STAFF REPORT
Glasgow News 1
Barren County High School graduate Matthew Estes is spending his summer interning with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Office of Agricultural Policy. The position is giving the Cave City native a closer look at how state leaders shape agriculture policy in Kentucky.
Estes is the son of J.R. and Sammye Jo Estes of Cave City. He graduated from Barren County High School in 2025, where he also played baseball. This fall, Estes will begin his sophomore year at the University of Kentucky.
According to information provided with the announcement, he is majoring in agricultural economics and minoring in public policy. The internship appears to align closely with his academic focus, allowing him to connect classroom learning with real-world policy work in Frankfort.
In this role Estes is tasked with traveling across the state interviewing farmers and getting their stories. Afterwards he writes about a one page summary that will go into the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy’s annual report. Estes said his favorite part about this internship is getting to tell farmers’ stories. Mentioning that, in agriculture, stories are one of the most important ways to spread recognition and knowledge.
Programs in state agencies, including the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, are seen as a way to build the next generation of leaders in rural development and agricultural policy. For students from Barren County and across south-central Kentucky, placements in state offices can provide valuable experience, networking and a better understanding of how decisions in Frankfort impact farms and agribusiness back home.
Key Facts
– Barren County High School graduate Matthew Estes is interning with the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Office of Agricultural Policy
– Estes is the son of J.R. and Sammye Jo Estes of Cave City
– He graduated from Barren County High School in 2025 and played baseball there
– Estes will be a sophomore at the University of Kentucky this fall
– He is majoring in agricultural economics and minoring in public policy
