By Blake Jackson
Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Ryan Quarles is reflecting on his eight years in office, which included initiatives to combat hunger and connect Kentucky farmers to new markets.
“I’ve enjoyed every single day helping get local food into over 1000 public schools across Kentucky,” Quarles said. “I actually added this up, I’ve spent over three months of my life living at the Kentucky State Fair as Ag Commissioner. That’s a lot of pork chops and brisket sandwiches.”
Quarles said he will also miss the international trade aspect of his job. He has one more trade mission before he leaves office.
“But at the end of the day, it’s about helping every single Kentucky and whether they grew up on a farm or not,” Quarles said. “If you’d like to eat, you’re part of the agricultural economy. And so for me, it’s about making sure that we have rural prosperity, that we make sure that we educate Kentuckians about where their food comes from. Only 2% of the population feeds the rest of the nation. But at the end of the day, I look back and think that we did a job well done.”
Quarles said he ran a scandal-free, transparent administration the past eight years and is leaving the Department of Agriculture in great shape for the next Commissioner.
Photo Credit: kentucky-agricultural-board
Categories: Kentucky, Government & Policy