Married for 51 years and lifelong Trigg Countians, Ramon and Becky Oliver claimed top honors at Thursday morning’s 46th Annual Trigg County Country Ham Festival Kickoff Breakfast — with the patriarch tabbed as 2022 “Farmer of the Year,” and the matriarch selected as the 2022 “Farm Mom of the Year.”
Together, they’ve developed a strong family — one richly cultivated in agriculture, tradition and west Kentucky history.
But apart, they have their own roles and accolades garnered over the years.
Celebrating his 75th birthday this week, Ramon and his family take great pride in a partnership with Cook Farms of Caldwell County, as well as their own cattle operation in Black Hawk Farms and their nationally-acclaimed American Waygu Beef.
Successful row croppers with high-end yields, Ramon and the family also cherish the long-time tilling of heirloom property.
He’s also been inducted into the Kentucky Cattleman’s Hall of Fame, and has helped hundreds of regional farmers procure necessary loan funding through places like Trigg County Farmers Bank and AgQuest.
Meanwhile, over the decades, Becky has done more than take a passing interest in the cattle on their properties. In the spring, she calls it “hunting Easter eggs,” when she walks the many acres to see where the calves are coming.
But there’s so much more to being a “farm mom” than walking those fields. There was raising the children — Brandon, Bailey and Lucy — who have all found ways to be uniquely involved in operations over the years.
There’s now six grandchildren and two great-grandchildren to nurture. There’s her passion for Roaring Springs Christian Church in Herndon. She’s a gardening enthusiast, one who went on to help found the Trigg County Gardening Association and eventually become the state president of the Gardening Association. She plants a one-acre pumpkin patch as gifts to the community, and her bourbon balls are annual Christmas gifts to many.
And every day for her, there’s farm work to tend.
The daughter of John and Winnie Brandon, Becky’s background was all farming, all the time.
Even though they know they’re no longer spring chickens, Ramon gave little indication their labors and efforts are slowing anytime soon.
Stephanie Perry, a farm mom herself, handed out the award — and quipped about the pluckiness in Ramon and Becky’s relationship, which began in the halls of Trigg County High School.
Brian Lacefield, director of the office of agriculture policy for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, also presented Ramon and Becky with certificates from the state’s agriculture commissioner Ryan Quarles, who named the duo as honorary agriculture commissioners for the Commonwealth.
