Growing Kentucky's Leaders: A Podcast by the Kentucky FFA Foundation

Join Sheldon and Ruth Ann for a new episode of the Growing Kentucky’s Leaders Podcast as they sit down with two of Kentucky FFA’s leaders for the 2026–2027 year: Austin Van and Caleb Feather!

As they serve their year as Kentucky FFA State Officers, Austin and Caleb share their personal stories, experiences, and journeys through FFA. Tune in to learn more about their backgrounds, what led them to become involved in FFA, and how the organization has helped shape them as leaders!

Learn how to tie a square knot!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOAxiQk8wj8

#GrowKentuckysLeaders #KentuckyFFA #FFA

In this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann sit down with Mr. Colton Hardy. Colton was selected as the 2026 Kentucky FFA State Star Farmer. Through his work in this Supervised Agricultural Experience (S.A.E) Colton has grown his mum, row-crop, and Dark air-cured tobacco operation into something to be proud of!

In this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann sit down with Mr. Nick Carter. Mr. Carter is no stranger to the Kentucky FFA... Carter was an FFA member at Hustonville High School in Lincoln County and served as the State FFA Sentinel in 1964-65. He earned a degree in agriculture from the University of Kentucky before pursuing a successful career in the energy industry. As the past Chairman of the Kentucky FFA Foundation Board of Trusties, Carter has helped grow support for generations of past, present, and future Kentucky FFA members. Join us for another great episode!Helpful Links:

Forever Blue Endowment Informationhttps://kyffa.org/forever-blue-endowment-program/

Grant Match informationhttps://kyffa.org/grants/

100 for 100 Chapter Guidehttps://kyffa.org/centennial-celebration-chapter-guide/

Past Episode with Mr. Nick Carterhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MB3Y68eKnNU

In this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann sit down with Jose Villanos. Jose is the 2026 National FFA Star Finalist in Agriscience. From the Larue County FFA chapter, Villanos joined FFA in high school as an accident... an accident that turned into one of the greatest decisions he ever made! Watch to learn more!

In this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann sit down with 2026 Kentucky FFA State Star in Agribusiness Mallie Johnson. Mallie owns and operates Wild West Obsessed and has sold items to customers in all 50 states, Canada, Ireland, Germany, Australia, and Switzerland! Safe to say that Mallie and her leather goods are known around the globe!https://www.wildwestobsessed.com/

During this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann sit down with 2026 Golden Owl award recipient, Mr. Ben Prevette. Prevette is one of 3 Agriculture teachers and FFA advisors at Hopkins County Central High School in Madisonville, KY. During this episode we learn about how the "joys and discomforts of agricultural life" have shaped Mr. Prevette into the agriculture educator that he is today.

2027 Golden Owl award nominations are now open! You can find them at the link below.

https://kyffa.org/ky-golden-owl-award/

https://kyffa.org/home-teach-ag-kentucky/how/

In this special episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann sit down with the very talented members of the Blue Bridge Boys. A homegrown bluegrass band from Owensboro, KY these boys were the 2026 Kentucky FFA State talent winners and will be showcasing their talent at the 9th annual KY FFA Blue & Gold Gala!Listen till the very end for a brand new song performed by the Blue Bridge Boys!Learn more about the Blue & Gold Gala:https://kyffa.org/foundation-gala/Learn more about the Blue Bridge Boys:https://thebluebridgeboysofficial.com/

This week on Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann sit down with Mr. Cyrus Bivens. Cyrus was selected as the 2026 KY FFA State Star in Ag Placement. At the very same convention, Cyrus was also elected to serve as the 26-27 KY FFA State Sentinel. Listen to hear all his S.A.E and more!Use this link to watch Cyrus's KY FFA State Star Highlight!https://youtu.be/jDVxaJ8diGM?feature=shared

In this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth and sit down with former United States Ambassador to the United Nations, Kelly Craft. Craft is a "lifelong Kentuckian", a successful American businesswoman, and former diplomat who has much to say about the future of Kentucky and the future of Kentucky FFA.

More on Ambassador Craft at the link below!

https://kyffa.org/ambassador-kelly-craft-establishes-forever-blue-fund-to-benefit-glasgow-and-barren-county-ffa-chapters/

In this episode of Growing Kentucky’s Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann sit down with Kentucky FFA Foundation Board member, Caroline Peterson Meehan. We get to hear about Caroline’s start in the Nelson County FFA chapter, her career, her love for the future of Kentucky FFA, and so much more!

2026-2027 Kentucky FFA State President Garett Zimmerman and State Reporter, Haylee Tucker share insights on leadership & their experience as Kentucky FFA State Officers.

During this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, hosts Sheldon McKinney and Ruth Ann Fink discuss the brand new "100 for 100" plan leading up to Kentucky FFA's centennial celebration in 2030!Kentucky FFA Website

Forever Blue Endowment Information

Plan Your Gift

On this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann are joined by Adrienne Correll, Executive Director of the River Foundation and board member of First Southern National Bank. Adrienne shares her unique journey from commercial lending to leading a foundation that tithes 10% of the bank's pretax earnings to support Christ-centered ministries locally and globally.

Links:

First Southern National Bank

SAE Launch Grants

Give, Save, Spend

On this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann speak with Dr. Scott Wright, a world-renowned cardiologist at the Mayo Clinic and a former Kentucky FFA State President (1982-83). Dr. Wright shares how his roots in McCreary County and his formative years in the FFA provided the leadership foundation necessary to excel in the global medical field.

Links:

Mayo Clinic

McCreary County FFA

On this episode of Growing Kentucky’s Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann are joined by Claire West, Customer Education Manager at Farm Credit Mid-America. A former high school agriculture teacher and FFA advisor at Nelson County, Claire shares her journey from finding her place in agriculture as a student in Marshall County to pioneering an innovative, agriculture experience for her students. Join the conversation as she discusses the importance of agricultural education and her transition to educating the next generation of leaders in a new capacity.

Links:

Farm Credit Mid America

Nelson County FFA

Marshall County FFA

Balance Sheet Basics

Growing Forward Program

Kindle Holder

Kindle Clicker

On this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann welcome Melissa Miller, the Executive Director of the Kentucky 4-H Foundation. Together, they discuss the unique and vital partnership between Kentucky 4-H and Kentucky FFA, two organizations often viewed as competitors but that work in close collaboration to benefit the state's youth.

Links:

Kentucky 4-H Foundation

Friend of KY Agriculture Plate

On this episode of Growing Kentucky’s Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann are joined by Spencer Guinn and Hunter Anne Mattingly of the Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development for a critical conversation about the future of Kentucky agriculture.

The discussion focuses on farmland transition and succession planning, highlighting how families can navigate the transfer of land, leadership and legacy from one generation to the next.

Links:

Kentucky Agri Legacy Solutions Program

Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development

Kentucky Farm Bureau Farmland Transition Initiative

Lay's Commercial

U.S. Department of Agriculture

Kentucky Agricultural Development Board

On this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, we hear from Josh Mitcham, Director of the Carol Martin Gatton FFA Leadership Training Center. Josh explains why this historic camp— bursting at the seams with close to 400 students a week — remains the ultimate launchpad for the next generation of agricultural leaders.

Links:

Carol Martin Gatton FFA Leadership Training Center

On this episode of Growing Kentucky's Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann welcome back two familiar faces: State FFA Secretary Jacee McKeel and State Treasurer Tyren Harris.

With less than three weeks left in their term of service, Jacee and Tyren pull back the curtain on their incredible year and give listeners a behind-the-scenes sneak peek at the upcoming Kentucky State FFA Convention. From the hard work that goes into memorizing hours of scripts to adding "bigger and better" surprises for members, the duo shares what it truly means to be facilitators of an unforgettable member experience.

On this episode of Growing Kentucky’s Leaders, Sheldon and Ruth Ann are joined by Annagrace Sholar and Sara Thakur from Madisonville North Hopkins High School. Tune in to hear about the massive impact of the Kentucky FFA Foundation grants, student-led entrepreneurship and the inspiring journey of cultivating the next generation of community leaders.

Links:

Teachers Turn the Key

Better Days Through Better Ways

Grants