KEEP’s Elisabeth Jensen to Retire at End of 2022

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP)'s executive vice president, Elisabeth Jensen, will retire from her position at the end of the year. During Jensen's leadership, which began in 2018, she oversaw the daily operations of the organization and was integral in expanding KEEP to address new issues facing the industry, as well as advancing the goal of preserving and promoting the horse industry's role as Kentucky's signature industry. KEEP is a highly visible advocate in Frankfort, Ky. and Washington, D.C. for both expanding the number of visas available to the industry for immigrant labor, as well as for building the infrastructure for creating a home-grown workforce.

The KEEP Board of Directors is currently performing a search to hire Jensen's replacement. Jensen will continue to serve on the KEEP Board following her retirement.

“Elisabeth has been an incredible asset to the horse industry and we are grateful to have had her at the helm during some of the industry's most serious challenges,” said Case Clay, Chairman of KEEP's Board. “Without her leadership at KEEP, the industry would not be on the solid footing that it is today. There are many challenges and tasks ahead and that is why we are grateful that Elisabeth has agreed to join the KEEP Board of Directors. Her continued input will be immensely valuable to the organization.”

Jensen worked closely with the Kentucky Legislature in 2021 to secure the passage of legislation that maintained historical horse racing as a revenue stream for the industry, resulting in increased purses, greater field sizes, and more equine businesses relocating to Kentucky. She also led KEEP's advocacy to ensure that land-use decisions are made locally to protect the irreplaceable farmland across Central Kentucky; fended off threats of rising tax rates and protected tax exemptions, both related to the horse industry; and worked in partnership with the Kentucky Chamber Workforce Center to create the Equine Talent Pipeline initiative.

“A major career and lifestyle change brought me to Kentucky to work in the horse industry for over 20 years,” said Jensen. “It has been a dream to come to work every day in an industry I love and it has been an honor to be an advocate for the horse in Kentucky and across the U.S. I look forward to the opportunity to focus more time and energy on my and my husband's cattle farm and being more involved in family businesses.”

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KEEP To Host Horse Industry Advocacy Event

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) announced that it will host a horse industry advocacy event at Midway University Tuesday, Sept. 6, from 5-7 p.m.

Participants in Kentucky's signature horse industry are invited to attend to learn about legislative issues that can impact their equine business, how to engage in the legislative process, and how to best communicate with lawmakers.

In addition to representatives from KEEP and the Kentucky Thoroughbred Association, speakers include Senate Majority Floor Leader Damon Thayer, Senate Minority Caucus Chair Reggie Thomas and Representative Matt Koch.

Candidates for contested open legislative seats are also invited to provide them with an opportunity to meet with horse industry participants.

Individuals interested in attending the event should RSVP to Brittany Bell at brittany@horseswork.com.

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KEEP Begins Youth Grant Program

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) Foundation has launched a youth grant program in order to help support youth who want to become involved with or continue their involvement in the equine industry. Youth grants of up to $500 are available to individuals ages 21 and under who want to attend an equine educational opportunity in Kentucky.

“We are excited to provide this opportunity to Kentucky's youth,” said Alexandra Harper, executive director of the KEEP Foundation. “The equine industry depends on the next generation of equine enthusiasts to become involved as much as possible, and the KEEP Foundation wants to make sure that a variety of industry pathways are available to our youth and a lack of financial support doesn't keep them from participating.”

The application period for the KEEP Foundation Youth Grant opens June 1 and closes July 29. The application and more information can be found here.

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Seattle Slew License Plate Celebrates Fifth Anniversary

The Kentucky Equine Education Project (KEEP) Foundation is celebrating the fifth anniversary of its specialty Seattle Slew license plate.

Since its release on May 1, 2017, the number of Kentuckians who have chosen to use the plate has continued to increase annually. From each purchase and renewal of the plate, $10 is donated to the KEEP Foundation to be used for educational initiatives related to the state's horse industry. To date, funding from the license plate has totaled nearly $140,000.

The KEEP Foundation's Seattle Slew specialty license plate would not have been possible without the gracious support of Karen and Mickey Taylor, the owners of Seattle Slew, and Bobby Shiflet, owner of the Tony Leonard Collection, who donated the photo of Seattle Slew that was used for the license plate.

“The KEEP Foundation's Seattle Slew specialty license plate has paid incredible dividends for the Commonwealth by directing these funds toward essential education and workforce development projects,” said Elisabeth Jensen, Chair of the KEEP Foundation Board of Directors. “We look forward to where the next five years will take us and we have no doubts that it will match the incredible success that we have seen over the past five years. The KEEP Foundation will be forever grateful to the Taylors and the Tony Leonard Collection for making this success possible.”

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