Kentucky farmers made $612,106.42 in voluntary donations to the Ag Tag Program in the 2018 fiscal year ended June 30, the second-highest total in the history of the program, Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles announced.

“Once again, Kentucky farmers have stepped up to the plate for the future of Kentucky’s agriculture industry,” Quarles said. “I am grateful to each and every individual who made a donation. These funds will help our industry grow and prosper.”

The voluntary donations are divided equally among Kentucky 4-H, Kentucky FFA, and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA). The KDA used its share of the Ag Tag funds for various promotional programs such as the Ag Athlete of the Year awards the department co-sponsored with the Kentucky High School Athletic Association.

Clark County FFA has received their portion of their 2018 Ag Tag Funds. Locally the money will be used to develop student leadership and enhance their experience in agriculture

“The Ag Tag program has become such an important source of funding to Kentucky FFA,” said Sheldon McKinney, executive director of the Kentucky FFA Foundation. “We return half of all dollars back to the local communities they were donated from, and the impact of this program is tremendous. The funds that the Kentucky FFA Foundation retain support Ag Achiever Grants, which help establish new technology in local programs, travel scholarships to National FFA Convention for our state winners, and they support leadership training for our state FFA officers, which trickles down to over 14,000 Kentucky FFA members.”

Kentucky motorists who buy or renew farm vehicle license plates, or “ag tags,” may make a voluntary donation of up to $10 to the Ag Tag Fund. Half of the 4-H and FFA funds go back to the county where the tag is purchased, where both organizations use the funds to support local programming, awards, and scholarships.

In Clark County, 32 percent of those purchasing farm plates are making the $10 contribution. Kentucky FFA makes a positive difference in the lives of students through premier leadership, personal growth and career success through agriculture education, including those here in Clark County . If you are purchasing or renewing your farm plates this year, we encourage you to show your support for FFA and make the $10 contribution.