Category: Bluegrass Forever Green

3rd Annual Bluegrass Tomorrow Golf Scramble

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
 
3rd Annual
Bluegrass Tomorrow Golf Scramble
Thursday, July 14, 2022
 
Gibson Bay Golf Course
Richmond, Kentucky
Presented By: 
Lunch & Practice Range – 12:00 pm
Scramble Format with
Shotgun Start – 1:00 p.m.
Awards Reception Following Play

$125 per player | $450 per foursome
4 Beverage (alcohol & non alcohol) Tickets Per Player Included
*$5 Mulligans limit 2 per person
Benefits Bluegrass Higher Education Consortium & Bluegrass Forever Green Projects & Programs 
In keeping with our regional nature, this year we are moving the BGT golf scramble to the challenging and beautiful Gibson Bay Golf Course in Richmond. We hope you will  join us with your team!
All levels of players are invited and we encourage all 18 counties in Bluegrass Tomorrow’s footprint to be represented by a team in the tournament. Our goal this year is a full field of 18 teams of four, or 72 players.
Register Now!
Sponsorship Opportunities 
Associated Benefits
· Presenting Sponsor (1) $3,000. Includes your logo on all social media, e-blasts, registration forms, as the presenting sponsor of the tournament. Your logo will also be on the special gift for each player TBA. Only the presenting sponsor will be on registration form.
· Champion Sponsors (2), Co-Presenting Sponsors-$1,500 each. Same as presenting sponsor, but two logos on everything instead of one. If two organizations / companies choose to be Co-Presenting Sponsors both logos will be added to the registration form.
· Beverage Cart Sponsor (1):$1,000.Signage on Beverage Cart(s) that will be serving to all 72 players on the course, and your logo will also be included on all pre and post scramble promotional materials.
· Hole-GPS Sponsors: (18 available) $300 each: Sponsor “golf ball” sign at the hole of your choice and logo on GPS yardage systems in each golf cart. · You can also participate by providing prizes for the players! These prizes can include golf items, rounds of golf at other courses, dinner gift certificates, attraction gift certificates, etc.
We will also be accepting items for Swag Bags (water, tees, golf balls, snacks, granola bars, sun screen, hand sanitizer, etc.) If you provide items for the swag bags (quantities of 100 please) or prizes for the contests your brochure or card can be added to the swag bag.
Don’t miss it! It’s going to be a great time, and a great fundraiser for Bluegrass Tomorrow.
Register Now!

Bluegrass Forever Green Summer Conference 2022

Bluegrass Forever Green Summer Conference 2022

Presented by:

Focusing on Bluegrass Tomorrow's Vision for a Sustainable Future in the Region with the preservation of our most precious land as the centerpiece.
Transylvania University Campus Center
Lexington, Kentucky
Wednesday, June 29, 2022
Cost $50, includes full day conference & lunch.
Registration Deadline: June 24th.
Join leaders from local government, business, and education to learn valuable skills helpful to increase use of local foods, make informed decisions on land use, employ cleaner energy sources, and develop your own sustainability plan for your organization, business, or community.
Luncheon Keynote by Ryan Quarles, Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture.
The Bluegrass Forever Green Summer Conference is intended especially for regional leaders, elected officials, planners, local and state government staff, K-13 and higher education, business, and community organizations. Sessions and activities refer to the four cornerstones of our Bluegrass Forever Green partnership with the region.
  1. Land Use/Agriculture
  2. Smart Growth/Preservation
  3. Environment, Conservation, Sustainability, Natural & Cultural Resources
  4. Recreation/Trails/Healthy Living
Schedule:
Showing Confirmed Panelists, with More to Follow
8:00 a.m.  Registration
8:30 a.m.  Overview and Introductions
                 Welcome & Comments:  Billy Van Pelt,
                 American Farmland Trust
9:00 a.m. Use More Local Foods in your organization, business, school district, university.
  • Robert Eversole, Director of Sustainability, University of Kentucky Dining/Aramark
  • Brian Hutzley, Vice President/Chief Financial Officer Centre College,
  • Marty Flynn, Child Nutrition Consultant
  • Moderator:  Ashton Potter Wright, Director The Food Connection, University of Kentucky.
10:30 a.m. Find the Facts for Land Use Planning & Smart Growth Decisions: This session explores factors that should be considered as communities and organizations implement energy innovations while meeting the overall objectives of local land use planning.
  • Stan Harvey, Principal, Lord Aeck Sargent above the moderator.
  • University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food & Environment TBA
  • Moderator:  Brittany Roethemeier, Executive Director Fayette Alliance.
 
12:00 p.m. Luncheon Keynote Address:   Commissioner Ryan Quarles, Kentucky Department of Agriculture
1:30 p.m.  Use Cleaner Energy: This session explores the choices and decisions you make in your businesses and communities to increase use of cleaner energy innovations and sources for HVAC, light and electricity. 
  • David Crews, Vice President Power Supply, East Kentucky Power Cooperative
  • David Gardner, General Manager, Salyersville Water Works
  • Erich Evans, Director Strategy & Risk, Nisource / Columbia Gas of Kentucky
  • Moderator: Rachel Norton, Energy Specialist, Mountain Association
3:00 p.m. Develop a Sustainability Plan for your Community, Organization or Business: This session provides an overview of why a community, business, college or school district might consider creating a sustainability plan.  Panelists will describe the paths they have taken to adopt and implement their plans. 
  • Shane Tedder, Sustainability Officer, University of Kentucky
  • David DeVore, Sustainability Compliance Engineer, Lexmark International
  • Emily LaDouceur, formerly with City of Berea, and now with Mountain Association Business
  • Moderator: Dr. Blaine Early, Stites & Harbison PLLC
4:15 p.m.  Outside Walk & Talk to West Sixth Brewery for further conversation and networking with participants and panelists.

A Conversation With the Region on Healthy Living

Registration is now open for
A Conversation with the Region on Healthy Living
 
Presented by:

In cooperation with:
Bluegrass Local Food & Beverage Council
               
          
October 29-30, Zoom Webinar
 
Free and Open To the Public
 
REGISTRATION REQUIRED TO RECEIVE LINK
 
 
Also available on Facebook Live.
This motivating and interesting webinar will share
important information and raise awareness of key health and wellness
issues in our region and we’ll have some fun too….
  • Former University of Kentucky Basketball Star Ramel Bradley, and investor in
    the AppHarvest $50 million greenhouse project in eastern Kentucky, with a
    healthy living and eating Q&A.
  • For the Kids and Families: A Get Up and Move session by the YMCA, and a Farm Bureau Cooking with the
    Kids segment, both after school on Thursday.
  • CHI Saint Joseph Health will present four important health presentations on heart health,
    diabetes, cancer, and quality of life during and after the Covid 19 crisis.
  • Sullivan University’s Culinary Program will present October Smoke: Grilling Smoking and Preserving the Very Best of Local Fall Ingredients and Baking Healthy: Alternatives to Traditional
    Baking….
  • Fayette County Farm Bureau will also present programs
    on: Farmer’s Markets, Finding Local Food in the Bluegrass, Local Foods
    are Worth It, and Food Insecurity & Healthy Communities.
  • And, so much more.
Conversation with the Region on Healthy Living
Schedule at a Glance
(Full Schedule & Descriptions of each session to be released soon)
Thursday, October 29
  • 3:30 p.m. Former U.K. Basketball player, Ramel Bradley Welcome & Opening Comments
  • 3:35 p.m. Get Up & Move Exercise Session for Kids & Families, presented by YMCA of Central Kentucky
  • 4:00 p.m. Get Outdoors Session, presented by YMCA of Central Kentucky
  • 4:30 p.m. Farmers Markets in the Bluegrass, presented by Fayette County Farm Bureau
  • 5:00 p.m. Cooking with the Kids, presented by Fayette County Farm Bureau
  • 5:30 p.m. Ramel Bradley Q&A on healthy living & eating, presented by AppHarvest
  • 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. Heart Health & Beyond, Dr. Michael Wayne Schaeffer) and Q&A, presented by CHI Saint Joseph Health
Friday, October 30
  • 9:00 a.m. Exercise Program, presented by YMCA of Central Kentucky
  • 9:30 a.m. Finding Food in the Bluegrass with Dr. Ashton Potter Wright, LFUCG Local Food Coordinator.
  • 10:30 a.m.
    Quality of Life During the COVID-19 Crisis and Beyond, Q&A with
    Dana Stephens, Market Director of Infection Prevention and Control at CHI Saint Joseph Health,, and Gladys Cornn, Director of Infection Prevention and Control at Saint Joseph London and Berea
  • 11:30 a.m. Break – Grab a lunch and get ready for Chef Foster during your lunch break.
  • 11:45 a.m.
    October Smoke-Grilling Smoking and Preserving the Very Best of Local
    Fall Ingredients with Chef John Foster, presented by Sullivan University
  • 12:15 p.m.
    Local Foods are Worth It, Dr. Allison Davis, Executive Director of the
    Community and Economic Development Initiative at U.K. and Jan Knappage,
    Food System Specialist with the U.K. School of Human Environmental
    Science.
  • 12:45 p.m. Tomorrow’s
    Cancer Care Today with Dr. Jacqueline Matar, Dr. Jessica Jones Croley
    & Greg Bodager, R.N., presented by CHI Saint Joseph Health
  • 1:45 p.m. Break
  • 2:00 p.m.
    Baking Healthy: Alternatives to Traditional Baking Ingredients and
    Methods… Glueten Free, Dairy Free, and Reduced Fat Choices that Still
    Satisfy with Chef Melissa Armstrong, presented by Sullivan University
  • 2:30 p.m.
    The Cost of Diabetes in Kentucky Today with Claudia Burnett, Registered
    Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist, and Dr.
    Jason Hamrick, Pharmaceutical Care Specialist, presented by CHI Saint
    Joseph Health
  • 3:15 p.m. Food Insecurity & Healthy Communities, presented by Farm Bureau.
  • 3:45 Adjourn

 

GOLD SPONSORS:


 

Regional Stakeholders Discuss Future of Regional Land Use Partnership

Seventy-seven regional stakeholders, elected officials, planning commissioners and planning directors met at the Regional Land Use Partnership Summit at the U.K. Hilary J. Boone Center on December 5 and the take-away was a myriad of strategies and action items to begin to develop a strategic plan for the partnership focusing on communication and collaboration between cities, counties, agencies and organizations.

A Vision Statement for the Plan was also thoroughly vetted at the summit and will be released early in 2020.

The Regional Land Use Partnership (RLUP) which was organized and is managed by a collaboration through Bluegrass Tomorrow, the Bluegrass Area Development District, the Bluegrass Land Conservancy, Fayette Alliance, Woodford Forward and Farm Bureau, has created great momentum in a the form of a mutually agreed upon resolution, which contains land use principles of agreement, and has been passed by LFUCG, Bourbon County Fiscal Court, the Lexington/Jessamine Metropolitan Planning Organization, the City of Midway, the Scott County Planning Commission, and a myriad of others in the works.

The Strategic Plan will be discussed, vetted and drafted by the RLUP committee in the first quarter of 2020.

Mary Berry founder and CEO of the Berry Center, and daughter of Wendell Berry, was the keynote speaker, and focused on advocating for farmers, land-conserving communities, and healthy regional economies.  A series of TED talks on Advocacy, Food, Growth and Housing featured David Tomes developer of the Norton Commons, Ashton Potter Wright of Bluegrass Farm to Table and Brittany Rothemeier of the Fayette Alliance.

Local, State and National Perspectives on land use planning were provide by Billy Van Pelt of American Farmland Trust, Tom Hutchenson from Atalo Holdings on the hemp industry, and Chris Woodall of LFUCG Division of Planning.

Planning Our Tomorrow- Finding A Balance in Danville/Boyle County

As an outgrowth of the Regional Land Use Partnership, Bluegrass Tomorrow is beginning to offer its expertise to other communities on smart growth principles, and worked with the City of Danville Planning & Zoning and Mayor Mike Perros to facilitate and plan a conference planning for growth, economic development and farmland preservation at Centre College on November 1.

A standing room only crowd of over 100 Boyle County citizens attended this professional conference which focused on providing a unique opportunity to learn more and be part of the process to boldly grow Boyle County in a sustainable, planned manner, discussing strategies to help explore new opportunities for economic development, reimagining downtown Danville, and preserving agriculture.

The event was highlighted by keynote speaker Holly Wiedemann of AU Associates, noted for adaptive reuse projects across Kentucky that have been catalysts for vibrancy in smaller cities and rural communities and opportunities for residential and commercial accelerators.

Dr. Ned Crankshaw of the University of Kentucky Dept. of Landscape Architecture opened the conference with a overview of the principles of smart growth, which was followed by a panel discussion moderated by the American Farmland Trust’s Billy Van Pelt.  Panelists included David Tomes developer of Norton Commons, Clint Quarles from the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and Brian Howard Owensboro Planning Director.

Two Concurrent Session periods included choices on Rural Downtown Revitalization, Housing Options, Transportation and Farmland Considerations, Infill Development in Surburan Areas, County-wide Development: Balancing Small Business and Industry Needs, and Reimagining Downtown Danville.  As Downtown Danville is at the beginning of the process of a new downtown master plan, this session was popular and timely.

Report outs and discussion from the concurrent sessions led to facilitated discussion on setting priorities.

Robert Clay Receives Bluegrass Legacy Award at Celebration of the Bluegrass.

Robert Clay, founder and CEO of Three Chimney’s Farm for decades, was joined by several former Bluegrass Tomorrow Board Members from the first decade of the organization, when he was awarded the Bluegrass Legacy Vision Award at the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Bluegrass on October 10 at Fasig-Tipton. The Bluegrass Legacy Award is one of Bluegrass Tomorrow’s most prestigious Vision Awards and is presented for life-long service and dedication to the Bluegrass Region.  He was presented the award by his long-time farm manager at Three Chimneys, Dan Rosenberg.

Clay, who was Bluegrass Tomorrow’s first President for 10 years, was joined at the 30th Anniversary Celebration reunion from the original Board of Directors from 1989-1999:  Alex Warren, first Chair of Bluegrass Tomorrow-then President of Toyota (who also made comments), Joe Graves first secretary, Buckner Woodford first treasurer; Board Members:  Bill Hamilton, Hank Graddy, Tim Kelly, Farra Alford, Helen Alexander.  First Executive Director Jean Ward Scott was also in attendance.

All former Chairs of Bluegrass Tomorrow were also present and were introduced including Ben Fister, Bob Hewett, Nelson Maynard, Larry Jones, Kathy Plomin, and current chair Claude Christensen. Chef Ouita Michel also made comments and catered the delicious farm to table meal. She was recognized for winning the Josephine Abercrombie Vision Award two years ago, as she was not able to attend that event.

Robert N. Clay is President CEO of Clay Holding Co, and past president/CEO & Founder of Three Chimney’s Farm in Midway, which he established with his wife Blythe in 1972. One of the founding fathers and first chairman of Bluegrass Tomorrow in 1989, Robert was also a driving force in the creation of the Bluegrass Conservancy and served on its original Board of Directors.  He was also integrally involved in the development of the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program which began in discussions at Bluegrass Tomorrow and the Bluegrass Conservancy. Since the Vision Awards did not begin until the second decade of Bluegrass Tomorrow in 2001, Robert has never been honored with a Vision Award.  The Vision Awards Committee thought it appropriate, in our 30th Anniversary year, that he be presented with The Bluegrass Legacy Award.

 Widely known as one of the world’s preeminent horse farms, Three Chimneys has been home to a number of famous horses including U.S. Triple Crown champion Seattle Slew, U.S. Filly Triple Crown champion Chris Evert, as well as Silver Cham, Chief’s Crown, Genuine Risk, Point Given, Slew o’ Gold, Capote, Smarty Jones, and Big Brown. Always on the cutting edge, Three Chimneys was the first thoroughbred breeding farm to advertise on the Internet.   Robert has also been chair of the Lexington School, member of the Jockey Club, the Keeneland Association Advisory Board, and the National Thoroughbred Racing Association Board of Directors, among many others.

Fittingly, the event took place in the Seattle Slew Room at Fasig-Tipton, historically one of Three Chimney’s most important sires.   Over 200 attended the event, and the fund-raiser raised over $14,000 for Bluegrass Tomorrow.

Regional Land Use Champion Campaign

Be a Regional Land Use Champion
Support Our Regional Land Use Planning Initiative!
In Partnership with: Bluegrass Land Conservancy / Bluegrass Area Development District / Woodford Forward / Fayette Alliance

The Bluegrass Regional Land Use Committee, which was continued after a successful “Conversation with the Region on Land Use Planning” event last fall, has continued its work and has now developed draft principles of agreement and Vision Statement for the Region. The number one and two principles that have been adopted:

— There is a fundamental need for land-use planning in the Bluegrass Region.
— There is a fundamental need for better communication in the region between planning agencies, cities, counties….

Support This Unprecedented Effort by being a Bluegrass Land Use Champion! Regional Land Use Champion Levels of Investment:

Bluegrass Visionary Champion $5,000.00
Sustaining Champion $2,500.00
Bluegrass Land Use Champion $1,000.00
Bluegrass Land Use Planning Partner $750.00
Bluegrass Land Use Planning Supporter $500.00

Bluegrass Visionary Champion: $5,000

For the Regional Land Use Planning Initiative & Bluegrass Forever Green Series (BGFG) 2018-19 for one calendar year.
Logo and company name used on all promotion, e-news dissemination, and public relations for all series events as corporate partner. Also, table of 8 at BGFG events.
Also includes: Partnership Trustee in Bluegrass Tomorrow’s Vision Society with all benefits which are accorded with that level of investment.

Partnership Trustee

Partnership Trustee status listing and logo on all Bluegrass Tomorrow printed materials, power points, e-news dissemination web site, at all meetings, speaking engagements, events and public communications during the pledge period.
Logo on all event signage and power points for major events throughout the year.
One preferred table, and recognition, at annual meetings and Vision Awards Breakfast.
Full Page ad in all printed programs and publications, including the Vision Report Magazine, throughout the pledge period.
Partnership Trustee status listing on home page of Bluegrass Tomorrow web-site.

Sustaining Champion:  $2,500

For Regional Land-Use Planning Initiative and Bluegrass Forever Green Series 2018-19 for one calendar year.
Logo and company name used on all promotion, e-news dissemination, and public relations for the series, meetings & events.
Also Includes: Vision Trustee in Bluegrass Tomorrow’s Vision Society with all benefits which are accorded with that level of investment.


Vision Trustee

Vision Society Trustee status listing on all Bluegrass Tomorrow printed materials, power points, e-news dissemination, at all meetings, speaking engagements, events and public communications during the calendar year.
Listing on all event signage for major events throughout the year, including our Vision Awards Breakfast and major Bluegrass Higher Education Presidents Summit and Luncheon events.
One preferred table, and recognition, at BGFG Luncheon or other major event.
Half-page ad in Vision Report Magazine and other BGT programs.

Bluegrass Land Use Planning Champion:  $1,000
Company logo on e-mails, e-news, website and all other collateral materials, related to the Regional Land Use Planning Initiative & BGFG Series for one calendar year.
Quarter page ad in Vision Report Magazine which be distributed on site and to all Bluegrass Tomorrow donors and stakeholders.  Will be utilized for other key events throughout the year.

Bluegrass Land Use Planning Partner:  $750
Company logo on e-mails, e-news, website and all other collateral materials related to the Regional Land Use Planning Initiative & BGFG Series for one calendar year.
Quarter page in in Vision Report Magazine which will be distributed on site and to all Bluegrass Tomorrow donors and stakeholders.  Will be utilized for other key events throughout the year.

Bluegrass Land Use Planning Supporter:  $500strong>
Company logo on e-mails, e-news, website and collateral materials related to the Regional Land Use Planning Initiative & BGFG Series for one calendar year.
Listing in Vision Report Magazine.

The Working Group has been persistent in working on principles of agreement that will lead to continued discussion and collaboration toward a tangible partnership in regional Land Use Planning.  There has never been a better time to get involved in Land Use Planning in our Region