Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development

What Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development does

Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) is a 501(c)-style non-profit organization founded in 2001 and headquartered in Elizabethtown, Kentucky. KCARD provides free, confidential educational and technical assistance to new and existing agricultural businesses, cooperatives, and farmers markets across Kentucky, with select programming extending into Tennessee and North Carolina. Its service portfolio spans business planning, financial analysis, marketing strategy, grant facilitation, cooperative development, transition and succession planning (via the Kentucky AgriLegacy Solutions Program launched in 2025), USDA-certified agricultural mediation (added March 2026), value-added dairy business evaluations, AutoCAD facility layout drawings, and statewide workshops and webinars. In 2025, KCARD directly served 549 farms and businesses, reached 106 of Kentucky's 120 counties, presented at 88 events, made 7,531 outreach contacts, and reported client outcomes of 137 jobs created, 1,092 jobs saved, $31.8M in increased client sales revenue, and $5.1M in state/federal funding secured by assisted producers.

KCARD's core technology is intentionally low-tech and human-centered: a Squarespace-hosted website (kcard.info) with educational blog content and a mailing list, Facebook/Twitter organic social channels, instructional YouTube videos, Submittable for grant application intake, and in-house AutoCAD capability for 2D facility layouts. There is no proprietary software platform; the operational backbone is a small team of Business Development Specialists (Brent Lackey, Kati Bowman, Kellie Padgett, Spencer Guinn, Terryn Varney) plus a Grant Facilitator (James Barrett) and client/administrative support staff. KCARD's revenue model is grant-funded managed services: primary funding flows from the USDA Rural Cooperative Development Program and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board, with additional support from USDA AMS Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives, USDA Rural Development, the Kentucky Department of Agriculture ($837,000 disclosed grant, May 2025), and partner cost-sharing. Most client services are provided at no cost; only select workshops carry a fee (e.g., $20 per attendee for Growing Your Farm and Food Business workshops).

KCARD's go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: staff meet producers at the kitchen table, conduct on-site business evaluations (3–4 days for dairy), and engage in statewide outreach through workshops, webinars, and partner co-marketing with organizations such as the Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy, USDA Rural Development, the University of Kentucky, Community Farm Alliance, Black Soil KY, and the Appalachia Regional Food Business Center. The 25-year operating history (celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2026) and trusted-neutral-partner positioning are central to KCARD's differentiation in Kentucky's agricultural ecosystem.

Name

Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development

Legal name

Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development

Website

https://kcard.info

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) is a 501(c)-style non-profit founded in 2001 that provides free business planning, financial analysis, grant facilitation, cooperative development, transition planning, and USDA-certified agricultural mediation to Kentucky agribusinesses, cooperatives, and farmers markets, serving 549 clients across 106 counties in 2025.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Rural and Agricultural Business Development Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Crop Production (1151)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Farm Operations Planning & SOP Development (AFACAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Succession, Governance & Ownership Transition Advisory (AFACAJAO), Capital Projects & Farm Expansion Advisory (Feasibility, Site Planning, ROI) (AFACAJAN), Agribusiness, Farm Management & Compliance (EDAOAOAN)

Keywords

• Rural business development
• Agricultural technical assistance
• Cooperative development services
• Farm business planning
• Grant facilitation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Elizabethtown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants (Primary): KCARD is supported primarily through grants from the USDA Rural Cooperative Development Program and the Kentucky Agricultural Development Board. Additional grant funding flows from USDA AMS Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives, USDA Rural Development, and other federal/state sources.
2. Partner Contributions and Cost-Sharing: Additional support is provided through partnerships across the state with organizations such as KAFC, KADB, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and regional centers (e.g., Appalachia Regional Food Business Center).
3. Select Client Service Fees: Fees charged for select client services (e.g., workshop registration fees such as $18-$20 per attendee for Growing Your Farm and Food Business workshops). Most direct technical assistance, business planning, dairy evaluations, mediation, and transition planning are provided at no cost.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

KCARD delivers free, confidential technical assistance, business planning, marketing, financial analysis, cooperative development, grant facilitation, USDA-certified agricultural mediation, AutoCAD facility layout drawings, and statewide workshops/webinars to new and existing Kentucky agribusinesses. Its specialty programs include the Kentucky AgriLegacy Solutions Program for farm transitions, the Agribusiness Grant Facilitation Program, and multi-day Value-Added Dairy Business Evaluations delivered in partnership with the University of Tennessee.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kentucky AgriLegacy Solutions Program: KCARD's transition and succession planning program for farm families, launched in 2025; also referred to as KASP. KCARD also became a USDA-certified agricultural mediation center under this program in March 2026.
• Agribusiness Grant Facilitation Program
• Kentucky AgVets

Products and services

• Kentucky AgriLegacy Solutions Program (KASP) A farm transition and succession planning program that helps farm families navigate retirement, ownership transfer, and long-term viability, including USDA-certified mediation support to help families start important conversations and build plans that protect their businesses and legacies.
• USDA-Certified Agricultural Mediation Services Confidential, neutral, no-cost mediation services for Kentucky farm families covering agricultural loans, farm transition, and succession planning, delivered through KCARD's USDA-certified state agricultural mediation center designation.
• Agribusiness Grant Facilitation Program (AGFP) KCARD program that assists agricultural and rural-based businesses in identifying, applying for, and managing federal and state grant opportunities including USDA, Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, and other funding sources, providing one-on-one guidance through grant readiness, application writing, budget development, submission, and post-award reimbursement management.
• Value-Added Dairy Business Analysis Comprehensive on-site evaluation program for existing value-added dairy businesses (cheese, ice cream, processed fluid milk) providing 3-4 day operational analysis, financial review, marketing assessment, personnel interviews, and a confidential written report within 4 weeks; co-delivered with University of Tennessee Extension's Center for Profitable Agriculture and funded by USDA AMS Dairy Business Innovation Initiatives. Over 20 businesses have been analyzed.
• Cooperative Development Services KCARD's long-standing service assisting producer groups in developing agricultural cooperatives, including cooperative formation, business planning, financial analysis, board training, management consultations, and education on patronage refunds and cooperative structure.
• AutoCAD Drawing Services A service providing 2D Computer Aided Design drawings to help clients visualize and plan facility layouts for dairies, meat processors, vegetable packing sheds, on-farm stores, farmers markets, and commercial kitchens before engaging an architect or engineer.
• Growing Your Farm and Food Business Workshop Series Recurring in-person and webinar workshop series providing in-depth understanding of business plan development and an overview of funding options for Kentucky farmers and agribusinesses, featuring speakers from USDA, Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy, Kentucky State University, Kentucky Department of Agriculture, and other agencies, with speed-networking sessions with grant program representatives.
• Kentucky AgVets Program Connecting Kentucky Veterans to Agriculture Opportunities program helping veterans and active-duty service members pursue agricultural careers through Career Skills Program internships at Fort Campbell and Fort Knox, community college coursework, mentor relationships, and business planning support.
• Farm Business Planning and Development Core KCARD service providing free, confidential one-on-one business planning, financial analysis, cash flow projections, marketing plan development, social media strategy support, and recordkeeping guidance to new and existing Kentucky farms and agribusinesses.

Named customers7 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered strategic, minor / venue partner, flagship / regulatory and minor.

• University of Tennessee Extension's Center for Profitable AgriculturestrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-delivery partner for KCARD's Value-Added Dairy Business Evaluation Program. Together they provide on-site business analysis for value-added dairy businesses in Kentucky, Tennessee, and North Carolina. Application hosted on University of Tennessee grant interface.
• Kentucky AgVets Program Partners (Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky Horticulture Council, Kentucky Sheep and Goat Development Office, Community and Economic Development Initiative of Kentucky (CEDIK))strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerMulti-partner coalition awarded a grant in September 2020 for the Connecting Kentucky Veterans to Agriculture Opportunities (Kentucky AgVets) program, helping veterans and active-duty service members pursue agricultural careers through Career Skills Program Internships at Fort Campbell and Fort Knox, community college coursework, and mentor relationships.
• Appalachia Regional Food Business Center (USDA Regional Food Business Center)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerKCARD serves as a Technical Assistance Provider (C-TAP) for the Business Builder Subawards program across KY, OH, TN, WV and selected PA, VA, MD counties. Provides application support and letters of support for the Business Builder program with $1M revenue cap.
• Community Farm Alliance (CFA)strategicGTM or Marketing PartnerC-TAP partner for Business Builder Subawards. Provides technical assistance and letters of support for Kentucky applicants alongside KCARD and Black Soil KY.
• Black Soil KYstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerC-TAP partner for Business Builder Subawards. Provides technical assistance and letters of support for Kentucky applicants alongside KCARD and Community Farm Alliance.
• Governor's Office of Agricultural Policy (GOAP)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner featured in KCARD's Growing Your Farm and Food Business webinar series; administers programs including KAFC, KADB, Meat Processing Investment Program, On-Farm Investment, and Youth Ag Programs that fund Kentucky producers/agribusinesses.
• Kentucky Horticulture CouncilstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpeaker at KCARD's Planning for Farm Diversification workshop in Murray, KY; partner in the Kentucky AgVets program.
• Cultivate KYstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpeaker at KCARD's Planning for Farm Diversification workshop; partner in diversifying Kentucky farming operations.
• Center for Crop Diversification (University of Kentucky)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured guest blogger on KCARD's website discussing price reports and planning; speaker at KCARD farm diversification workshop.
• USDA Rural Development (USDA RD)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured guest blogger; KCARD also applies for funding from USDA RD to continue its work with Kentucky's producers and rural/agribusinesses. USDA RD programs (e.g., Rural Business Development Grants, Value-Added Producer Grants) are promoted to KCARD clients.
• University of Kentucky Department of Animal and Food Sciences, Kentucky Beef Council, Kentucky Cattlemen's AssociationstrategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-delivery partner for KCARD's Direct-to-Consumer Beef Webinar Series in mid-July 2020 covering production, processing, business development, marketing, and sales for finished beef. Brent Lackey also teaches a class on agricultural cooperatives at the University of Kentucky.
• Kentucky State University (KSU)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerFeatured partner in KCARD's Growing Your Farm and Food Business workshop series; KSU Small Scale Farm Program is one of the funding programs represented at KCARD workshops.
• Murray State University (William "Bill" Cherry Exposition Center)minor / venue partnerOthersHost venue for KCARD's Planning for Farm Diversification workshop held on October 22, 2024 for agricultural producers transitioning out of dark tobacco.
• USDA (United States Department of Agriculture)flagship / regulatoryStrategic or Co-development PartnerKCARD is USDA-certified as an agricultural mediation center for Kentucky, giving it a state-level regulatory designation for providing mediation services related to USDA programs, farm loans, and transition planning. Multiple USDA agencies (Rural Development, AMS, NIFA) collaborate with KCARD.
• Kentucky Department of Agriculture (KDA)strategicStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in multiple programs including Kentucky AgVets, KY Proud Promotional Grant, Farm to Fork Events grant, and Kentucky Agricultural Finance Corporation programs. Featured partner in KCARD workshops and webinars; also a co-administrator of the Local Food Purchase Assistance (LFPA) Program.
• Farm CommonsminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerResource partner whose published guidance on USDA contract freezes and terminations was summarized and shared by KCARD in March 2025 to help Kentucky producers navigate federal program uncertainty.
• Appalachia Regional Food Business Center, Kentucky Proud, Kentucky Agricultural Development Fund, USDA programsstrategicGTM or Marketing PartnerFunding program partners who participate in KCARD's Growing Your Farm and Food Business workshops via speed-networking sessions, allowing producers to meet face-to-face with grant program representatives.

Scale indicators12 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• The Carrot Project: Northeast-based non-profit that supports small and mid-sized farms and food businesses through business planning, financing, and technical assistance. Highly comparable mission, free technical-assistance model, and small-farm customer segment.
• NY FarmNet: New York-based non-profit providing free, confidential farm business consulting, financial analysis, and family/farm transition planning to New York farmers. Directly comparable to KCARD's business planning and transition services, and similarly grant-funded.
• Center for Rural Affairs: Non-profit established in 1973 that provides business planning, technical assistance, and policy advocacy to rural small businesses and farms across Nebraska and the Midwest. Highly comparable to KCARD in mission, non-profit funding model, and rural agribusiness advisory focus.
• Pennsylvania Farm Link: Pennsylvania non-profit focused on farm succession and transition planning, linking beginning farmers with retiring landowners. Directly comparable to KCARD's Kentucky AgriLegacy Solutions Program (KASP) and new USDA-certified mediation services.
• University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives: University-based applied research and outreach center providing cooperative development education, board training, and member services. Directly comparable to KCARD's cooperative development expertise (e.g., Brent Lackey teaches cooperatives at UK).
• Practical Farmers of Iowa: Iowa-based non-profit supporting beginning and established farmers through education, research, and technical assistance programs. Comparable farmer-services model with comparable funding mix (grants, membership, fees).
• Cooperative Development Foundation: National non-profit that funds and supports cooperative development domestically and internationally. Comparable mission and grant-supported model for advancing cooperative formation and education.
• Cornell Small Farms Program: Cornell University program that delivers business planning, funding navigation, and technical assistance to small farms across New York. Comparable land-grant university-affiliated extension function and small-farm focus.
• National Cooperative Business Association CLUSA International: National non-profit trade association that develops and supports cooperatives across the U.S. Overlaps with KCARD's cooperative development services (formation, board training, patronage refunds) at a larger national scale.

Broad incumbents

• Iowa State University Extension and Outreach: Land-grant extension service offering agribusiness, farm management, and transition planning assistance across Iowa. Larger, more established incumbent in an adjacent geography providing overlapping rural business advisory services.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KentuckyCenterforAg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kentucky-center-for-agriculture-and-rural-development

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development