Bowling Green, Ky. – Hundreds of agriculture and horticulture professionals gathered in Bowling Green for the annual Kentucky Horticulture Conference, featuring Commonwealth and U.S. speakers from university horticulture departments, representatives from Kentucky State Parks and Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner, Ryan Quarles.
Quarles is completing his second term as commissioner.
“I want to be remembered as an effective administration in the midst of many disasters. We did something about Kentucky’s food insecurity and we grew Kentucky’s agricultural economy,” Quarles said.
Quarles said what he wants to accomplish when his term ends. “I want to run the department efficiently and to the best of my ability. Number two is to make the department better for whoever the new commissioner is.”
One of his administration’s biggest initiatives over the past 7 years — serving Kentucky Proud food in schools — was also the focus of the speech. Kentucky’s farm-to-school program is funded with $3.2 million. “If you expose, or introduce, young Kentucky to locally grown, nutritious and good-tasting, you create a consumer,” Quarles said.
On May 16, voters across the commonwealth will see his name on the Republican ballot as they run for governor. He is running against Democratic incumbent Gov. Andy Beshear in the crowded Republican primary.
With the midterm elections just weeks away, the political focus in Kentucky is turning to the 2023 gubernatorial race, and Quarles is making his case directly to voters for the Republican nomination.