Statement from the President of Kentucky State University M. Christopher Brown II, Ph.D. on the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill

Statement from the President of Kentucky State University M. Christopher Brown II, Ph.D. on the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill

Posted on December 13, 2018

“On behalf of Kentucky State University, I wish to thank the United States Congress for the timely passage of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.  Although the Commonwealth’s General Assembly has not full funded our institutional land-grant programs, Senator Mitch McConnell and Representative Andy Barr worked with our government relations staff to insure that the Farm Bill included measures to allow Kentucky State University access to compete for new federal funds.

Kentucky State University serves an important role in agricultural research and extension across the state of Kentucky and beyond.  Our aquaculture program ranks among the top five nationally, and our work with small and under-resourced farms across the state will be expanded under this new legislation.  The legalization of hemp for agricultural research and production aligns to our farm innovation and revitalization efforts with farmers in the Bluegrass and others struggling with the decimation of the tobacco crop.

Personally, I earned all three of my academic degrees at land-grant universities.  My professional career has prioritized employment within land-grant universities.  And I have served as the president or institutional executive officer of three 1890 land-grant universities.  Without question, the passage of the 2018 Farm Bill signals the nation’s commitment to opportunities for education and training for citizens, equitable access to higher quality of life for communities, and economic development in metropolitan and rural areas throughout our country.

Kentucky State University applauds the investments and reforms advanced by legislators in the U.S. House and Senate in support of the higher education in general and our land-grant mission in specific.  As the Commonwealth’s flagship historically black institution, it is a privilege for Kentucky State University to be charged and entrusted with the important objectives detailed in the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018.

The 2018 Farm Bill will enable Kentucky State University to expand our aquaculture, agribusiness and research enterprises in support of the citizens of Kentucky and the nation.  We remain committed to advancing our institutional mission.”

— Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Mission Statement

Kentucky State University is a public, comprehensive, historically black land-grant university committed to advancing the Commonwealth of Kentucky, enhancing society, and impacting individuals by providing quality teaching with a foundation in liberal studies, scholarly research, and public service to enable productive lives within the diverse global economy.