Carlisle County Cooperative Extension Service

08/25/2026

Fun times ahead for the Cloverbud Afterschool Club! For grades K-3rd grade. Call 270-628-5458 to register.

08/25/2026

Starting soon! Free for ages 9-17 years old. Call 270-628-5458 to register!

08/25/2026

Good job Carlisle County 4-H! Congratulations to all!

08/23/2026

Congratulations Maggie!

08/03/2026

Congratulations Ricky O'Neal!

🚜WAVE AG Farmer of the Year✨

The WAVE AG Farmer of the Year Award recognizes more than excellence in production—it honors a farmer whose vision, innovation, leadership, and dedication are helping shape the future of agriculture. This year’s recipient exemplifies each of these qualities in extraordinary ways.

Ricky O’Neal was born and raised in Carlisle County, Kentucky, where his passion for farming began at an early age. As a young boy, he spent countless hours following his grandfather through the fields, watching crops grow, equipment being repaired, and problems being solved. Those experiences instilled in him a deep respect for hard work, family, and the enduring value of family farming.

After graduating from Carlisle County High School, Ricky worked at the Mayfield tire plant until its closure in 2005. That same year, he purchased his first farm from his great-uncle, taking the first step toward building a lifelong career in agriculture.

In 2008, Ricky and his wife married, sharing a dream of becoming livestock producers. Through years of hard work, determination, and guidance from respected producer Jimmy Tosh and others in the industry, that dream became a reality in 2015 when they welcomed their first pigs into the barn they built on their family farm.

Like many successful farmers, Ricky sees opportunity where others see obstacles. Rather than viewing manure simply as a by-product of livestock production, he envisioned it as a valuable resource with the potential to transform agriculture. Nearly a decade ago, he began researching anaerobic digesters, traveling across the country, studying successful operations, and building relationships with industry leaders to bring that vision to life.

Today, through international partnerships and a shared commitment to innovation, Ricky is helping lead a groundbreaking renewable natural gas and carbon capture project in Carlisle County. By converting agricultural feedstocks into renewable energy while returning valuable nutrients to local farmland, this project has the potential to benefit hog farmers, poultry producers, row crop farmers, and the entire agricultural community across Western Kentucky.

What makes Ricky’s accomplishments truly exceptional is that his vision has never been focused solely on his own operation. He believes agriculture is strongest when innovation creates opportunities for everyone. His leadership reflects the very best of modern agriculture—where farmers are not only stewards of the land but also innovators, entrepreneurs, and problem-solvers dedicated to building a stronger future for generations to come.

For his remarkable vision, perseverance, and unwavering commitment to advancing agriculture throughout Western Kentucky, we are proud to recognize Ricky O’Neal as the 2026 WAVE AG Farmer of the Year.

Please join us in congratulating Ricky on this well-deserved honor and thanking him for his outstanding contributions to agriculture and our rural communities. 🌾🏆

08/03/2026

Congratulations Macee Hogancamp!
Outstanding 4-H Member

08/03/2026

Congratulations Joel Reddick!
Young Farmer of the Year

07/29/2026

07/28/2026

Call 270-628-5458 to sign up.

07/27/2026

WAVE AG DAY is Thursday, July 30 at Columbus Belmont State Park.