Joe McCarty Establishes Forever Blue Endowment to Fund Kentucky FFA Livestock Judging CDE in Perpetuity

The Kentucky FFA Foundation announced that Mr. Joe McCarty, a former resident of Lyon County, has committed $25,000 to create an endowment that will fund the Kentucky FFA Livestock Judging Career Development Event forever.

The Foundation’s Forever Blue Program allows donors to create endowed funds that provide ongoing support for Kentucky FFA programs and/or local FFA chapters of their choosing. Contributions are invested, and a five percent portion of the fund is distributed annually. The annual distribution from McCarty’s gift will be awarded to each year’s state winning livestock judging team to help offset their costs to compete at National FFA Convention.

McCarty is an FFA Alumni who showed cattle from 1951 to 1957, was a member of the meat judging team at the University of Kentucky in 1957-58, and a member of the UK livestock judging team in 1958-59. He credits his time in FFA as having a tremendous positive influence on his life. In 2023 he established a scholarship for Lyon County students through the Forever Blue Endowment program honoring his former agriculture teacher, Mr. Stanley DeBoe.

“When I was a youngster and in FFA, showing cattle was my ticket to getting into UK,” said McCarty. “It helped finance me to get there. I have always had an interest in the livestock industry, even though I spent so many years away from it.

“I grew up in Lyon County, pretty poor, but everyone else was in the same boat so we never really knew. I grew up during WWII, and there were good times and bad times. It really brought the country together. From my youth and upbringing came my willingness to help and give back. It is just something I enjoy – giving back to people who truly appreciate it.”

“We are grateful for the vision and generosity of our donors,” said Sheldon McKinney, executive director of the Kentucky FFA Foundation. “Forever Blue endowments create permanent support for both local chapters and programs like the livestock judging CDE. In addition, it’s a powerful way for a donor to celebrate what FFA has meant to them personally.”

In advance of Kentucky FFA’s 100th anniversary in 2030, the Kentucky FFA Foundation is working to establish at least 100 Forever Blue endowments to support individual FFA chapters and statewide programs. For more information about the Forever Blue Program, contact Sheldon McKinney at sheldon.mckinney@kyffa.org