KENTUCKY

A  few Kentucky nicknames are The Bluegrass State, The Hemp State, The Corn-Cracker State and the Tobacco State.

FARMS & FARMERS
Kentucky: approximate land area of 25,275,577 acres.
Farmland is 13,993,121 acres or 55.4% of total land. 
Organic agriculture accounts for about 5,306 acres. 
Number of Farms: 85,260 
Principle Farm Operators: Men: 76,150   Women: 9,110
(2013 - USDA Economic Research Service: www.ers.usda.gov ) 
[2007-2008 latest available data]
 

POPULATION & HUNGER
Kentucky has a total population of: 4,369,356 
Urban population: 2,548,785   Rural population: 1,820,571  Food insecure households*: 16.4% 
Households with very low food security*: 6.6%

*Food insecurity - Limited or uncertain availability of nutritionally adequate and safe foods or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways.
Very low food security - At times during the year, eating patterns of one or more household members were disrupted and food intake reduced because the household lacked money and other resources for food.
(2013 - USDA Economic Research Service: www.ers.usda.gov )
(Population & Food Security data: 2011)
 

The official Agricultural Insect of Kentucky is the honey bee (Apis mellifera), designated in 2010.

In 2005 Milk was designated as Kentucky official state drink.

Kentucky's official state Fruit is the Blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis), designated in 2004.

The official Wild Animal Game Species of Kentucky is the Gray Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis), designated in 1968.

Kentucky's official state Fish is the Kentucky Spotted Bass (Micropterus punctulatus), designated in 1956.

It is claimed that cheeseburgers were first served in 1934 at Kaelin's restaurant in Louisville, Kentucky.

Bibb lettuce was first cultivated in Kentucky by Jack Bibb in the late 19th century It is also called limestone lettuce, from the limestone in the Kentucky soil where it was first grown.

Bourbon whiskey is named for Bourbon County, Kentucky, where is was first made in the late 18th century.

Henry Clay imported the first purebred Herefords to America in 1817.

The official Bourbon Festival of Kentucky is The Kentucky Bourbon Festival in Bardstown, Kentucky (designated in 2000).

In 2006 the Clarkson Honeyfest was designated as Kentucky's Official State Honey Festival.

The Trigg County Country Ham Festival
     Trigg County, Kentucky, has been holding the festival every year since 1977. Each October, tens of thousands of people from all over the country come to sample the county's famous country cured hams.
     The world's largest country ham and biscuit is made here each year as part of the festivities, and many contests are held, including the pig derby, a greased-pig catching contest, and a kiss a pig contest. Just hope it doesn't kiss back!
Library of Congress Local Legacies Project

The Tater Day Festival, which is one of the few festivals devoted to sweet potatoes, is held in Benton, Kentucky. The three-day Tater Day Festival had its beginnings in 1843. Farmers from the countryside would bring their products to the town square to sell or trade on county court days. One of the things they would bring is sweet potatoes, which grow well in the Southern climate. 'Tater' is a nickname for potato.
     In Benton, this eventually turned into an annual festival honoring the sweet potato, complete with a parade, carnival, and baking and canning competitions, beginning on the first Monday in April.

Library of Congress Local Legacies Project
 

 

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