Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy
Check Presented to Jackson’s Orchard & Nursery

Frankfort, KY. (October 13, 2006)- Keith Rogers, Executive Director of the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy, and the Kentucky Agriculture Development Board presented a ceremonial check to Jackson’s Orchard and Nursery in the amount of $50,000 in support the Agri-tourism Competitive Awards Program. 

“Jackson’s Orchard and Nursery is a prime example of how agriculture diversification is helping Kentucky move forward by enabling producers to make changes to their farming operation by adjusting to a new agricultural economy, including agri-tourism, Keith Rogers said. The investment of Kentucky Agricultural Development Funds in this project will also give producers an outlet to market their Kentucky Proud products.”

Jackson’s Orchard & Nursery, Inc. was approved for $50,000 in state funds as a forgivable loan to modernize and expand kitchen facilities and construct a pavilion activity area at the existing facility. Jackson's Orchard & Nursery, Inc., is an established Bowling Green agri-tourism business that serves as a marketing outlet for Kentucky products.  Jackson's Orchard also offers farm tours, a corn maze, straw castle, hayrides, a petting zoo, pony rides, live music and pick your own apples.

The Kentucky Legislature continues to make great strides towards lessening Kentucky’s dependence on tobacco production while revitalizing the farm economy by investing 50% of Kentucky's Master Settlement Agreement into the Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund.  Since the inception of the program in January 2001, the Agricultural Development Board has approved over 2,656 proposals committing over $222 million to an array of county, regional, and state projects designed to increase net farm income and create sustainable new farm-based business enterprises. 

For more information on this project contact Bill Jackson with Jackson’s Orchard & Nursery at 270-781-5303. To learn more about cost-share grant and loan programs available though the Agricultural Development Fund contact the Governor’s Office of Agricultural Policy at (502) 564-4627.