Press Releases

 

Commissioner Quarles praises Fair Board appointments

 

New board includes more representation of agricultural interests

 

For Immediate Release
Tuesday, May 10, 2016
For more information contact:
Angela Blank
(502) 573-0450

 

FRANKFORT, Ky. – Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles praised Gov. Matt Bevin’s appointments to the Kentucky State Fair Board.

“The reorganization of the State Fair board, through Senate Bill 191, assures world-class agricultural events, such as the National Farm Machinery Show, the North American International Livestock Exposition, and the Kentucky State Fair, will continue for years to come,” Commissioner Quarles said. “With solid agriculture representation on the board, members will play a key role in shaping future decisions that will advance Kentucky’s agricultural economy and benefit all people of the Commonwealth.

“We applaud Governor Bevin’s decision to go above and beyond for Kentucky’s farmers and farm families when he appointed more members with agricultural backgrounds to this important board.”

Senate Bill 191 reorganized the Fair Board to add two members and dedicate more seats on the board to agricultural interests. The final version of the bill passed both houses of the Kentucky General Assembly unanimously, and Gov. Bevin signed the bill into law on April 27.

Commissioner Quarles is one of three ex-officio members of the board, along with Nancy Cox, dean of the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment; and Don Parkinson, secretary of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet. The state presidents of the Kentucky FFA Association and the Kentucky 4-H Organization are non-voting ex-officio members.

The Fair Board oversees operations for the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center, located at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds, and the Kentucky International Convention Center, located in downtown Louisville.