Session V: Economic Development Blog
Donna K. Karr – Federal Credit Union
Jennifer M. Kessler – Swope Family of Dealerships
Bruce Reeves – Gold Star Realty/Hodges Auction Co.
On October 1st, the Leadership Hardin County Class met at the Elizabethtown Fire HQ for our Economic Day session. Our first speaker of the day was Mo Miller, whom spoke to us about the Lincoln Trail Venture Group and what they can do for the entrepreneur. Next to speak was, Rick Games, whom is the President and COO of the Elizabethtown/Hardin Co. Industrial Foundation. Mr. Games spoke to us about the logistics of how they procure potential businesses and industries to Hardin Co. He showed us maps of the developed and undeveloped areas of the county. He explained to us the advantage that we have as a county with our location and demographics to be attractive to potential commerce. Being centrally located with roadway and railway access, gives the county an upper hand.
Patricia Krausman, Director of the University of Kentucky Small Business Development Center, wrapped up the morning session by explaining the development of and maintaining small business. She explained to us what classifies as a small business and the logistics of operating and maintaining a small business. She gave us information and statistics of the classification of small business in Kentucky which was helpful to understand the importance that it plays and the significance that it has on our Commonwealth. After her session we prepared for our field trip to the Meadow View Farm.
Our class took a field trip out to Meadow View Farm to understand the impact of their operations on Hardin County. People who might not have grown up near a farming community may assume farms are run the “old” way meaning like you see in pictures from years ago. However it’s quite the opposite, they are iodated with technology just as much as any business or industry today. Ray Allen Mackey not only showed us the tools they use, but explained their operations in a manner that made it easy to understand and allowed us to appreciate the process they go through to get food on the table, or ethanol fuel in your vehicle, to raising calves to sell to other farmers. It was an eye opening experience that showed us the Meadow View Farm’s bottom line and Hardin County’s economy all benefit from more efficient technologies that will continue to change over and over again for years to come. Just image a farm operation 50 years from now, WOW!
When arriving back from Meadow View Farm we all enjoyed a delicious lunch from KFC that Elizabethtown / Hardin County Industrial Foundation had provided for us.
After Lunch Matt Adams, Extension agent for Agriculture and Natural Resources provided us with some interesting information and statics on Farming in Hardin County.
Warren Beeler whom works for the Department of Agriculture and is also Director of Agriculture Policy and Director of Animal Marketing Division spoke to us. Warren lives on a farm in Caneyville, that along with his jobs he was able to share personal experiences as well as processes on planning and moving forward in business and the agriculture world. Warren shared with us, if you can think it, you can do it.
A tour of the Elizabethtown Fire Department proved to be interesting and was enjoyed by all.
