The Bowling Green Area Chamber of Commerce recognized Jerry Hudnall and four generations of the Hudnall family Monday, naming them the 2006 Farm Family of the Year.

The chamber every year recognizes a Warren County family that demonstrates proven farming practices and involvement in community and civic activities.

&#8220It’s not a one-person job. It’s a family operation,” said Linda Dickerson, chairperson of the Chamber’s Agri-Business Committee.

Jerry Hudnall believes the rising cost of health care is a major challenge for farmers today.

&#8220(Health insurance) premiums have got so high for self-employed people and farmers,” he said. &#8220It makes up a large portion of your net income just to pay health insurance.”

He also addressed the thought that more Americans are going to grocery stores with no idea of the farmers who grow the food.

&#8220There are fewer people with a farm background (now),” Jerry Hudnall said.

&#8220It’s America – a sign of the times,” his wife, Sue, said.

The original 133 acres on the Green River has been in the Hudnall family for more than 150 years.

The Hudnall family owns more than 1,000 acres in the Riverside community on the Barren and Green rivers.

Jerry’s father, Gale Hudnall, bought the farm from his brothers and sisters, as his father had done before him, and later sold the farm to Jerry in 1973.

Jerry Hudnall plans to pass the farm on to his son, Benji Hudnall, and then to his grandson, 8-year-old Grant Hudnall.

Jerry and Benji Hudnall formed a partnership in 1993 to create Hudnall Farms. Both own and operate the swine and row-crop farm.

Hudnall Farms grows grain and other crops on 650 acres and produces 6,000 head of market hogs a year.

Jerry and Sue Hudnall have four children – Coy, Tonya, Benji and Emily – and are members of Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church in Riverside.

Jerry Hudnall is an active leader in the community, with leadership roles with the Kentucky Pork Producers Association Board, Warren County Farm Bureau Board, Farm Credit Advisory Board and other organizations.

Daughter Tonya Hudnall Matthews wasn’t present at Monday’s news conference, but sent a videotaped message to her family.

In the message, she reminisced about her days on the family farm and expressed remorse for not being present at the award ceremony.

&#8220You know me – always keeping my priorities straight – I’m on the beach,” she joked.

Benji Hudnall is also involved with the Kentucky Pork Producers Executive Board and is the state secretary for the Kentucky Young Farmers Association. He is also the treasurer for Mount Pisgah United Methodist Church.

Benji Hudnall and his wife, Cheryl, have three children – Grant, Neeley and Riley, who are also members of Mount Pisgah Church.

&#8220It’s great to have a committee like this to recognize the people who are in the production agriculture field,” Benji Hudnall said.

Today from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., tours of the Jerry Hudnall’s family farm along with Ronald Hatcher’s farm are available as part of the Chamber’s Agri-Business week.

O’Brien named Agri-Business Person of the Year

The chamber also named John L. O’Brien the 2006 Agri-Business Person of the Year.

The honor is awarded to a person who has effectively supported the agriculture industry.

O’Brien graduated from Western Kentucky University in 1967.

He obtained a doctor of veterinary medicine from Auburn University in 1973 and opened O’Brien Veterinary Hospital that year to provide services for large and small animals in Warren and surrounding counties.

O’Brien has practiced in Warren County for 35 years.

Five years ago, O’Brien decided to specialize in horses. Today, O’Brien is recognized as one of Kentucky’s leading veterinarians in the equine industry.

He said some choose fields and then realize those choices were a mistake.

But O’Brien hasn’t had that problem.

&#8220I haven’t had that thought. I’ve always loved what I’ve done.”

Because of his love, O’Brien said, he has never had to set an alarm clock over the years because he looks forward to each day.

O’Brien will speak during an ag-awareness luncheon is at 11 a.m. Thursday at Chaney’s Dairy Barn.

Other events for agri-business week include a luncheon with the Rotary Club at noon Wednesday. The speaker will be Gordon Jones. The luncheon is at the Bowling Green Country Club.

The week ends with an ag-awareness breakfast at the Warren County Justice Center at 7 a.m. Friday.

– For more information on events for the chamber’s Agri-Business Week, call 781-3200.