Leadership Central Kentucky: Franklin County Day Summary

Written By: Eric Del Valle

We started our day at the Frankfort Chamber of Commerce, where Tish Shade, the CEO, welcomed us and introduced us to some of the key players in the Kentucky Chamber. Rocky Adkins shared stories from his long career in public service, and one thing that really stuck with me was his emphasis on unity. He talked about how important it is for Republicans and Democrats to work together, no matter our differences, to come up with great ideas that benefit everyone.

After that, we headed to Buffalo Trace Distillery. Honestly, one of my favorite parts was just stepping outside and catching that first scent of the bourbon aging in the air. For a bourbon enthusiast like me, it was a treat to dive into the history of Buffalo Trace and see how the aging process works up close. Danny Kahn led us through a special tasting after the tour, and we even got to sample a bottle of Sazerac 18 from their Antique Collection. That was by far my favorite, I’m a big fan of rye as well as bourbon. After the tasting, we had the chance to visit the gift shop and pick up some rare bottles you don’t normally find in the wild, and Danny Kahn signed them for us, which made the experience even better.

Next, we visited Kentucky State University. In addition to having a fantastic meal; my favorite was the fried chicken, but they also served black-eyed peas, cabbage, and cornbread; we learned about some of the unique and innovative programs they offer. They have aquaponics, they raise shrimp, and they’ve even used the Kentucky-native pawpaw fruit to partner with Ale-8 and create a special pawpaw-flavored drink. Dr. Koffi Akakpo talked to us about the challenges the university faced and how they’ve worked to turn things around under his leadership. It was inspiring to see the direction the university is heading.

We ended the day at Serafini, a cozy restaurant in downtown Frankfort. They served us great appetizers and drinks, and it was a nice, relaxed way to wrap up the day. Over those appetizers, we heard from Mayor Layne Wilkerson and County Judge/Executive Michael Mueller. They spoke openly about housing challenges, economic development, and how working together shapes the future of Franklin County. It felt less like listening to officials and more like hearing neighbors talk about the community they love.