10 Things I Would Do Immediately If I Was Queen Of Kentucky
By Jenn Shockley|Published November 06, 2015
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Jenn Shockley
Author
I am somewhat a cliche'. I grew up running around barefoot on a farm in Kentucky.
I love writing, art, sunshine, all animals and my incredibly patient husband, who tolerates my "crazy animal lady" side.
Oh, to be queen of Kentucky for a day. That is a wish I am sure many women share, (or King in the case of male Kentuckians.) If I was queen of Kentucky, there were be a few alterations I would deem necessary. Our state is incredibly beautiful, but still. One point is that there is more to the Bluegrass State then the Kentucky Derby. If the crown was ever to rest upon my head, I would embrace the challenge of creating more sunshine and versatility within our borders.
Here are 10 things I would do if I was queen of Kentucky:
We have a multitude of animal shelters in Kentucky and a fantastic percentage of pro-lifers. Yet we still have a division of both kill and no kill facilities. The entire state would be "No Kill" in order to preserve all life.
The Kentucky Derby festival is the most widely recognized festival in our state, but we have a barrage of entertaining and interesting festivals. More recognition should be brought to the Gonzo Fest (honoring Hunter Thompson), World Fest and especially the Bluegrass Festival. Kentucky is the home of Bluegrass Music, which is enjoyed around the world now. Our state is worth celebrating for more reasons than I can list.
Kentucky should be known for its fine wineries as well as our distilleries. Not that any state should be recognized for alcohol…but since we already are, we should make it more versatile. We have some extremely tasty types of wine with home grown grapes.
No one wants their kingdom in a civil war, but we get a small version of that during the Kentucky and Louisville basketball games. Some people see it as a literal sports war…others see it as a good natured game. There would be peace, (or, at least, people would be asked to fake it.)
What isn’t forest, water, or city in Kentucky is farmland. We could grow enough fresh vegetables to feed several states if we wanted to; milk included, as we have plenty of dairy farms. Wouldn’t it be wonderful to have fresh fruits and vegetables on the table each night instead of food shipped from who knows where? There is nothing like fresh foods and milk. I grew up on it.
Our lands are beautiful and full of wonderful places to visit, camp, hike and have great family experiences. Red River Gorge is among the most popular and well known, but there are so many more. Our parks do not get 1/10 the attention of a renowned 30-second horse race. Promoting our gorgeous parks would be a priority.
There have been times when we have all watched the news and felt that the media made us look like hicks. At times, the reporter picks the more illiterate person to speak with. As queen, I would require they at least weigh the options more carefully. Other states would know that most Kentuckians have teeth, wear shoes, speak English and, most importantly, understand a question.
As of right now, the Kentucky Derby gets more attention than ANYTHING in our state. This incredible string of caves is one of the Seven Wonders of the World, and should be glorified as such. More attention would be drawn to our natural beauty.
There would be an annual outdoor week allotted like an additional vacation. Families and friends could spend a week camping out, and enjoy our gorgeous parks and recreation centers by staying in cabins or tents, as long as they are outdoors enjoying nature by fishing, swimming, hiking or another outdoor activity.
Our weather is spastic… I would create our own weather machine and keep the temperature a lovely 75-80 degrees nine months out of the year, and 60-65 degrees during the other three. The mountains I would leave be, as they are mountains. People who love the cold could travel there for the winter.
This is not meant to be negative towards our gorgeous state, but more as a humorous “what if”. If I was queen, I would, somehow, make sure that the rest of the U.S. knew that some Kentuckians are successful, intelligent, friendly and full of life, and “hillbilly” does not mean uneducated bumpkin. Our strengths would be recognized, our weather wonderful and our lands would remain perfect, since they already are. If you were queen or king for a day, what would you change about Kentucky?
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