Larry Snell rarely had the opportunity to look back over his ten years as KCARD’s Executive Director while he was serving in that role. He was working too hard at the time to lay the foundation for an organization that would evolve to fit the changing demands of Kentucky agriculture. KCARD recently caught up with Larry, now retired.
A great deal of Larry's 42-year professional career was spent managing Cumberland Farm Products, a farmer-owned cooperative, from 1970 to 2002. The co-op marketed large lots of produce all over the world. “The co-op assisted in providing income to families when they needed it most, and I always enjoyed helping others through agriculture efforts”, Snell added.
Helping others through agricultural efforts is what made Larry Snell a great fit as the first Executive Director of the Kentucky Center for Cooperative Development (KCCD), a precursor of the Kentucky Center for Agriculture & Rural Development (KCARD). According to Larry, the idea of the Center began with Dr. Lionel Williamson at the University of Kentucky recognizing a need for a state-based resource to assist people looking to develop cooperatives across the Commonwealth.
What started out as a cooperative development center has now evolved into an organization who assists many different agriculture and rural businesses in the areas of co-op development, business development and assistance, grant facilitation and more. Without the vision of the founding board, and the leadership they set in place, the organization would not be where it is today.
“Multiple banks, co-ops in Louisville, folks in D.C., Mark Haney (of Kentucky Farm Bureau), Dr. Tim Woods (University of Kentucky) and more all fell right in and helped get KCCD started.” Dr. Williamson soon after contacted Snell and convinced him to apply to the founding board, who at the time was made up of representatives from Kentucky Department of Agriculture, Kentucky Farm Bureau Federation, locally owned co-ops, and NOLIN electric co-op. Larry Snell was hired for the position of Executive Director of KCCD and began his eleven-year career in April of 2002.
“You know, I really enjoyed the job. I always enjoyed the successes and appreciated the struggles.” – Larry Snell, Retired KCARD Executive Director
“There was no other organization like this in the state. Funds did not exist for organizations like this. We had a lot of proving to do, and with such a small staff, it was a struggle at times. But once word got out of what we were doing, it was better.” Larry mentioned how crucial relationships were both with other organizations and with people like Jeff Jones from USDA Rural Development, and the assistance they provided in the development.
For three years, Kentucky Center for Cooperative Development worked one-on-one with co-ops across the state in all stages of development. It did not take long for the KCCD board and Mr. Snell to realize that other business structures could also benefit from the assistance that the organization was providing. “Other funding came in and KCCD was able to transition to working with LLCs and other business structures and independent farm families.” Soon after, Kentucky Cooperative Development Center was renamed Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD). The Kentucky Agriculture Development Board support enabled KCARD to help producers make changes to their businesses statewide.
As Larry recalls, “We spent a lot of time around kitchen tables. This was important. I felt like the work we did helped lots of folks expand and grow.”
According to Larry, what sets KCARD apart is that they not only help businesses identify areas of the operation to address, but then goes even further to follow up and make sure that the business is able to implement the necessary changes, as well as walk alongside them in the process. Larry remarked, “The devil is in the details. KCARD’s job is to not help people work harder, but smarter!” By working alongside the businessmen and women, KCARD is able to create working relationships and in the words of Larry, “it is a really gratifying experience.” In talking about the inner workings of KCARD, he always felt like it was the hands-on help that the organization provides that makes all the difference. “They always knew we were there, and that is what folks appreciate today.”
“We were hands on. We went to them.” – Larry Snell, Retired KCARD Executive Director
Larry reflected on some of the significant challenges, as well as the successes that KCARD has experienced over the past 20 years. One of the main struggles that the organization faced early on was paying a good wage for a career person. The initial funding for the organization was for one year, and funding had to be sourced year after year. As the organization has established itself, so has its funding resources. One of the greatest successes in Larry’s opinion for the organization is how much it has grown and adapted based on the advice and recommendations received from clients. In a sense, the clients and stakeholders have molded the functions of the organization. As businesses and organizations changed, KCARD adapted.
One of the many ways Larry led the organization in business development was through the development and implementation of a new service KCARD offered: Business Management and Operations Analysis (BMOA). Dr. Harold Love, a retired professor from the University of Kentucky, had previously conducted a business analysis of Cumberland Farms Product. Larry later carried the business analysis concept to KCARD and molded it into a complete Business Management and Operations Analysis. This service, which KCARD still provides, involves an in-depth and comprehensive on-site analysis of the business. Larry talked about its importance for businesses who were sometimes hit and miss on records, or maybe that employment management was not always spot on. Through interviewing employees, retrieving job descriptions, and gaining a better viewpoint of internal operations, Larry and the KCARD team were able to gain a better understanding of what it was like working at a given organization. “I always felt good about the final report. It gave businesses a good look inside. What we found was that they were good people, but always had more to offer.”
Larry gave multiple examples of where KCARD was able to assist clients to manage and monitor their business operations more effectively and how KCARD was able to help them address hurdles such as hiring employees, paying taxes, delegating tasks and balancing work and family life. Larry also mentioned how he was able to develop friendships with many of these clients, many of whom he is still friends with today.
However, some of the advice that Larry and the KCARD staff members provided was not always positive. Larry also mentioned how sometimes the organization must provide advice that no one wants to hear, but really needs to hear. An example given was of a business in Western Kentucky. KCARD conducted a feasibility study analyzing the volume needed to run the facility. After analyzing volumes, returns and cost analysis, KCARD determined the endeavor was not a profitable one. However, Larry still considered the project a success because KCARD was helpful in making sure that business avoided a major loss.
Larry is proud of the work that the KCARD organization has accomplished over the past twenty years. “Having the ability to associate with so many good people who also wanted to help agribusinesses across the state was a real pleasure.” He went into detail about how much he appreciated his staff, who did what they could to help farmers, even if it required putting in many miles and long hours.
“I received a lot of enjoyment from knowing we were helping people make progress,” said Larry. “My reward was helping others, and I made a lot of friends along the way.” He was honored to have the opportunity to be a part of the organization from the very beginning and emphasized how proud he is of Aleta Botts, the current Executive Director of KCARD, and of the entire staff.
“Knowing that the organization is still alive and running today shows that it is a success. I am proud to be associated with KCARD and the work they are doing.”
Looking ahead to the next twenty years for KCARD, Larry talked about transition and how the organization will have to continue to adapt to the ever-evolving agriculture realm. “There is more direct marketing agriculture than ever.” He anticipates more and more people asking for assistance for business growth and development, which will require greater staffing and support for the organization.
Larry Snell’s legacy in Kentucky agriculture includes 31 years as manager of the Cumberland Farmers Cooperative, but that was just the start. By providing the leadership for the establishment and growth of KCARD, he has affected thousands of Kentucky farm families and businesses and that work continues to yield benefits many years after he retired. His excitement and his confidence in the work of KCARD set the trajectory for the continued success of the organization.