Bobby Aldridge First Blue Grass Farms Chaplain

The new Blue Grass Farms Chaplaincy for farm workers in Central Kentucky has hired Rev. Bobby Aldridge as its first Chaplain, president Lonny Powell announced Monday.

"I know I speak for all the dedicated volunteers who make up our Chaplaincy Council when I say how pleased we are to have such a quality and well respected individual as Bobby at the spiritual helm of our new and unique ministry. We are totally committed to serving the needs of the workers and farms in the Blue Grass. With the hiring of our first chaplain, our ministry will be able to plough new and important ground within which we are counting on Chaplain Aldridge to sew many seeds of hope, compassion and spirituality."

The Blue Grass Farms Chaplaincy is a division of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, which also recently helped implement a similar outreach to the farm workers in the Ocala, Fla., area.

"Bobby comes to us with excellent credentials and they will be put to good use," said Dr. Enrique Torres, executive director of the Race Track Chaplaincy of America, who noted that Reverend Aldridge is fluent in Spanish, was a missionary to Brazil, and served as chaplain at Keeneland Remington Park. "Though we have worked within the racing industry for 32 years, reaching out to assist farm workers is a new mission for us. But we want to be in every place in racing where there are workers."

"This is a new land that we enter which we are sure there will be hills and valleys," said Aldridge. "But we are also sure the Lord will watch over this new ministry and bless it."

A prayer breakfast coordinated by the Blue Grass Farms Chaplaincy will be held at Keeneland in the Equestrian Room (1st floor grandstand) on Wednesday, Jan. 14 from 7:30 a.m. to 8:30 a.m. The focus will be to provide an introduction regarding our ministry and mission. Though tickets to the breakfast are free, we are offering the opportunity to sponsors a reserved table for $250. Tickets can be obtained from Blue Grass Farms Chaplaincy Council members at the Keeneland January Sale or by calling Nancy Brooking at (859) 252-0098 or bgfarmschaplaincy@yahoo.com.