https://legislature.ky.gov/Legislators/Pages/Legislator-Profile.aspx?DistrictNumber=94

Mitch Whitaker, 94th District State Representative, 702 Capital Avenue, Frankfort, KY (2026)

09/07/2026

Labor Day is a great opportunity to honor all Kentucky workers and show them how appreciated their efforts are. Thank you for your continued outstanding work. Happy Labor Day!

08/21/2026

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Mitch Whitaker

‘We the people,’ legislators learn about unique civics opportunity
“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

There are 52 words in the preamble to the U.S. Constitution, 4,543 in the original version ratified in 1788. In the centuries since, it has been amended 27 times. And, still today every single word serves as an important reminder that America began as a political experiment

Nearly 250 years ago, our founders forged a government of, by and for the people. The Constitution became the framework for that experiment, and it has endured because each generation has been entrusted with understanding, protecting and improving the system it inherited.

Today, as we celebrate our nation’s 250th anniversary, there are few better ways to celebrate our nation’s history and prepare the next generation of Americans than by putting the United States Constitution directly into the hands of our students.

According to a presentation during the August meeting of the Interim Joint Committee on State Government, that is the mission behind The 917 Society, a nonprofit organization working to provide students with their own pocket copy of the Constitution. The organization has distributed more than one million copies across the country, reaching students in all 50 states and thousands of school districts. Now, the group is looking to expand that effort in Kentucky.

The timing could not be more appropriate. As our nation approaches its 250th anniversary, giving young Americans a better understanding of the document that established our system of government is more important than ever.

The 917 Society’s approach is simple: Give students the Constitution.

The organization provides the pocket-sized copies at no cost to teachers, schools, and students. According to testimony, the group does not dictate how the Constitution should be incorporated into a classroom. Instead, it provides educators with a primary source and allows them to determine how best to use it with their students.

Lawmakers often talk about how we can better prepare Kentucky students for careers and life after graduation. These are important goals, but we cannot forget that it is equally important to prepare students to be informed and active citizens.

Kentuckians need to know how government works. They should understand that our government has three branches—legislative, judicial, and executive—and that each branch has its own set of responsibilities as well as the duty to hold the remaining two accountable. They should also know about the U.S. and Kentucky constitutions and understand the rights protected by the Bill of Rights. They should know the documents that serve as the foundation for our way of life.

The 917 Society provides a resource. It puts the Constitution in students’ hands, let’s them read it, ask questions, and learn directly from the source.

If you are a teacher or school administrator, or you are just interested in learning more about The 917 Society, please visit 917society.org.

As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at [email protected] and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.

08/11/2026

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Mitch Whitaker

Week in Review: Education, budget, natural resources
The first week of August provided an opportunity for several committees to meet, including a statutory committee, interim joint committees (IJC), and the legislature’s budget review (BR) committees. These panels heard testimony on a variety of issues, but more importantly asked questions and gathered information that will be used to shape legislation for next session.

Committee topics included:

Education Assessment and Accountability Review Subcommittee: Members discussed updates from the Education Professional Standards Board and reviewed district data profiles for the 2025 school year. The discussion included educator preparation and certification, legal and policy updates affecting the education profession, and an overview of district-level data compiled by the Office of Education Accountability. Members also examined school financial information and performance metrics to better understand trends across Kentucky's school districts and support future policy decisions.

IJC on Education: Members heard from a variety of stakeholders in primary and secondary education. The committee heard from Kentucky First Robotics, a program designed to help prepare students with career-ready technical, team-work, and problem-solving skills. Next, Warren County Public Schools presented on the benefits of kindergarten transition and allowing students additional time to develop socially, grow emotionally, and prepare academically. The district also testified about their efforts to increase postsecondary readiness through the Impact Center for Leadership and Innovation. Finally, the committee heard from the Kentucky Department of Education on Kentucky’s reading and math improvements and overall test scores.

IJC on Transportation: Members discussed the growing use of personal delivery devices, such as small autonomous robots that transport goods over short distances, and received a closeout report on the state's Road Fund for fiscal year 2026. They also reviewed implementation of House Bill 571, including new restrictions on highway lighting near agricultural land, received an update on progress of the Interstate 65 improvement project, and considered an administrative regulation related to peer-to-peer vehicle-sharing services.

BR on Justice and Judiciary: Legislators heard from the Department of Corrections regarding its inmate food service contract and offender work programs. Officials said they have contracted for food services since 2005, with Aramark serving as the awarded vendor. The contract provides meals at a cost of $4.39 a day per inmate for approximately 12,000 inmates in state correctional institutions. Offenders also participate in 13 prison industries and farm operations at three correctional institutions, employing up to 40 inmates and generating approximately $550,000 in annual profits, although the department does not currently operate any food production facilities.

BR on General Government, Finance, Personnel, and Public Retirement: Members heard an update on veterans nursing homes operated by the state. Committee staff presented data on capacity, the cost of care and facility management, the process for veterans accessing care, and recommendations for improvements made to the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs. Facility capacity was a key issue discussed. Transitioning rooms at the centers from double occupancy to single occupancy is one reason for the decrease in capacity, but improves the quality of life for residents. Statewide capacity will increase with the opening of the Bowling Green Veterans Center and the completion of the new HVAC installation at the Radcliff Veterans Center.

BR on Transportation: Members received updates on planned highway construction projects scheduled to be awarded during fiscal year 2027, along with expected construction spending over the current two-year budget cycle. They also reviewed the status of federal transportation grants, including funding opportunities and ongoing projects, and received the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's annual year-end report on the Road Fund and the state's transportation finances.

IJC on Appropriations and Revenue: Legislators heard from Kentucky State University on its continued progress toward becoming Kentucky's polytechnic institution following the passage of SB 185 during the 2026 Regular Session. University officials highlighted the comprehensive academic program review now underway. Members also discussed the fiscal year 2026 budget closeout with the Office of the State Budget Director. General Fund revenues exceeded the enacted estimate by $476.6 million, representing a 1.7% increase, driven by strong growth in income tax, sales and use tax, major business taxes, lottery receipts, and coal severance revenues.

IJC on Judiciary: Members received an update on the Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel, including its efforts to examine child fatalities and near fatalities to identify trends, improve coordination among agencies, and strengthen child safety. They also heard a presentation on a law enforcement tool designed to help officers safely control and de-escalate dangerous situations without using deadly force. Finally, members discussed the use of a real-time crime index to provide more timely crime data, improve public safety analysis, and support informed policymaking.

IJC on Natural Resources and Energy: Lawmakers reviewed the recent purchase of land by The Nature Conservancy in Bell and Whitley counties. The recent purchase of land is part of continued conservation efforts in the Appalachian region. The land known as the Thacker Tract connects other protected areas, Mountain River Farms and Cumberland Forest, to expand conservation work between them. Members also heard a quarterly report from the Public Service Commission on fulfilment of requests for utility pole attachments for broadband access across the state.

As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at [email protected] and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.

07/28/2026

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Mitch Whitaker

Understanding the annual child fatality and near fatality report
During their July meeting, members of the Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children reviewed the most recent annual report compiled by the Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel. This panel was established in 2013 by the General Assembly to provide the Commonwealth with robust information related to cases of death or near death of a child that are suspected to be the result of abuse or neglect. Since 2021, the panel has provided annual reports and updates to the Legislative Oversight and Investigations Committee, and has presented to the Interim Joint Committee on Families and Children since its inception in 2022.

The 2025 annual report, reflects a review of child welfare cases from the 2024 fiscal year. The first key finding of the panel was that children four years old or younger are at the highest risk of abuse or neglect, totaling 82% of the cases. Children under the age of one comprised 44% of the panel’s cases alone.

Ingestion of illicit or harmful substances: The panel found that cases of overdose or ingestion continue to rise, year over year. In FY 23 there were 76 such cases, but in FY 24 this number had risen to 98. These children were commonly ingesting substances such as cannabinoids (28%), fentanyl (19%), methamphetamines (16%), and amphetamines (10%). Of the ninety-eight children, eleven lost their lives due to overdose and ingestion of dangerous or illicit substances.

During the 2026 Regular Session, the General Assembly passed House Bill 778 into law, which strengthened the commonwealth’s approach to inhalation and ingestion cases. This law added ingestion and inhalation to the criminal abuse or neglect statutes, classifying these events as Class A misdemeanors. Additionally, the legislation directs state employees across several cabinets to receive training and education services on pediatric ingestion and inhalation of controlled substances. These changes should help our commonwealth curb the rise of child overdose and ingestion.

Plan of Safe Care: Plans of Safe Care are designed to protect infants from prenatal exposure to harmful drugs and substances. In fiscal year 2024, there was a decrease of substance exposed infants, but an increase in infants with Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome. Overall, 741 cases were reported through the Kentucky Public Health Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome, which is a decrease from the previous year’s total of 792. There has been a 30% increase in prenatal cannabinoid exposure. Roughly, 76% of all in utero drug exposure involved cannabinoids, followed by methamphetamines and amphetamines (43%) and Buprenorphine and Methadone (35%).

Physical abuse: The Commonwealth saw an increase in physical abuse cases from 42 in fiscal year 2023 to 55. Both years involved 13 fatalities, but in FY 24 there were 42 near fatality cases. The panel found that the families involved often had preexisting Department of Community Based Services (DCBS) issues (49), financial issues (45), or many others including substance abuses in the home (37).

The panel recommends that child welfare staff and medical providers receive additional training on the indicators of physical abuse to better identify cases before they escalate to fatality or near fatality. Additionally, they recommend that DCBS implement a monitoring system to track case work compliance with standard operating practices.

The 2025 Child Fatality and Near Fatality External Review Panel report can be found with the committee’s meeting materials at https://apps.legislature.ky.gov/CommitteeDocuments/369/.

These reports help the General Assembly create legislation to better serve Kentucky families and protect our kids. While the contents of the reports are often tragic and heartbreaking, they are an important reminder that there is much more work to be done in our communities from legislative approaches to the way programs are implemented at a local, district, and regional level.

As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at [email protected] and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.

07/10/2026

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Mitch Whitaker

A glance at Kentucky’s billion-dollar tourism industry
Kentucky's tourism industry continues to be one of the Commonwealth's strongest economic success stories. Throughout the 2020s, tourism has experienced remarkable momentum, with 2025 marking the state's fourth consecutive year of record-breaking growth. The industry not only showcases Kentucky's natural beauty, history, culture, and hospitality to millions of visitors each year, but it also serves as a powerful economic engine that supports communities in every corner of the Commonwealth.

Behind these record-setting numbers are the hardworking men and women employed throughout Kentucky's tourism and hospitality industry. From hotel staff, restaurant employees, tour guides, and park rangers to distillery workers, retail merchants, event organizers, outfitters, and countless small business owners, these Kentuckians create the welcoming experiences that keep visitors coming back year after year. Their dedication helps strengthen local economies while preserving the unique character of Kentucky's communities.

Tourism is especially important for many small businesses, which rely on visitor spending to grow and create jobs. Family-owned restaurants, locally owned shops, bed-and-breakfasts, outdoor recreation businesses, artisan markets, entertainment venues, and family attractions all benefit when travelers choose Kentucky as their destination. In many rural communities, tourism provides opportunities for economic development that might not otherwise exist.

A comprehensive analysis of visitor spending measures tourism's impact on businesses, employment, personal income, and state and local tax revenues. The findings underscore just how significant the industry has become.

In 2025, approximately 81.1 million visitors traveled to Kentucky, spending $10.4 billion throughout the Commonwealth. That spending generated a total economic impact of $14.6 billion, benefiting businesses and communities across the state.

Visitor spending was concentrated in several major sectors:
• Food and Beverage ($2.7 billion): Dining remained the largest category, accounting for 26 percent of all visitor spending.
• Lodging ($2.4 billion): Hotels, cabins, campgrounds, and vacation rentals represented 23 percent of visitor expenditures.
• Transportation ($2 billion) and Retail ($1.9 billion): Visitors invested heavily in transportation while traveling across Kentucky and purchased locally made products, crafts, and souvenirs unique to the Commonwealth.
• Recreation and Entertainment ($1.4 billion): While the smallest spending category, recreation and entertainment experienced the fastest year-over-year growth, increasing by 5.6 percent.

Although international visitation declined by 13.9 percent in 2025, Kentucky's growing popularity among domestic travelers more than offset that decrease. The Commonwealth welcomed 81.1 million domestic visitors, an increase of 1.1 million over the previous year.

Much of this growth reflects travelers' increasing desire for authentic experiences. Kentucky offers an unmatched combination of outdoor adventure, rich history, culture, and hospitality. Visitors come to explore Mammoth Cave National Park, hike the trails of Red River Gorge, experience the state's world-renowned bourbon industry, attend horse racing and equestrian events, enjoy festivals and live music, visit historic downtowns, discover museums and cultural attractions, fish and boat on Kentucky's lakes and rivers, and explore the Commonwealth's award-winning state parks.

The economic impact of tourism can be viewed in three ways:
• Direct impacts: Visitor purchases of goods and services, such as lodging, dining, retail, and attractions.
• Indirect impacts: Businesses serving visitors purchase goods and services from suppliers, creating economic activity throughout the supply chain.
• Induced impacts: Employees supported by tourism spend their wages within their communities, generating additional economic activity across the local economy.

The benefits of a thriving tourism industry extend well beyond the visitors themselves. In 2025, tourism supported 96,993 jobs across Kentucky, providing employment opportunities in communities large and small.

Visitor spending also generated approximately $1.1 billion in state and local tax revenue. Without that revenue, every Kentucky household would need to contribute an additional $581 annually to maintain current levels of public services and local government operations.

Kentucky's tourism industry demonstrates that investing in the Commonwealth's people, places, and unique experiences benefits everyone. As visitor interest continues to grow, tourism will remain an important driver of job creation, small business success, economic development, and quality of life for communities across Kentucky.

As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at [email protected] and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.

07/04/2026

Happy Fourth of July! I am proud to be an American, today and every day. I hope you all have a safe and relaxing holiday weekend.

06/29/2026

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Mitch Whitaker

America 250: A Time for Unity and Pride
This upcoming July 4th is especially meaningful as our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary. For two and a half centuries, the United States of America has stood as a symbol of freedom, opportunity, and self-government. Across the country, families and friends will host barbecues in their backyards, cities will hold fireworks shows and parades, and our flag will fly high proudly from homes, businesses, and public institutions.

However, while many Americans will be celebrating, an alarming amount of our fellow citizens will not be. They have grown discouraged by political division, economic uncertainty, and the constant negativity that dominates the news and social media. While these divisions and concerns are real, Independence Day provides us with an opportunity to reflect not only on our challenges, but also on the strengths that have carried our nation through every trial in its history.

Yet throughout our history, Americans have repeatedly demonstrated that our greatest strength lies not in our agreement on every issue, but rather our ability to work together despite our differences. The story of America has never been one with perfect unity. From our nation’s founding to the present day, Americans have debated, disagreed, and struggled with difficult issues. But what makes our country exceptional is not the absence of disagreement, but rather the willingness to engage with one another, find common ground, and move forward together.

Every freedom we have today was secured and preserved by citizens who came from different backgrounds, held different beliefs, and lived different experiences. Individuals who understood that while they may not always agree, they shared a common commitment to the principles of liberty, justice, and opportunity. These principles remain just as important today as they were 250 years ago. As we reflect on our nation’s history, remember that our future will not be determined solely by elected officials; it will be shaped by men and women who contribute to their communities, participate in their civic duties, and treat one another with dignity and respect.

Reflecting upon this Independence Day, I urge every one of you to look beyond the surface level differences. Take some time to get to know your fellow Americans. Listen to perspectives that differ from your own. Seek understanding before judgment. Rediscover the spirit of unity, mutual respect, and civic responsibility that has carried our nation through its greatest challenges. Genuine conversations and mutual respect are now more important than ever. By doing this, we can all begin to turn a new tide in our country – one marked by greater understanding, stronger communities, and a renewed sense of pride.

Most importantly, remember to love thy neighbor, regardless of your differences. Every American has a unique story, and every individual deserves to be treated with kindness and respect. We may come from different walks of life, but we are all Americans at the end of the day, and that is a beautiful thing.

As we celebrate 250 years of American independence, let us honor our nation’s past achievements, embrace our shared future, and celebrate one another. May this historic milestone serve as a reminder of the values and ideals that unite us. And may it inspire us to build a stronger, more united country for generations to come.

God bless the United States of America and God bless every American! I wish you and your family a fun, safe, and meaningful Independence Day. Remember to have pride in our great nation, cherish the freedoms we have been blessed with, and exercise the rights and responsibilities that come with being a citizen of this remarkable country.

As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via e-mail at [email protected] and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.

06/22/2026

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Mitch Whitaker

Transforming rural healthcare and unlocking opportunity
From the mountains of eastern Kentucky to the farmlands of western Kentucky, our rural communities are at the heart of what makes Kentucky special, representing our state’s natural beauty, signature industries, and long-held traditions. With 42% of Kentuckians living in rural communities, ensuring access to essential services, including high-quality healthcare, remains a focus of our legislative work and committee discussions, because strengthening our rural healthcare system is critical to expanding opportunity in rural Kentucky.

This month, the Interim Joint Committee on Health Services received an update from the Cabinet for Health and Family Services (CHFS) on Kentucky’s Rural Health Transformation Plan. This plan serves as Kentucky’s roadmap for participation in the Rural Health Transformation Program, a federally funded $50 billion initiative to strengthen and stabilize rural healthcare systems across the country. Ten billion dollars in funding is available annually over five fiscal years.

To receive funding, states were required to submit an application detailing a proposed plan in November 2025, with award decisions announced in late December. Kentucky received nearly $213 million in funding for 2026, the 11th-highest amount awarded in the nation.

Kentucky’s Rural Health Transformation Plan addresses some of the biggest challenges facing the state’s rural healthcare system, including chronic disease, maternal health, behavioral health, oral health, and emergency response.

To address these challenges, the plan includes five initiatives:

Rural Community Hubs for Chronic Care Innovation: The Rural Community Hubs (RCH) initiative aims to bring together programs, resources, and technology tools to help local community organizations take a preventive approach to chronic disease throughout a patient’s care. Obesity and diabetes are the initial focus.

PoWERing Maternal and Infant Health: The People who Work for Engagement and Resilience (PoWER) initiative supports pregnant women in Kentucky’s maternity deserts from pregnancy confirmation through one year postpartum. It aims to enhance access to perinatal and infant care through local teams of community health workers, doulas, and peer support specialists.

Rapid Response to Recovery (EmPATH Model): The Rapid Response to Recovery (RRR) initiative builds on Kentucky’s mobile crisis intervention services and the Emergency Psychiatric Assessment, Treatment, and Healing (EmPATH) model, which provides individuals experiencing mental health and substance use crises care in therapeutic settings. RRR aims to address high rates of untreated mental illness and substance use disorder by expanding local behavioral health crisis support and using technology to connect individuals with providers and services.

Rooted in Health: Rural Dental Access: The Rooted in Health (RIH) initiative seeks to improve dental care in rural Kentucky by increasing dental externship opportunities and training programs with rural providers, providing teledentistry support, expanding access to oral hygiene care through portable and mobile dental clinics, and reducing emergency department visits for routine dental pain.

Crisis to Care: Integrated Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Response and Coordination: The Crisis to Care (CTC) initiative seeks to improve emergency medical response by strengthening workforce training, leveraging technology, and creating new protocols so individuals can be treated in place or directed to the appropriate care setting instead of the emergency room. One area of focus is on a special needs tracking and awareness response system (STARS), ensuring these individuals receive appropriate support and care.

As plan implementation begins, CHFS emphasized that tracking performance will be crucial for measuring progress, building a sustainable system, and ensuring long-term success.

While the plan is designed to benefit all rural residents, we also recognize that Medicaid recipients are a significant part of our rural healthcare population.

This past session, we passed House Bill 500, which includes more than $6 billion over the next two fiscal years to fund Medicaid. This includes funding for additional Medicaid waiver slots, Medicaid Benefits Program support, and maintaining services at the existing clinics participating in the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) demonstration program. We also took steps to reform our state’s Medicaid program to better serve our most vulnerable and strengthen program oversight and accountability with the passage of House Bill 2.

In addition, the General Assembly has taken action to support rural hospitals, a critical piece of the rural healthcare system, with the creation of the Kentucky Rural Hospital Loan Program. This program provides low-interest loans to rural hospitals to help maintain or upgrade facilities, maintain or increase current staff, and provide healthcare services not currently available.

As we move forward, we remain committed to strengthening our rural healthcare system. When rural communities have access to high-quality care close to home, our families, communities, workforce, economy, and the health of our state all benefit.

As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at [email protected] and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.

06/21/2026

Wishing a Happy Father's Day to all the incredible fathers and grandfathers in our district.

06/12/2026

LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Representative Mitch Whitaker

From cash crop to community investment
The legacy of to***co in Kentucky runs deep, leaving an indelible mark on our state's history, economy, and culture. For more than two centuries, to***co was a vital part of our agricultural landscape and shaped the lives and livelihoods of many Kentucky families.

Our fertile soil and favorable climate made this an ideal place to cultivate the crop. Burley to***co was abundant in the rolling fields of Central Kentucky, while the fertile farmland of the West produces dark-fired and dark air-cured to***co. The cash crop still plays a role in our agricultural economy today, as well as helping shape the future as we invest to***co settlement funds. The to***co settlement resolved lawsuits filed by states against to***co companies to recover the costs associated with treating smoking-related illnesses and to curb to***co use.

This November marks the 28th anniversary of the day that representatives of 46 states signed a comprehensive agreement with several of the nation’s biggest to***co companies. Even today the agreement is the largest civil settlement in American history, forcing a minimum payout of roughly $206 billion over 25 years. And, while the suit stipulates a 25-year minimum, payments will continue as long as ci******es are sold by the companies engaged in the settlement. States received their first payment in April of 2000, and Kentucky received the 2026 payment of $94.4 million earlier this year. Since 1998, the Commonwealth has received almost $3 billion.

The legislature determines how the money will be invested. Half of the total funds are allocated to grants for agriculture programs with an eye towards filling the gap left by a cash crop that once accounted for a major portion of agricultural receipts; 25% for early childhood development programs; and 25% for public health care initiatives, such as cancer screenings, and research revolved around smoking cessation and prevention.

In addition to allocating the funds, the legislature monitors spending and specifically reviews agricultural grant applications made through the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy. Our To***co Settlement Agreement Fund Oversight Committee met on June 11 to receive an update on how master settlement agreement (MSA) funds are being spent at the state and county level, and I thought I might use this week’s column to share a bit about the agricultural programs that help get settlement funds into communities to strengthen agriculture.

Most of Kentucky’s MSA agriculture programs are managed by the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy. There are currently five different county-level funding programs administered by the KOAP, they are:

County Agricultural Investment Programs (CAIPs): CAIP provides Kentucky agricultural producers with cost-share assistance that allows them to improve and diversify their current farm operation. It also covers a wide variety of agricultural enterprises in its 11 investment areas, including, but not limited to: bees and honey; equine; forage; beef and dairy cattle; goats and sheep; horticulture; poultry; swine; timber and technology; efficiency and production; farm infrastructure and water enhancement; marketing; and value added production.

Deceased Farm Animal Removal Programs (DARs): DARS serves as a means to facilitate the coordination of environmentally sound and cost effective disposal of deceased livestock for Kentucky farmers.

Next Generation Farmer Programs (NextGen): NextGen addresses the ever present need for specialized programming that benefits agrarian producers between the ages of 18 and 40 who have been engaged in an agricultural operation for at least three years.

Shared Use Equipment Program, which assists communities with the purchase of farm equipment. The equipment purchased by the authority in which the funds were issued, become available for use by producers in their respective counties. These programs are accessible through local government to assist farmers who may need an implement but do not have the need to purchase one. This is an incredibly popular and successful use of MSA funds and earlier this year the legislature voted to expand it to include heavy equipment.

Youth Agricultural Incentives Programs (YAIPs), which are in place to encourage youth to engage in agricultural activity and opportunity through different local facets such as FFA or co-ops with farms across the region.

As always, I can be reached anytime through the toll-free message line in Frankfort at 1-800-372-7181. You can also contact me via email at [email protected] and keep track through the Kentucky legislature’s website at legislature.ky.gov.

Mitch Whitaker, 94th District State Representative

09/07/2026

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08/11/2026

07/28/2026

07/10/2026

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