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Kentucky State University recognized Jane O’Tiernan of Madison County as the first ever recipient of the Women in Agriculture Excellence Award.

The award was created earlier this year as part of Kentucky State’s ongoing efforts to reach and serve more women who are principal operators of their farm or agribusinesses. O’Tiernan was named as the recipient in March, during an International Women’s Day program.

O’Tiernan is a farmer with 11 acres of land in north Madison County, where she raises vegetables and flowers. She raises her flowers in half an acre outdoors and in two greenhouses.

She sells at the Lexington Farmers Market and at the Bluegrass Farmers Market, which is a growers-only market that she helped create 17 years ago. She sells as Jane’s Garden, Flowers, and Herbs.

She and her siblings grew up helping raise cattle and hay on their father’s 30-acre farm in Indiana.

“He told us we would have dirt in our blood, that we would have the land in our veins,” O’Tiernan said.

Jane has been a great partner of Kentucky State University, attending Third Thursday Thing since the program was founded 25 years ago and other Kentucky State events. One skill she’s learned is how to better market her products to increase her customers and profit.

“I’ve been fortunate with KSU,” O’Tiernan said. She named Marion Simon and Edwin Chavous as Kentucky State personnel who have been especially helpful to her. Many of her friends are people she’s met through Kentucky State events.

O’Tiernan was recognized at the Small, Limited-Resource, Minority Farmers Conference, Kentucky State University’s annual conference, held from November 15-17 in Frankfort.

“When you have farmers that you can talk to about this, then they understand and it’s productive because you can get other ideas from other farmers who know what they’re doing also,” O’Tiernan said.