Members of the local farming community, elected officials, FFA participants from the county’s high schools and the community came together early on Saturday morning for the 46th annual Farm City Breakfast, hosted by the Greater Owensboro Chamber of Commerce and Kentucky Farm Bureau (KYFB) insurance, at Apollo High School.
Cheryl Burks-McCarthy, who served as the event’s emcee, welcomed guests to the annual occasion involving an hour of speeches provided by community leaders and the farming community, the recognition of the Farm City Humanitarian Award and breakfast from Greg Floyd and Highway 54’s Ole South BBQ.
Burks-McCarthy recognized elected officials in attendance, including US Congressman Brett Guthrie, Kentucky Senator Gary Boswell and Kentucky Representatives Suzanne Miles and DJ Johnson, along with local officials, Owensboro Mayor Pro Tem, Bob Glenn, Daviess County Judge-Executive Charlie Castlen, Owensboro City Commissioner, Curtis Maglinger and Daviess County Commissioners, Janie Marksberry and Chris Castlen.
“I just want to say thanks, everybody, for having me here today. I came here a few years ago…but I’ve always enjoyed coming because this event is great for people who don’t farm…I actually work on the end of the food supplying as a kid. I grew up in a grocery store,” said Congressman Guthrie during his address to the crowd.
Guthrie briefly touched on the “One Big Beautiful Bill” during his address and stated that the agriculture committee is “going to start working on the farm bill, the investment extensions on the farm bill”, which will consider foreign policy coming off of this week’s Supreme Court decisions on the Trump tariff plan. He also said that local members of the KYFB will be heading to D.C. during the upcoming week to discuss farm policies.
Dr. Wanda Figueroa-Peralta, president and CEO of River Valley Behavioral Health and Chamber Board member, addressed the audience on behalf of the Chamber, staying that the annual Farm City Breakfast is “one of my favorite gatherings every year because it reflects what this community is about.”
Figueroa-Peralta highlighted the partnership between the Chamber and KYFB, too.
“I also want to recognize the strong and long-standing partnership between the Chamber and Daviess County Farm Bureau. Farm Bureau is such a steady, trusted presence in our rural communities. They advocate for our farmers when it matters the most, and they support youth leadership through scholarships and ag education. I believe that they help to tell the story of agriculture to those who may not grow up on a farm, but benefit from it every single day,” she said.
She also recognized the importance of agriculture on the local community.
“I’ve learned since I was a child that agriculture is more than an industry—it’s a way of life. It shapes our values, hardwork, stewardships and optimism,” Figueroa-Peralta said. “There is this quote that I love. It says that the farmer has to be an optimist or he wouldn’t still be a farmer. It’s not possible to be a farmer without being an optimist…Our farmers rise before the sun, navigate unpredictable seasons and markets and invest not only in crops and livestock, but in the families, their neighbors and the future of life. They adapt. They endure. They give. And they keep going, and we can learn from that and do the same.”
Brandon Gilles spoke representing Farm Bureau, highlighting the partnership between the organization and the Chamber and mentioning scholarships for high school and college aged students that are available through KYFB. Gilles also welcomed Dave Kirk, the Chamber’s incoming president and CEO following the retirement of Candance Castlen-Brake at the end of 2025.
“We all know that farming has its challenges…but we also know that agriculture and business can work strongly together. Whenever we do, we build resilience. We create opportunity,” Gilles concluded, emphasizing the partnership between Farm Bureau and the Chamber.
The Farm City Breakfast’s keynote speaker, introduced by Daviess County farmer Suzanne Cecil White, was Willis Jepson, an eighth-generation Kentucky and Tennessee farmer. His family’s farm began in 1806.
“I’m just a farmer—it’s not that big of a deal,” Jepson said. “We all have a passion. We have to decided what our passion is going to be, and only a very few of us get to live our passion every day, and it’s refreshing for me to be here with y’all today and see this crowd here supporting the county’s agriculture…it’s very refreshing.”
Jepson continued to speak about the current climate surrounding farming, encouraging farmers to keep going and “come together as a community.”
Farm Bureau recognized the county’s top producers for corn, Zoglmann Bros LLC, soy beans and wheat, both topped by Tanner Stroup.
The 17th annual Farm City Humanitarian Award was presented to Tish Correa-Osborne to conclude the event.
“The Humanitarian Award recognizes someone who provides service in its truest form while making a lasting difference in the lives of others,” said Burks-McCarthy.
“There isn’t anybody in here that hasn’t been doing just amazing things to take care of others to make sure that we’re all rising, that we can all still be here. I have been so blessed my entire life that my life work life is not just work, but it’s been my passion. To be able to be a farmer in a little way by planting seeds of future joy, future leadership, future inspiration in little girls’ lives—little girls that sometimes don’t matter or don’t seem to matter to others. And they’re blowing me away with everything that they are becoming or are capable of becoming and what they are doing with their lives, despite the obstacles that they face,” said Correa-Osborne, speaking as she accepted the Humanitarian Award, describing her work as the Chief Executive Officer of Owensboro’s Girls, Inc.
By Michele Lohman Messenger-Inquirer