Kentucky Proud

I believe in being Kentucky Proud. Born and raised, I am a Kentucky girl through and through. Central Kentucky will always be home, no matter where life takes me. When I’m sad I want to be home. When I’m happy I want to be home. There is no grander place on Earth than My Old Kentucky Home.

I believe in the generations of farmers who have sustained agriculture in this state for more than two centuries. The men who work tirelessly in the hot sun to not only put food on their tables, but on the tables of millions of others. I believe in the Southern women, like my grandmother, who prepare those meals. The meal we eat at noon is “dinner” not “lunch”, and the iced tea is always sweet. I believe in the work ethic and hospitality that are equated with Kentucky farm life. Everyone has a role on the farm, from working cattle to cutting tobacco to canning garden vegetables. And you better be familiar with the terms “ma’am”, “sir”, “please”, and “thank you” if you want to see the light of day.

I believe in the beauty of Kentucky. Each region may seem like its on cultural state, but each attributes to the uniqueness of the Commonwealth. Western Kentucky offers lakes, Fancy Farm, and some pretty mean barbecue. The northern region brings to us a rich metropolitan life, and of course Ale-8-One. Coal fields, bluegrass music, and the Appalachian Mountains fill Eastern Kentucky with a unique, down-to-earth culture. And Central Kentucky is the home to Thoroughbreds, basketball, and bourbon. Kentucky is a melting pot of cultural traditions and varying-thicknesses of Southern accents.

I believe in Kentucky’s sporting traditions. Whether you bleed blue or are a member of Card Nation, Kentucky undoubtedly is one of the best states for college basketball. The enthusiasm that enthralls the state from November to March is like no other state in the nation. When crops fail and coal hits a slump, it is basketball that boosts Kentucky morale.

I believe in the first Saturday of May. Over-the-top hats, mint juleps, and seer-sucker suits are the perfect spring day. The most exciting two-minutes in sports are full of pure Kentucky pride. The love I feel for my state as thousands of people join in the singing of “My Old Kentucky Home” is a little truer every year. No matter what Mother Nature decides to unleash on Derby Day, the spirit and enthusiasm shines bright on the Twin Spires and the entire state. Louisvillians live for the weeks and festivities leading up to the day that their city is the center of the world’s attention. Young and old, people of all races, and social statuses come together to immerse themselves in the pride and exhilaration of the Kentucky Derby.

I believe in Kentucky Bourbon. No matter where you travel, you will most likely find someone who will recognize a bottle of Maker’s Mark. Kentucky Bourbon traditions drive our economy and traditions. In times of celebration, sadness, and recreation there can always be found a bottle of one of Kentucky’s finest men: Mark, Jim, Woodford, Barton, or Evan. From the Bourbon Trail to the annual Kentucky Bourbon Festival, people from across the state and nation flock to visit Central Kentucky distilleries. And you can’t call yourself a true Kentuckian unless you consume at least one Bourbon Ball throughout the holiday season.

I am positive that no place in the world compares to Kentucky. The accents, the beverages, and the sports; they all add value to the Commonwealth. I can never imagine saying “good-night” to My Old Kentucky Home.