Staff
KDDC's Executive Director and Dairy Consultants work to fulfill our organizations purpose statement, which is: to increase the profitability of Kentucky's dairy producers and allied industry; to foster growth and development for Kentucky's dairy industry; to promote dairy-friendly legislation; to work with regulatory agencies on rules which affect the dairy industry; to communicate relevant issues to KDDC members; to encourage cooperation with affiliated agricultural organizations to benefit all; and to support Federal Marketing Order rulings which promote fair and equitable milk prices.
Tori Embry
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Executive DirectorCell: 859-516-1129 Email: [email protected]
Tori transitioned into the Executive Director role at the beginning of 2025 from her position as the Central Region Dairy Consultant. She has been with KDDC since 2022. Tori comes from a dairy background, having been raised on a small dairy farm in central Kentucky and later received her B.S. from Eastern Kentucky University and M.S. in Animal Science with a concentration on dairy health and welfare from the University of Tennessee. Tori resides in Grayson County where she raises registered Charolais cattle with her family.
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Melissa Huggett |
Program Coordinator |
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Cell: 859-516-2458 Email: mhuggett@kydairy.org
Melissa brings significant expertise to the Kentucky Dairy Development Council through her background in agriculture, leadership, and community engagement. As a family farm Owner/Operator with skills in budget management, event planning, and outreach, she is dedicated to supporting Kentucky’s dairy producers. Melissa holds an Associate Degree in Science (Sustainable Agriculture), a Bachelor’s in Agribusiness, and a master's in agriculture/Agribusiness Economics. Her collaborative style and focus on agricultural innovation make her a valued advocate for Kentucky’s farming community |
Michelle Sidwell
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Eastern Region Dairy ConsultantCell: 859-516-1619 Email: msidwell@kydairy.org
Michelle was raised on a beef and tobacco farm in central Kentucky and attended the University of Kentucky where she obtained a BS in Animal Science with an emphasis on Dairy Science. She worked at the UK Dairy Research Unit during that time, milking cows and assisting with research. Since then, Michelle spent a couple years as a breeding manager on a swine operation and then went to work in Quality Assurance at Winchester Farms Dairy processing facility. She currently lives in Clark County on a small farm where she raises beef cattle, sheep, and horses with her family. |
Jared Patterson
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Central Region Dairy ConsultantCell: 859-516-1966 Email: jpatterson@kydairy.org
Jared was raised on a dairy farm in southern Kentucky and is a recent graduate of Eastern Kentucky University. |
