Owsley Clerk Helps Channel Record $931,201 to Youth Agriculture

Kentucky’s Ag Tag Program recorded its largest single-year contribution in 2024, receiving $931,201.81 in voluntary donations from farmers across the state. The increase, nearly $200,000 above the previous year’s total, will be split evenly among three beneficiaries: Kentucky 4-H, Kentucky FFA, and the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, with each organization receiving $310,400.60.

The program is led by Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell, who framed the results as a product of statewide generosity and an investment in the sector’s future. “2024 was a tremendous year, one that wouldn’t have been possible without the wonderful support from our Kentucky farmers,” Commissioner Shell said. “Through the years, the Ag Tag Program has succeeded in providing much-needed funding for promoting agriculture and educating Kentucky’s youth on the importance of agriculture in our everyday lives. Your generosity will help ensure Kentucky agriculture has a bright future.”

Locally, Owsley County Clerk Austin Bowling has supported promotion of the Ag Tag donations and helped connect residents with the statewide initiative. County clerks play a practical role in linking community members to the program, and in Owsley County the clerk’s office has emphasized support for 4-H and FFA students who rely on these organizations for leadership development, agricultural education, and extracurricular opportunities.

For Owsley County, where agriculture remains a significant part of local identity and economy, the influx of funds has practical implications. Enhanced funding for Kentucky 4-H and FFA can translate into expanded student programming, leadership camps, competition support, and classroom or extension resources that contribute to workforce readiness and community resilience. The Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s share can bolster statewide efforts to promote farming and coordinate youth outreach that benefits rural counties.

The record donations also underscore institutional dynamics: a voluntary, plate-based funding mechanism that depends on outreach and participation at the county level. That structure elevates the role of county clerks as intermediaries between state programs and residents, and it highlights the importance of sustained civic engagement to maintain and grow youth agricultural opportunities. As funds are distributed and programs plan for the coming year, transparency in how grants and resources are allocated will be central to assessing the long-term impact on Owsley’s young people and the county’s agricultural future.