Fifth-generation farmer Eddie Melton from Sebree leads Kentucky Farm Bureau as its newly elected president. After serving as vice president for 15 years, Melton took on the role in December 2023.
He’s brought Patrick Howard on to help him manage a grain and livestock farm while he travels to represent Kentucky farmers at state and national levels.
One of Melton’s top priorities is addressing the growing concern of farmland loss across the state. To tackle this pressing issue, the Kentucky Farm Bureau has launched the Kentucky Farmland Transition Initiative.
“We’re losing farmland at an alarming rate,” Melton said. “In the five years between 2017 and 2022, Kentucky lost 6,500 farmers and over 500,000 acres of farmland. That’s more than 11 acres an hour.”
He said the figures are from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Census of Agriculture and have prompted the Farm Bureau to take action. The initiative aims to raise awareness, provide resources for farmland transition, and explore policy changes that could incentivize keeping farmland in agricultural use.
Melton said the initiative has three primary goals: educating the public about the rapid loss of farmland, connecting farmers with resources for transitioning land and advocating for policies that help farmers maintain ownership and pass land on to the next generation.
“We want people to know that resources exist, whether they’re transitioning land within their family or selling it outside the family,” Melton said. “Farm Bureau has experts in estate planning, and there are attorneys, CPAs, and specialists who can help guide farmers through the process.”
He said the initiative has gained widespread support, with 26 organizations, universities, and commodity groups joining the effort. The hope is that the initiative will slow the rate of farmland loss and ensure that more land stays in the hands of active farmers.
Melton recognizes that various factors contribute to farmland loss, from urban sprawl to industrial development and solar projects. However, he emphasizes balancing growth with the need to preserve agricultural land.
“Growth is great, but we need to make sure we’re also protecting the farmland that feeds and fuels us,” Melton said. “We don’t want to wake up one day and realize we’ve lost the ability to produce food and other essential products.”
Melton’s passion for agriculture advocacy dates back to his college days. He first got involved with the Farm Bureau after attending a Young Farmer Conference in Louisville in 1980. Over the years, his involvement deepened, and he eventually served on various committees and boards before being elected president.
“I’ve always believed in being part of the solution,” Melton said. “Farm Bureau is about advocating for agriculture, and I’m proud to be a part of an organization that’s doing the right thing for Kentucky farmers.”
With the Kentucky Farm Bureau under his leadership, Melton is determined to protect the state’s agricultural future while playing an active role in his family farm.
