A bill is filed to officially make changes, but the reorganization can start as soon as the commissioner is in office.
Shell was elected Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture Nov. 7, 2023. He is a fifth-generation farmer and plans to take what he has learned from his family farm into his new role of commissioner.
“What 370 is, is the ability for us to put an emphasis on and to work through priorities we have and show that structure of our department,” Shell said. “We’re developing an economic development division of the Department of Agriculture. We’re also consolidating two divisions together to make it one division, our ag livestock marketing, and our shows and fairs, to put a greater emphasis on both.”
There will not be a direct impact on the current shows and fairs already available in Kentucky. The implementation of HB 370 is set to create an emphasis on livestock shows and funnel money in a positive direction, as money permits within the next budget cycle.
Kentucky has seen a decline in the number of participants in livestock shows across the commonwealth. Shell and Deputy Agriculture Commissioner Warren Beeler are working with 4-H and FFA advisers to put a greater emphasis on livestock shows.
“What we’ve seen over the past couple of years is that it is a little bit easier to do a country ham project or a shooting sport or some of the other things and so there has been less of an emphasis on the livestock side,” Shell said.
Shell said they are to have a bigger focus on developing the child’s skills in showmanship and responsibility versus having the most expensive animal.
“We want to have shows that are big and we want to have a lot of money in them, we want to have these animals sell for high prices, we want all those things to happen, but we also don’t want these blue-collar kids—who can’t afford these big prices for an animal, to still feel valued in these shows,” Shell said.
A new livestock show will be added to the calendar nicknamed the “Super Bowl of livestock shows” in Kentucky to further promote children and young adults to showcase their showmanship skills and animals. The Livestock Expo Classic will be held in Casey County this year under the Kentucky Proud organization.
