Allen County native named 2024 Farm Woman of the Year
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Kentucky Farm Bureau has selected Kori Beth Thomas of Allen County as its 2024 Farm Woman of the Year.
Thomas and her husband, Micah, own and operate Peach Tree Farm and Greenhouse in Scottsville. According to a release, the award honors the achievements of women in Kentucky agriculture.
“Farming is not just a career,” Thomas said. “It is a way of life. A true calling. An unidentified genetic marker of sorts that you could not get out of you even if you tried. We go into production agriculture knowing that rarely is it a 9-5 job. Rather, we are on call 24 hours a day.” But, she added, “we are eternal optimists at heart. We understand that we must overcome the obstacles that are set before us.”
Peach Tree Farm and Greenhouse is a third-generation farm with commercial beef cattle, an orchard of peach, apple and pear trees, 29 varieties of pumpkins and row crop and hay production, the release says.
In the last two years, the release says Thomas opened an agritourism venue and retail garden center on the property. She reportedly sells annual bedding plants and hanging baskets, along with perennial flowers, trees and shrubs.
A graduate of Scottsville High School, Thomas earned her agribusiness degree from Western Kentucky University.
The release says Thomas “is committed to ensuring a legacy of agriculture production in her community through volunteer efforts as the USDA representative for the local allocation of Ag Development funds, host of the 2024 Allen County Farm to Fork Dinner, member of the Kentucky Cattlemen’s Association and Allen County Cattlemen’s Association, Allen County Extension Board and Council Member, Allen County 4-H volunteer and a children’s ministry volunteer at her church.”
The release says Thomas also helps with multiple programs, such as KFB Generation Bridge and offsetting expenses and registration fees for local fourth grade students to attend the Progressive Agriculture Farm Safety Day at Western Kentucky University.
Thomas is also a supporter of Operation Christmas Child, Feeding Faith Coalition, Allen County FFA Alumni Chapter, Allen County First Friday Events, NorroFest, Allen CountyScottsville High School Football Boosters and Senior Co-op programs, The C.O.R.E. Project 330 and youth sports and the Austin-Tracy Elementary Greenhouse Class.
She remains a lifetime KFB member. Thomas and her husband were named the 2020 Allen County Young Farm Family of the Year.
Thomas, along with runners-up Jennifer Poole of Daviess County and Kristan Wright of Jefferson County, will be recognized during KFB’s Gold Star Luncheon hosted in conjunction with the organization’s annual meeting in December.
