He is a full time farmer who wants to be a voice for agriculture, and Frankfort Republican State Representative Ryan Bevins is a Spencer County native, now a full time farmer and the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln.

He represents green, Hart and LaRue counties, a rural district in central Kentucky.

Our Laura Rogers spent some time with Bivins on his Hodgenville farm.

As we profile the 2025 freshman class of the Kentucky General Assembly and.

My father, Trevor, is still me.

You don't talk about politics or religion because you'll lose a friend real quick.

I've had to change my philosophy on it, and I've told people, I think times have changed.

I think you better be talking about your religion.

You better be talking about politics nowadays.

Republican State Representative Ryan Bivins is now firmly talking about politics.

In his first term as a state lawmaker representing the 24th district.

Coming from agriculture, being a full time farmer.

I think it's my responsibility to stand up for the industry.

Bivins, his wife Misty, and their two sons are a first generation farm family.

Farming is a business unlike any other business.

His road crop operation, Fresh Start Farms, employs nine people.

We will plant a little over 10,000 acres of corn, soybeans and wheat.

This year, he owns about 1500 of those acres and leases the rest.

One of the things about agriculture that is so unique is we are a small family.

Bivins has been strongly involved in the ag community through commodity organizations Kentucky Farm Bureau and FFA and four H. I think it's all of our fiscal responsibility to get involved.

I don't care if you're in the business of producing something or you just simply work for somebody.

I think you need to be involved with a group that advocates for you.

When the district 24 seat opened last year, Bivins was encouraged to run to extend his advocacy to the statehouse.

It's kind of hard to sit back and complain about things if you're not willing to put your name on the line yourself.

You need people that have everyday experience out here, people that live real life, people that own businesses, people that pay taxes.

They understand what needs to go on within government.

Bivins, who lives in Hodgenville, the birthplace of Abraham Lincoln, says he has a personal understanding of the needs of a rural district, including infrastructure improvements and support for public education.

We have kids that go to the public school system.

I have a wife who teaches in the public school system.

I understand those needs, but I also think that the constituents in this district, they're pretty self-sufficient.

And a lot of times it's not what you can do for me.

It's what you don't do against me.

We don't want to be left behind.

We want folks to appreciate what we are, who we are, and where we live just as much as some would do in a major city.

Corn crops supports Kentucky's distillery market.

Bourbon, being one of Kentucky's signature industries, can travel anywhere in the world, point to a bottle on a shelf and say, hey, that's my product, that I grow back on the farm.

He has concerns about the dwindling number of farms in Kentucky and the loss of farmland.

Calling it a matter of national security.

I tell people, we have got to wake you up on these days.

You know, it's not just about protecting farmers.

It's about protecting the land that farmers operate.

If we're not able to produce the food that we need in this country, we're going to lose our status as being the powerful nation that we are.

Bivins has co-sponsored legislation related to eminent domain that he says, would ensure ag producers are paid fair market value for what their land is worth.

Government touches a whole lot of stuff.

It impacts absolutely everyone's lives, and you've got to keep that in mind when you're voting on stuff and when you're looking at different legislation, he says among his top concerns.

Making decisions that will bring positive outcomes for Kentuckians.

Years down the road, it's not just about us.

It's about generations to come.

We've got to lay the proper groundwork.

So that way we ensure success for my kids, my grandkids.

Going forward, for Kentucky Edition.

I'm Laura Rogers.

Thank you Laura.

Bivens replaced Brandon Reed, who is now executive director of the Kentucky Office of Agricultural Policy.