Dartt Named Young Farmer of the Year
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Richard Dartt, pictured with his wife, Emily, and their daughters, Penny Kate, Millie Skeeter and Mary Smith, has been named Young Farmer of the Year by the Kentucky Farm Bureau.
Robert Moore
Herald Staff
rmoore@harrodsburgherald.com
Richard L. Dartt has been selected as Kentucky Farm Bureau’s Young Farmer of the Year for Mercer County.
Dartt is married to Emily Ahnquist Dartt, a library media specialist at Burgin Independent Schools. They have three young daughters, Penny Kate, Millie Skeeter and Mary Smith.
Dartt said caring for animals is a way of life. The son of Dr. Richard and Kathie Dartt of Mercer County, Dartt grew up on their small family farm. In addition to raising baby calves, he helped his father, who practiced veterinary medicine.
A 2005 graduate of Mercer County Senior High School, Dartt was an officer in FFA. He went on to earn a bachelor’s of science degree in agricultural business and marketing at Murray State University in 2009. While attending Murray, Dartt worked with veterinarian Dr. Noel Thomas of Westside Veterinary Clinic.
After graduation, Dartt worked for Clyde Jackson and family at Caverndale Farms in Boyle County. He helped manage their cattle operation, which was a combination of cow/calf and feeder calves. While at Caverndale, Dartt also gained experience working in the corn and soybean operation.
Today, Dartt is working in a feeder calf farming operation, which handles 2,500 head, with David and Jared Baker, as well as a cow/calf operation of his own, which consists of 450 acres of hay and pasture land.
Dartt said he enjoys the farm life with Emily and the girls on their Hopewell Road farm.
