Join us in investing in the future of Kentucky’s youth, agriculture, tourism, and economy.
Kentucky
Exposition Foundation
The Kentucky Exposition Foundation, Inc. is a public, not-for-profit, 501 (c)(3) organization created to further the development of youth and stimulate the growth of the agriculture and tourism industries in the state of Kentucky through events at the Kentucky State Fairgrounds. The Foundation will support and enrich the lives of all citizens of the Commonwealth.
Supporting the Next Generation of Leaders
The Kentucky Exposition Foundation is proud to support Future Farmers of America (FFA) in growing the next generation of agriculture leaders who will change the world and the National 4-H Council as they work to give all young people access to opportunity.
We are also working with our partners from around the state to increase inclusivity and diversity in agriculture in Kentucky, such as supporting the Sunshine Class at the Bluegrass Fair and the Kentucky State Fair. The class is designed for those under the age of 22 with special needs, to give all youth participants the opportunity to experience showing livestock up close.
Agriculture is a Vital Industry in Kentucky
Results from the 2017 Census of Agriculture show that Kentucky producers raised and sold over $5.7 billion worth of crops and livestock. Kentucky is ranked eighth in the nation in the sale of chickens and 14th in the sale of chickens and eggs. Cattle dot Kentucky’s fields of Bluegrass all across the state. Nearly half of the farms in the state raise beef cows and Kentucky ranks eighth in the nation for the number of beef cows on farms. In 2017, Kentucky’s farmers harvested 4 million tons of hay from over 2 million acres. Kentucky’s 44,000 milk cows produce 105 million gallons of milk a year. Corn and soybeans account for $1.75 billion in sales.
According to a study from the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture Food and Environment, the agriculture industry in Kentucky employs more than 130,000 people and accounts for nearly 7% of the total revenue in Kentucky.
Growing Tourism and Our Economy
The Kentucky Exposition Center features 1.2 million square feet of meeting space and 300 acres of outdoor space. It is the sixth largest facility of its kind in the United States and is home to the Kentucky State Fair, National Farm Machinery Show, and the North American International Livestock Exposition, as well as the top tradeshows in the country. The Kentucky Exposition Center hosted six of the “2012 Top 250 US Trade Shows,” three of which were in the top 50.
The Kentucky Exposition Foundation will help maintain and develop this facility in order to continue to attract the country’s top events to Kentucky. By bringing millions of event attendees to our city, we are in turn supporting Louisville’s booming tourism industry including more than 400 restaurants, the largest number of bourbon distilleries in the world, as well as many other world-class attractions and hotels.
Ways to Help
•
Ways to Help •
