Beshear, GOP again in a tizzy over fair board after KY Farm Bureau submits names for seat

Republicans in Frankfort and Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear are once again butting heads over the Kentucky State Fair Board. 

The Senate Republican caucus highlighted comments in a Monday press release made by Kentucky Farm Bureau President Eddie Melton during a recent agriculture committee meeting regarding KFB’s representation on the state fair board. Rep. Ryan Bivens, R-Hodgenville, asked Melton if he had submitted names to the governor to select a KFB nominee for the fair board. 

Melton said he had given six names, including Marshall Coyle, who had been serving as the KFB representative on the fair board. 

“I received an email back that said that the governor rejected those six names and asked me for six more names that would work in an honest and transparent manner,” Melton told lawmakers. “At that time, I chose to not resubmit six more names because I felt like that I sent six names in that were more than qualified to be able to serve in an honest and transparent manner.” 

The fair board’s governance was entangled in turmoil this summer after the Kentucky Supreme Court overturned a state law that aimed to shift control of the board from the governor to the agriculture commissioner. Within days of the ruling, Beshear appointed new members of the board, which then moved to fire former CEO and President David Beck. At the time, Beshear said Beck “was not willing to work with me, and made that pretty clear” and had “led a charge to prevent any form of accountability from a governor.” 

In response to Melton during the legislative meeting, Bivens criticized Beshear. 

“He’s got a job to do. Whether you like doing it or not, you have a job, and there was a list of six names, and he has not done his job,” Bivens said, adding “it is a shame that an agricultural group like Farm Bureau is not being represented right now on that board, and they have committed so much to that fairgrounds.” 

After the Senate Republicans’ press release, Beshear’s office sent a Monday letter to the co-chairs of the committee to “correct the record about statements” regarding an open seat on the fair board, according to a letter reviewed by the Kentucky Lantern. Signed by Executive Director of Boards and Commissions Matt Osborne, the letter said before the law was overturned by the Supreme Court, “the State Fair Board operated with an unconstitutional governing structure” for nearly four years while the law was challenged in courts. 

Osborne wrote Beshear rejected KFB’s list in early August and requested a new list of names, which is allowed under state law. 

“Unfortunately, we still have not received the requested list from Farm Bureau. At last week’s Committee meeting, Farm Bureau admitted to not sending the requested list,” Osborne wrote. “The Governor will make a timely appointment to the Kentucky State Fair Board to represent the Kentucky Farm Bureau when he receives the requested list and considers them.”

Melton did not say during the meeting who else was on the initial nomination list he submitted to the governor. A KFB spokesperson declined to publicly share the names, but said the individuals have “valuable experience and a strong commitment to Kentucky agriculture.” 

“Kentucky Farm Bureau remains committed to working toward a resolution that ensures Kentucky farm families continue to have a meaningful voice on the State Fair Board,” the spokesperson said. “We recognize the importance of this appointment and remain hopeful that a path forward can be found.” 

It’s not the first time in recent weeks the governor has been criticized for rejecting nominations. Beshear also drew ire from Republican Auditor Allison Ball for rejecting a list of nominations she gave for a spot on the Executive Branch Ethics Commission last month. Her initial list had three names Beshear had complicated histories with. 

Ball submitted a second list, but a spokesperson for her said the office has not yet received a response from Beshear. The names on Ball’s new list are former Deputy Chief Justice of the Kentucky Supreme Court William T. Scott, Dinsmore & Shohl partner Sarah Billiter Cameron, Partner at Dinsmore & Shohl LLP, and Larry Brown, an attorney and former Republican state representative who defeated former Democratic House Speaker Greg Stumbo in 2016.