P&Q celebrates the Bluegrass State

The state of Kentucky, whose population exceeds 4.4 million people, contains some of America’s most picturesque towns.

The town of Bardstown, which prides itself as the Bourbon Capital of the World, is one such place. Bardstown was recognized several years ago as the “Most Beautiful Small Town in America.” With the bourbon boom catapulting Bardstown into another stratosphere, the town and the surrounding region continue to sprout new distilleries, making this small spot tucked in Kentucky’s rolling hills a global destination.

I had the opportunity to roll through Bardstown this year during a visit to Haydon Materials. This Kentucky producer recently transitioned its aggregate production within Bardstown from one quarry to another, constructing a brand-new plant that incorporates state-of-the-art automation.

Ironically, the plant Haydon Materials previously operated within Bardstown will be transitioning into a complex with a bourbon distillery at its core, illustrating the concept that there’s no shortage of second-life opportunities for quarries.

You can dig into this month’s coverage of Haydon Materials. The feature story on the company’s new Airport Road Quarry is, however, just the start of our issue theme on the Bluegrass State.

Quality Stone & Ready Mix, another Kentucky producer, graces our cover this month. Vice president Kevin Holloway and superintendent Jesse Holloway kindly offered me an operation tour this year, showing off their recently upgraded primary plant that came together after meticulous planning.

The Holloways take you inside their operation, and they detail a few of the challenges and opportunities they see within their state.

More Kentucky coverage

One incredibly successful venture taking place within the Bluegrass State is a relatively new Kentucky Crushed Stone Association (KCSA) program designed for up-and-coming aggregate producers, manufacturers and service providers. KCSA launched its Emerging Leaders program in 2017, and other state associations are already taking notice.

Jesse, 34, initially brought the program to my attention, and he shares his experience as a KCSA Emerging Leader.

The KCSA program was a welcomed development by KCSA members who seek to develop next-generation leaders within their companies. Emerging Leaders is now forging bonds between producers across the state, making introductions that can turn into career-long connections.

Don’t be a surprised if a program like Kentucky’s sprouts in other states in the years to come.