Hey there, fellow farm-loving friends! 🌾 If you’ve been following us for a while, you probably already know that here at Branding & Buzzing, we’ve got a serious soft spot for farmers. But what you might not have realized is just how much we go bananas for the incredible products that come straight from the farm. And when those grains get turned into booze? Well, let’s just say we’re drinkin’!
Picture this: you’re cruising through the picturesque Bluegrass State, and what do you see? Rows upon rows of golden corn swaying gently in the breeze. It’s a sight to behold, for sure. But what you might not realize is that amidst all that corn, something magical is happening – bourbon is being born!
it takes a whole lot of grain to make the good stuff. Like, a serious amount. We’re talking millions of bushels here, folks!
According to the Kentucky Distillers’ Association’s latest Bourbon Economic Impact Report, distillers in the Bluegrass State guzzled up a whopping 28.3 million bushels of corn, along with another 13.2 million bushels of wheat and rye. That’s enough grain to make your head spin – or maybe that’s just the bourbon talking!
But here’s where it gets really interesting.
Turns out, a big chunk of that grain is sourced right from local Kentucky farms. In fact, a whopping 70 percent of the corn used by distillers comes straight from their very own backyard. That’s a serious vote of confidence in their local farmers, if you ask us!
And it’s not just corn that’s getting the Kentucky treatment. Wheat and rye are also getting in on the action, with 19 percent of other grains coming from the Bluegrass State. Talk about keeping it local!
So, what does all this mean for farmers? Well, for starters, it means a whole lot of business! Kentucky distillers snapped up a cool 19 million bushels of corn and 2.6 million bushels of other grains from local farmers last year alone. That’s no small potatoes – or should we say, corn?
So, the next time you sip on a smooth glass of bourbon, take a moment to raise a toast to the hardworking farmers who made it all possible. After all, without them, we’d all be stuck sipping on something a whole lot less delicious! Cheers to that! 🥃🌾