STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
Drivers in Barren County will soon have a new way to show their support for local agriculture and youth programs regardless of the vehicle they choose to have.
“We’re super excited for the folks of Barren County, who maybe have always wanted to support agriculture here in Barren County, but didn’t meet the qualifications for a standard farm tag,” Barren County Clerk Helena Chase Birdwell said. “The Friends of Kentucky Agriculture plate can go on any vehicle, and you don’t have to meet the criteria of owning or working a farm. You can get this plate just because you want it; you want to support agriculture in our county and across the state.”
Announced by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Birdwell told Glasgow News 1 that her office expects to begin ordering the new “Friends of Kentucky Agriculture” license plates tomorrow, saying staff will “order as much as the [state] portal allows.”
The county is heavily involved in agriculture, and this plate supports local agriculture, such as the FFA, 4-H and Kentucky Proud chapters that will benefit from the new plate. The initial fee for the special plate is $28, according to information provided by Birdwell. That amount includes a $10 nonwaivable donation to the state’s Ag Tag fund, which is “used to support local youth development, leadership training and agricultural promotion,” according to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture.
In 2025, roughly $11,000 from the Ag Tag fund was directed to Barren County alone, helping fund local FFA and 4-H activities and Kentucky Proud initiatives, according to information provided by Birdwell.
“It’s important for people to know that this money doesn’t just go to the state, but comes straight back to our local chapters,” Birdwell said. “The more people that make [this] donation the more money [those organizations] can get.”
The new design does not replace the existing farm plate, but adds another way for supporters to recognize the importance of Kentucky agriculture.
The Friends of Kentucky Agriculture plate is part of a broader effort to make agricultural specialty plates more widely available in Kentucky. It was created following the passage of Kentucky House Bill 157 during the 2025 legislative session, which expanded eligibility for agriculture-themed license plates beyond farm-only vehicles, according to a Kentucky Department of Agriculture press release.
Key Facts
• New “Friends of Kentucky Agriculture” license plate coming to Barren County
• Plate will be available soon at the Barren County Clerk’s Office
• Initial fee is $28, including a $10 nonwaivable Ag Tag donation
• Funds support local FFA, 4-H and Kentucky Proud chapters
• Plate can go on any vehicle, not just farm vehicles
• Barren County received roughly $11,000 in Ag Tag funds in 2025
Michael Crimmins with Glasgow News 1 contributed to this reporting.
