The Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) is a non-profit organization established to facilitate agricultural and rural business development in Kentucky. We provide educational opportunities, technical assistance, and business support services to new and existing agribusinesses.
KCARD has a current job opening for an Administrative Assistant.
To be considered, please send a resume and cover letter to Kellie Padgett via email at kpadgett@kcard.info no later than June 22, 2026. Questions regarding the positions can be submitted to this email address as well.
Learn how agricultural mediation can help Kentucky farmers and agricultural businesses navigate difficult conversations, farm transitions, and other challenges through confidential, neutral, no-cost support available through KCARD’s Kentucky AgriLegacy Solutions Program.
As part of KCARD’s 25th anniversary celebration, we’re highlighting the people behind the work. Maddie Grider shares how her agricultural roots and passion for supporting farmers have shaped her role at KCARD—and why helping Kentucky producers succeed continues to motivate her every day.
Promotion is about more than visibility—it’s about building relationships and connecting with your customers. This post explores practical marketing strategies for farms and food businesses, including engaging social media content, value-added promotions, and simple planning tools like a monthly content calendar. Learn how consistent, authentic storytelling and thoughtful promotions can help grow your audience and strengthen your brand.
We’re celebrating 25 years of serving Kentucky agriculture by highlighting the people behind KCARD! Kati Bowman, Marketing & Business Development Specialist, has been part of KCARD for over eight years and has seen firsthand how the organization has grown to better serve producers and agribusinesses across the state. Learn more about Kati and her experience with KCARD in this post!
Transition planning can feel overwhelming, but starting the conversation is often the hardest step. This guide walks farm families through simple ways to prepare, organize key information, and begin discussing their vision for the future—helping make the process clearer, more productive, and less stressful.
KCARD is partnering with the University of Tennessee Extension’s Center for Profitable Agriculture to provide existing value-added dairy businesses with an in-depth analysis of their operation. This analysis consists of a comprehensive on-site evaluation by experienced and trained business consultants. The application deadline to be considered for the program is February 28th.
Marketing works best when it grows from a strong foundation. In Part 2 of KCARD’s Marketing Basics Series, we walk through common online and direct marketing channels for small farms and food businesses—and how to choose a realistic mix that fits your customers, goals, and day-to-day workload.
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KCARD is now a USDA-certified agricultural mediation center, bringing free, confidential mediation services to Kentucky farm families for the first time. This program helps producers navigate challenges such as agricultural loans, farm transition, and succession planning with the support of a neutral third party. Learn how this new resource strengthens support for Kentucky agriculture.