
By Abby Miller
The Benton Partnership hosted the 2024 Farm to Fork dinner at Marshall County High School on Saturday, October 19, 2024. Marshall County High School’s Culinary Class prepared a variety of food for guests. The meal was buffet style and included pork BBQ, chicken, fish, meatloaf, buffalo chili, baked potato, corn on the cob, freezer pickles, squash, zucchini, black-eyed peas, green beans, blackberry cobbler, and peach cobbler. Local farmers donated all the food.
After dinner, people gathered in Shadowen Performing Art Center for the awards and scholarships ceremony. The ceremony began with Benton Partnership’s Elena Blevins opening the event with some wise words, “I am blessed to be a part of such a night of Thanksgiving.” Farm to Fork brings recognition to local farmers for all their hard work. Miss Kentucky 2024, Chapel Tinius played the violin. She compiled some of her favorite songs that she will present at Miss America later this year. To follow, the commissioner of Agriculture, Jonathan Shell, spoke about the importance of locally grown produce. Afterward, the MCHS Media Team presented a video highlighting last year’s Farm to Fork Award winners. The scholarships were presented to the following students. The Media Scholarships were awarded to Macye Scott and Dylan Sumner, seniors at Marshall County High School. Abby Miller was presented with the Christian Fellowship Media Award. The Culinary Arts Scholarship was awarded to Karlye Owens. The FFA & Agriculture Program Scholarship was awarded to Abby Treas.
Awards to local business and farmers were presented after the scholarships. Agribusiness of the Year was presented to Higgins Meats and Eats. Junior Farmer of the Year was presented to Kora Joseph. Young Farmer of the Year was presented to Logan Freeman. Woman in Agriculture of the Year was presented to Brandi Green of Harvest Time. And Farmer of the Year was presented to Lanny Dale Fisk. The Benton Partnership honored Mrs. Ann Riley for her hard work over the past decade. This event would not be possible without her dedication.





