About KY FFA Foundation

Terry Ashby was active in FFA at Hopkinsville High School and attended the University of Kentucky where he graduated with a degree in agricultural economics. After graduation, Terry joined Perdue farms, where he had a 41-year career spanning every aspect of the poultry business. He has been a leader and advocate for Forever Blue giving.

Chairman of the Board, Nick Carter is a retired energy company executive with a passion for FFA, which he credits for giving him a successful start in life. He uses his vast leadership experience to serve on a variety of boards, including the University of Kentucky FarmHouse Fraternity Board, Community Trust Bancorp, Alliance Resources Partners and the Board of Tacoma Resources, LTD. Nick was a Kentucky FFA State Sentinel, from the Hustonville FFA Chapter.

James is a representative of the Kentucky FFA Alumni Association. He is an engineer with the Kentucky Transporation Cabinet. James is a past State FFA Officer, the father to two State FFA Officers and a tremendous advocate for Kentucky FFA. 

Matt Chaliff is the Executive Secretary of the Kentucky FFA Association and he’s the hardest working man in KY FFA! A former State Officer and agriculture teacher at Taylor County High School, he is true leader to all of Kentucky ag ed programs.

LuAnn Coffey is an entreprenuer and philantrhopist who is passionate about rural America. She was a leader in her multi-generation family business, Tarter Farm & Ranch Equipment and was intstrumental in building support for Kentucky FFA. 

Sharon serves as a representative of the  Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation.

She is chair of the Audit Advisory Committee, leads Kentucky Farm Bureau’s Vision 100 Strategic Planning Team, is a member of the American Farm Bureau Federation Technology Committee, and is a member of the United States Environmental Protection Agency Farm, Ranch, and Rural Communities Federal Advisory Committee.

Furches and her husband Tripp reside in Murray, KY where they raise corn, soybeans, wheat, and canola. 

Kirby Green is a Top Producer Account Manager for Bayer. She is a past Kentucky FFA State President and also spent time as a high school agriculture teacher. Kirby is excellent at building relationships and making connections that benefit Kentucky FFA. She also serves as a mentor to several former state officers and is the host of a professional development podcast called Sharpen.

Fomer chairman of the Kentucky FFA Foundation, Anthony Koch is the Director of Sales & Marketing for Hallway Feeds, providing feeds exclusively to the equine industry. Anthony has worked to develop feeding programs for farms and race trainers domestically and internationally and worked with the past two Triple Crown winners. He is a former Kentucky FFA State Officer and a positive advocate for FFA to the equine industry around the world.

Kyle Kelly is the Director of Public Affairs for the Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation. He’s a former Owen County FFA member and currently farms in his hometown. Kyle uses his expertise in building relationships to elevate Kentucky FFA and he’s a tremendous advocate for FFA in Frankfort and communities across the Commonwealth.

Dr. Mike McDermott is an associate professor of agriculture at Eastern Kentucky University. His teaching duties include agricultural power and Career & Technical Education/Ag Education. With more than 37 years of teaching experience at the secondary and post-secondary levels, he still enjoys the art of teaching in the classroom.

Sheldon McKinney is the Executive Director of the Kentucky FFA Foundation. She is passionate about executing the vision of the board and connecting sponosrs and donors to the mission & vision of Kentucky FFA. 

Caroline Peterson Meehan is a Nelson County FFA & UK College of Agriculture Food & Environment Alumi. She spent 10 years working at tech startups in NYC. Now residing back in Lexington and near her family's farm, she is the Director of Client Success for an e-commerce software company. Caroline is an example of using your FFA roots to be successful in other career pathways. 

Dwight is the current president and CEO of Silent Guard Security, a 30-year-old second-generation family business, and Davis HVAC Experts, a 44-year-old third-generation family business. They have locations in Somerset and Lexington, Kentucky. He has been active on many boards and is passionate about investing in and serving his community. Dwight credits his FFA experiences as setting the foundation for who he is today.

Jonathan Shell is the Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture. He's a farmer, husand and father of four. Jonathan is also the 2006 Kentucky FFA State Star in Agribusiness. 

Mary Beth Shackelford is a Relationships Manager for CoBank. An American FFA Degree recipient who is passionate about the agriculture industry, she is a positive advocate for FFA across Kentucky. 

Billy Ray Smith is the former Commissioner of Agriculture in Kentucky and also the Executive Director Emeritus of the Kentucky FFA Foundation. He has been a lifelong servant to the agricultural community.

Jonathan West, is a Financial Officer with Farm Credit Mid-America who serves the Campbellsville area. He grew up on a family farm in southeastern Kentucky, where his family raises purebred Charolais, commercial cattle, hay, corn and soybeans. While in high school he was very active with the Knox Central FFA Chapter. Jonathan received his Bachelor’s in Career and Technical Education in Agriculture while at the University of Kentucky as well as his Master’s in Agribusiness from Murray State University.