decision, and I'm grateful to the General Assembly for the recognition.

End quote.

Senator McConnell was in Barron County today to speak on federal funding for a new project.

A press conference was held in Cave City, where plans are underway to build an agricultural exposition center.

McConnell, a senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, secured $20 million in the budget for the new facility.

This will be his final term in Washington, as you know.

And McConnell was asked how he would advise his replacement concerning support for rural Kentucky.

>> Well, first first let me say this.

This area is not without influence.

Congressman Guthrie is chairman of a very important committee in the House.

Very smart, very plugged in.

One of our other congressmen, Congressman Comber.

I think he's running for governor, so I expect he'll become your new best friend.

And so I think there's still going to be elected officials who are interested in helping.

With regard to my successor, it's it's a fact that I started the ground zero.

Hopefully they get better quicker as quickly as possible, but I think the initiatives may originate in the House.

>> Now, we should note that First District Congressman James Comer has not declared he's running for governor.

The new AG Expo will be located next to the Cave Area Conference Center.

It will have seating for 3000 people and will host rodeos, tractor pulls, cattle and equine events, among other plans.

The Barron County judge executive says the project has been in discussion for many years, and she's grateful to see it moving forward.

>> It is very personal to me because, you know, I take great pride in representing Barron County and being able to sell everything that we offer here.

This is a wonderful place to to create opportunity, and I feel like that's my job as county judge executive.

And I'm very thankful to Senator McConnell for hearing that, just like he told me just then and told the mayor as well that, you know, there's a lot of projects that are out there that people are trying to push or that want for their community.

And he said, our proposal and our everything that we've done with this project was the most impressive.

And he he takes great pride in being able to invest right here in Barron County.

>> A board representing the county and city, along with neighboring Hart County and the Extension Office will be in