Richie Farmer

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Richie Farmer

Agriculture Commissioner of Kentucky

In office
January 3, 2004 – January 2, 2012

Governor Ernie Fletcher

Steve Beshear

Preceded by Billy Ray Smith

Succeeded by James Comer

Personal details

Born Richard Dwight Farmer, Jr.

August 25, 1969 (age 50)

Corbin, Kentucky, U.S.

Political party Republican

Alma mater University of Kentucky

Richard Dwight Farmer (born August 25, 1969) is an American former collegiate basketball
player and Republican Party politician from the U.S. state of Kentucky. He served as the
Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner from 2004 to 2012 and was the running mate of David L.
Williams in the 2011 gubernatorial election. After leaving office, Farmer was investigated for
violating state campaign finance laws and misappropriating state resources and was sentenced
to 27 months in federal prison along with a concurrent 12 months in state prison.
A point guard, Farmer led Clay County High School to the 1987 Kentucky High School Athletic
Association (KHSAA) State Basketball Championship and, in 1988, was named Kentucky Mr.
Basketball and Kentucky Associated Press Male High School Athlete of the Year after setting a
championship game record with 51 points in a losing effort. Although he was popular state-wide
and publicly stated his desire to play collegiate basketball for the Kentucky Wildcats, Coach Eddie
Sutton was reluctant to offer Farmer a scholarship. After Farmer announced that he would visit
other colleges and issued a deadline past which he would no longer consider Kentucky without a
scholarship offer, Sutton relented and Farmer joined the University of Kentucky.
 Kentucky struggled during Farmer's first year, finishing with a 13–19 record, and by mid-season,
fans were accusing Sutton of unfairly favoring his son, Sean, over Farmer at the point guard
position. Sutton resigned in the offseason due to a pay-for-play scandal for which
the NCAA banned Kentucky from postseason play for two years. Sutton's replacement, Rick
Pitino, instituted a rigorous conditioning program and fast-paced style of play that improved
Farmer's performance. After spending his junior season as a backup to Sean Woods, Farmer
transitioned to shooting guard and became a starter in the middle of his senior year. Again
eligible for postseason competition, the Wildcats won the Southeastern Conference tournament
and reached the Regional Finals of the 1992 NCAA Tournament, losing in overtime on a last-
second shot by Duke's Christian Laettner in a game regarded by many as the greatest college
basketball game ever played. The team's seniors – Farmer, Woods, John Pelphrey, and Deron
Feldhaus – were dubbed "The Unforgettables", and their jerseys were hung from the rafters
of Rupp Arena following the 1991–92 season.
Farmer parlayed his status as a basketball icon into two terms as Kentucky Agriculture
Commissioner from 2004 to 2012, winning both elections by large margins. In 2011, Kentucky
Senate President David L. Williams tapped Farmer – considered a rising star in the state
Republican Party – as his running mate in the gubernatorial election. They were defeated by
Democratic Governor Steve Beshear and his running mate Jerry Abramson. During the
campaign, media reports alleged that Farmer had misused state funds and property as
agriculture commissioner and Farmer's successor collaborated with the state auditor to
investigate the allegations. As a result, the Executive Branch Ethics Commission charged Farmer
with 42 ethics violations – the most against an individual in state history. Attorney General Jack
Conway also charged Farmer with violating state campaign finance laws, and a federal grand
jury followed with five indictments for abuses of power. Farmer initially contested the charges, but
later agreed to a plea bargain. On January 14, 2014, Farmer was sentenced to 27 months in
federal prison and ordered to pay $120,500 in restitution and $65,000 in fines. He served almost
20 months in a satellite camp of the United States Penitentiary, Hazelton near Bruceton Mills,
West Virginia, before transitioning to a halfway house in Lexington, Kentucky, on December 18,
2015. He was released from the halfway house on January 21, 2016 and is currently residing in
Clay County.

Contents

 1Early life
 2High school basketball
o 2.1Freshman and sophomore
o 2.2Junior
o 2.3Senior
o 2.4Recruitment
 3College basketball
o 3.1Freshman
o 3.2Sophomore
o 3.3Junior
o 3.4Senior
 4Post-playing career
 5Political career
o 5.1First term as Commissioner of Agriculture
o 5.2Second term as Commissioner of Agriculture
o 5.3Bid for lieutenant governor
 6Post-political life
o 6.1Investigations
o 6.2Charges filed
o 6.3Plea bargain and sentencing
 7References
 8Further reading

Early life[edit]
Richard Dwight ("Richie") Farmer, Jr. was born on August 25, 1969, in Corbin, Kentucky, but
grew up in the eastern Kentucky town of Manchester.[1][2] He was the second of three children
born to Richard and Virginia Farmer.[3] Because of his physical maturity – he reportedly began
shaving at age 12 and had begun wearing his trademark mustache by his junior year in high
school – Farmer was frequently questioned about his age.[1][4] The 5 ft 11 in (1.80 m) left-
hander's vertical leap measured 40 inches (100 cm) in high school.[1] He credited his father, a
transportation manager at a local coal mine and a standout point guard at Clay County High
School in 1963, with developing his basketball acumen.[1]
As an eighth grader, Farmer played basketball for his grade school basketball team, as well as
the freshman, junior varsity, and varsity teams at Clay County High School.[5] He played sparingly
during the varsity team's regular season but received 68 seconds of playing time – scoring 2
points – during the Tigers' victory over Owensboro High School in the 1984 Kentucky High
School Athletic Association (KHSAA) State Basketball Championship.[1][4] He also
played football on a team that won the county championship that year.[1] He eventually stopped
playing football, but continued to play baseball – as a pitcher and first baseman – in addition to
basketball until his senior year of high school.[1][6]

High school basketball[edit]

Freshman and sophomore[edit]
As a freshman, Farmer led his team in scoring during the regular season, averaging 16.4 points
per game from the shooting guard position.[1][7] He also led the Tigers in scoring in each of their
three games en route to the 13th Region Kentucky High School Athletic Association basketball
championship.[8] In the opening round of the 1985 KHSAA state tournament, Farmer scored 14
points on 6 of 16 shooting in a win over Boone County High School.[4] Then, in back-to-back
victories against Metcalfe County High School and Doss High School, he led his team with 21
and 20 points, respectively, to help Clay County reach the tournament finals.[4][9] Farmer scored 10
points in Clay County's 65–64 loss to Hopkinsville High School in the championship game.[10] He
was the tournament's second-highest scorer with 69 points, one behind Hopkinsville's Lamont
Ware, and finished second in the voting for the tournament's Most Valuable Player, which went to
Hopkinsville's Wendell Quarles.[11][12] Only Apollo High School's Rex Chapman received more
votes for the all-tournament team.[1]
Clay County ranked only behind Owensboro and Scott County High School in the Lexington
Herald-Leader's 1985–86 preseason coaches poll.[13] During Clay County's 22–6 regular season,
Farmer, who moved to the point guard position, averaged 18.6 points, 10 assists, and 8 rebounds
per game.[1] The Tigers won the 13th District Title, setting up a matchup with Pulaski County High
School in the first round of the KSHAA state tournament.[12] Farmer had scored 30 points in Clay
County's regular season matchup with Pulaski County, but his team lost by one point in
overtime.[14] In the tournament rematch, Pulaski County held Farmer to 20 points and won 83–78;
Coach Dave Fraley credited a defense centered on stopping Farmer for his team's victory.[14]
Junior[edit]
In the Lexington Herald-Leader's 1986–87 preseason coaches' poll, Clay County was ranked
14th in the state, and Farmer was named one of the state's best 25 players.[15][16] Farmer led his
team in scoring at 23.9 points per game, and Clay County finished the regular season with a
record of 28–2 and again won the 13th Region tournament.[17][18] Farmer scored 19 points and
grabbed 5 rebounds in his team's 90–80 victory over Highlands High School in the KHSAA state
tournament's opening round, but his performance was overshadowed by teammate Russell
Chadwell's 43 points.[19] In the quarterfinals, Farmer led the Tigers with 19 points,
defeating LaRue County High School 62–56 in front of 24,041 spectators at Lexington's Rupp
Arena, a record crowd for a high school basketball game.[20] In the first half of Clay County's semi-
final matchup with Madison Central High School, Farmer scored 18 and his younger brother,
Russ, added 12 to account for 30 of their team's 39 first-half points.[21] The Tigers' 17-point
halftime lead grew to as many as 25 in the second half, and the elder Farmer again led his team
with 24 total points in Clay County's 78–58 victory.[21]
The win over Madison Central set up a title game between Clay County and Louisville's Ballard
High School.[22] Clay County had only one starter taller than 6 feet (1.8 m), while Ballard started
four players taller than 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m), including star shooting guard Allan Houston.[22] The
game featured 24 ties and 15 lead changes; neither team led by more than four points during
regulation.[22] Farmer scored Clay County's last 9 points in regulation, including consecutive go-
ahead baskets at 3:19, 2:46, and 0:30.[23] Ballard's Leonard Taylor scored on a put-back basket at
the buzzer to tie the score at 65 and force overtime.[22] Clay County never trailed in the overtime,
and Farmer's 15-foot (4.6 m) jump shot with 1:44 left put the Tigers in the lead for good.[22] The
76–73 win was Clay County's first-ever KHSAA state championship.[22] Farmer played all 35
minutes of the game and led all scorers with 27 points to go with 6 rebounds and 4
assists.[22][24] He was named to the all-tournament team, selected the tournament's Most Valuable
Player, and given the Ted Sanford Award for citizenship, basketball ability, academic
achievement, and sportsmanship.[23] He was also the only underclassman named to the Lexington
Herald-Leader's 1987 All-State First Team.[25]
In the summer following his junior year, Farmer was named to the Kentucky Junior All-Star Team,
which played exhibition games throughout Europe, including stops in Iceland, the Netherlands,
and West Germany.[26] After the European trip, he helped lead Clay County to a 15–0 record
in Amateur Athletic Union play.[26] It was the first AAU season which recognized the three-point
field goal, and Farmer made 53 of his 73 three-point attempts.[27] In July 1987, the Kentucky
Junior All-Stars finished second to a team from South Carolina in the Kentucky Prep All-Star
Festival at Memorial Coliseum in Lexington; Farmer sat out the championship game with a hand
injury he suffered in the previous game.[28]
Senior[edit]
Clay County was ranked as the top team in the state in the 1987–88 preseason coaches' poll,
and Farmer was voted the state's best prep prospect, garnering twice as many votes as second-
place prospect Allan Houston.[29][30] The Tigers started the year 8–0 before suffering their only
regular season loss in the first game of the 1987 Beach Ball Classic against Eau Claire High
School.[31] In Clay County's next game in the Classic, Farmer broke the school's career scoring
record, scoring his 2,193rd point in a 76–57 win over Tulsa, Oklahoma's Nathan Hale High
School.[31] Gary Gregory, who had held the record since 1974, was in attendance at the
game.[31] In the tournament's fifth place game, Farmer scored 33 points and broke the single-
game record for assists with 16, besting Kenny Anderson's year-old record of 13.[32] Clay County
defeated Simi Valley High School 95–91, and Farmer was selected as the tournament's
Outstanding Player and named to the all-tournament team.[32]
In the opening round of the January 1988 Louisville Invitational Tournament (LIT), Farmer scored
40 points on 15 of 30 shooting in an 86–82 win over Pleasure Ridge Park High School, pushing
Clay County's record to 16–1 and setting up another meeting with Allan Houston's Ballard
team.[33] Farmer scored 39 points – including 14 of his 15 free throws – and grabbed 12 rebounds
in Clay County's 92–88 double overtime victory.[34] In the championship game against Bardstown
High School, Farmer battled through fatigue and a thigh injury to lead his team in scoring with 24
points in an overtime win.[35] In the three-game tournament, Farmer scored 103 points and played
all of his team's 105 minutes, while committing only 4 turnovers.[35][36] He was selected to the all-
tournament team and named tournament MVP.[35] Already being recruited by Western
Kentucky, Alabama, and Notre Dame, Farmer's performances in the Beach Ball Classic and LIT
brought notice from Eastern Kentucky, Wake Forest, Auburn, Louisville, and Kentucky.[36]
In the 49th District Championship game, Farmer broke Clay County's single-game scoring record
with 51 points in a 101–59 win over Jackson County High School.[37] In the 13th Region
tournament opener, Farmer scored 40 points as Clay County defeated Corbin High School 75–
56.[38] Clay County went on to defeat Bell County High School 53–36 in the semi-finals and Knox
Central High School 73–69 in the finals to once again advance to the KHSAA state
tournament.[39][40] Farmer scored 38 points on 14 of 24 shooting in a victory over Rowan County
High School in the tournament's opening round.[41] Four minutes into the Tigers' quarterfinal
matchup against LaRue County High School, Farmer scored a three-point basket that
tied Wallace "Wah Wah" Jones' record for most points scored by a single player in the KHSAA
state tournament (223).[42] Farmer went on to break the record, scoring 30 points in a 91–54
win.[42]
Farmer's 18 points in the semi-finals against Pleasure Ridge Park helped Clay County to a 92–90
win and a rematch in the title game against Ballard High School.[43] Farmer set a title game record
against Ballard, scoring 51 points on 20 of 32 shooting (including 9 of 14 from three-point range),
but Clay County lost 88–79.[44] Ron King set the previous title game record in 1969 with 44; only
Kelly Coleman's 69-point performance in 1956 bested Farmer's 51 points in a tournament
game.[44] He was selected to the all-tournament team, received a Dawahares' Sweet Sixteen
Academic Scholarship Award, and was voted the tournament's MVP.[45] Following the state
tournament, Farmer said he was contacted by LSU, Vanderbilt, Virginia, and Indiana in addition
to schools who had previously recruited him.[46]
For the season, Farmer averaged 27.1 points, 6.4 rebounds and 8.7 assists per game, all career
highs.[47] The only player to play in the KHSAA state tournament five times, he finished his career
with records for most points scored (317) and most field goals made (127) for a career in the
tournament.[45] He posted a total of 2,793 points in his high school career.[48] He was
named Kentucky Mr. Basketball, Kentucky Associated Press Male High School Athlete of the
Year, and was the leading vote-getter for the Kentucky All-State Team, appearing on 160 of 167
ballots.[6][49][50] The Clay County Judge/Executive renamed a road outside Farmer's hometown of
Machester "Richie Boulevard".[49] In a 1989 Lexington Herald-Leader poll of sportswriters and
former high school coaches, Farmer was the near-unanimous choice as the best high school
player in Kentucky during the 1980s.[51]
In May 1988, Farmer was selected to an AAU all-star team that played an exhibition game in
Memorial Coliseum against an all-star team from the Soviet Union.[52] He scored 17 points in a
107–93 win.[52] In the first of two matchups with Indiana's All-Star team, the Kentucky All-Stars lost
102–82; Farmer had a bad shooting performance, going 5 of 18 from the field, including 2 of 9
from three-point range, for 15 points.[53] In the rematch the following week, Farmer scored 19
points in a 112–100 loss.[54]
Recruitment[edit]
Despite Farmer's prolific scoring, recruiters expressed concern about his small stature and lack of
quickness.[36] Even while lauding his skills, Lexington Herald-Leader sportswriter Mike Fields
wrote that Farmer had "heavy legs and slow-going style".[36] Regarding Farmer's size, Fields
noted that, despite playing point guard, Farmer consistently jumped center for Clay County and
could jump high enough to execute a two-handed slam dunk.[36] The Herald-Leader's Billy Reed
compared Farmer to Indiana's Steve Alford, who overcame doubts about his size, speed, and
defense to become the Hoosiers' all-time leading scorer and lead them to an NCAA
Championship in 1987.[55]
Kentucky was believed to be Farmer's school of choice, but coaches remained non-committal
about his recruitment.[46][48] The Wildcats had seven returning guards and small forwards – Rex
Chapman, Eric Manuel, Deron Feldhaus, Derrick Miller, John Pelphrey, Johnathon Davis,
and Sean Sutton – and two signed recruits at those positions – Sean Woods and Chris
Mills.[46] Conversely, four of their five frontcourt players – Winston Bennett, Rob Lock, Cedric
Jenkins and Richard Madison – were graduating, and lone frontcourt signee Shawn Kemp had
not yet qualified academically.[46] On March 21, 1988, Farmer told a Lexington television station
that he would no longer consider Kentucky if they did not offer him a scholarship by the
weekend.[46] A week later, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported that coach Eddie
Sutton extended the offer but that Farmer planned to take official visits to Western Kentucky and
Vanderbilt, and would host an in-home visit with LSU coach Dale Brown before deciding whether
to accept Sutton's offer.[48]
In April, Farmer played shooting guard for the North team in the Kentucky Derby Festival
Classic.[56] He scored 14 points on 5 of 12 shooting and grabbed 3 rebounds, but his team lost to
the South team 134–125.[56] Among his teammates in the Classic was Kentucky signee Sean
Woods, who told the Lexington Herald-Leader that he and Farmer had become good friends and
that he hoped Farmer would choose to play for the Wildcats.[56] The paper also reported that
Farmer had narrowed his list of potential college choices to three: Western Kentucky, LSU, and
Kentucky.[56] Farmer took an official visit to Western Kentucky the weekend of April 9, 1988, but
on April 14, the second day of the April signing period, he held a press conference at his high
school gymnasium to announce that he had signed a National Letter of Intent with
Kentucky.[47] He told the assembled crowd, "[Playing for Kentucky has] been a dream of mine as
long as I can remember. Even before kindergarten, I always wanted to play for Kentucky."[47]

College basketball[edit]

Richie Farmer

Personal information

Born August 25, 1969 (age 50)

Corbin, Kentucky

Listed height 6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)

Listed weight 170 lb (77 kg)

Career information

High school Clay County (Manchester, Kentucky)

College Kentucky (1988–1992)

NBA draft 1992 / Undrafted

Position Guard

Number 32

Freshman[edit]
See also: 1988–89 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team
By the time Farmer arrived at Kentucky, the roster had been decimated.[57] Standout shooting
guard Rex Chapman entered the 1988 NBA Draft, ending his collegiate eligibility.[57] Sophomore
Eric Manuel was held out of basketball activities pending the outcome of an investigation into
his ACT scores.[57] Signees Shawn Kemp and Sean Woods failed to qualify academically, and
Chris Mills was under investigation by the NCAA for cash allegedly sent to his father by assistant
coach Dwane Casey in violation of the Association's amateurism rules.[57] A viral illness forced
Farmer to miss about a third of the team's preseason practices.[58] Once he was able to practice,
Coach Eddie Sutton related that he lacked the conditioning to finish most
practices.[59] The Lexington Herald-Leader's Jerry Tipton later reported that Farmer had to leave
practice half an hour early two days a week to attend his American History class.[60] Sutton also
opined that Farmer's high school competition was inferior to that of Los Angeles native Mills, but
Farmer's high school coach pointed out that, during Farmer's senior season, 20 of his team's
games were against teams ranked in the top 20 in their respective states.[60][61]
In his first collegiate game, against Duke, Farmer played 7 minutes and air balled his only
shot.[62] After an early season loss to Notre Dame in the Big Four Classic dropped the Wildcats'
record to 2–3, Sutton noted that Farmer, Sean Sutton, and LaRon Ellis had all missed practice
time with the flu.[63] After managing just 17 points in the Wildcats' first five games, Farmer scored
10 points in 20 minutes in the team's sixth game against Northwestern State.[64] With 12 seconds
to go in the game and Kentucky trailing 84–82, Farmer was whistled for an intentional foul on
Northwestern State's Roman Banks while trying to draw a charge on an inbounds play.[64] Banks
maintained that Farmer had tugged Banks toward him and fallen down, attempting to draw the
call, but Farmer and Sutton both denied the alleged chicanery.[64] Banks hit one of two free
throws, and Farmer missed a potentially game-tying three-point shot at the buzzer, dropping the
Wildcats to 2–4 on the season.[64] Farmer followed up with a 15-point performance in a win
against Western Carolina.[65] In the Kentucky Invitational Tournament, where Kentucky lost its
opening round game to Bowling Green before winning the third-place game against Marshall,
Farmer scored 12 points in each game.[66]
Farmer's sudden increase in scoring prompted complaints from the fan base that Sutton disliked
Farmer and was limiting his minutes out of favoritism for his son, Sean.[60] Some fans began
to boo when Sutton, the team's starting point guard, returned to the game to replace
Farmer.[67] Farmer maintained that Sutton had treated him fairly, and Sutton cited lack of practice
time as the reason for Farmer's limited playing time; in early January 1989, local media reported
that Farmer had been limited in practice due to right knee pain.[60][68] Questions about Farmer's
playing time continued into Southeastern Conference play, even as Farmer's scoring also
dropped off.[68][69] By late January, Sutton publicly complained about the need for more scoring
from the bench, which had produced only 29 points in the team's previous seven
games.[69] Lexington Herald-Leader columnist Billy Reed wrote: "Richie simply isn't ready to play
at this level yet".[70]
Before a January game against Georgia, two-time former governor A. B. "Happy"
Chandler presented Farmer with the 1988 Kentucky Sportsman of the Year Award.[71] The
youngest person and first high school athlete ever to win the award, Farmer finished ahead of
former Kentucky guard Pat Riley, who had just coached the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers to a
second consecutive championship.[72][73]
With the Wildcats' record sitting at 11–13 overall and 6–6 in conference play headed into a
February road game against conference leader LSU, Farmer remained in Lexington with a
combination of a stomach virus and the flu.[74] Teammates LaRon Ellis, Chris Mills, and Derrick
Miller had also been ill, but all recovered in time to make the trip.[74] Farmer shot just 2 of 14 in
limited minutes in the month of February.[75] In Kentucky's final home game of the season, Farmer
hit a three-pointer – his only points of the game – with two seconds left to lift the Wildcats to a 70–
69 win over Ole Miss.[75] The following game, Farmer missed a potentially game-winning 15 feet
(4.6 m) jump shot at the buzzer in a 68–67 loss at Mississippi State to end the Wildcats' regular
season.[76] In its first game of the Southeastern Conference Tournament the next week, Kentucky
lost to Vanderbilt 77–63 in a game where Farmer missed all four of his field goal
attempts.[77] Finishing with a 13–19 record – the team's worst record since the 1926–27 season –
the Wildcats were not invited to any postseason tournament.[77][78] At the team's annual
postseason awards banquet, Farmer received the free throw award.[79]
Sophomore[edit]
See also: 1989–90 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team
Between Farmer's freshman and second years, the NCAA banned Eric Manuel from playing in
any further NCAA games because of questions about the legitimacy of his ACT scores and levied
a two-year postseason ban, a one-year ban on televised games, and scholarship reductions
against Kentucky as punishment for payments allegedly made to the father of Chris Mills.[80] Mills
was ruled ineligible to play at Kentucky and transferred to Arizona; Sean Sutton and LaRon Ellis
also transferred to other schools in the wake of the sanctions.[81] Eddie Sutton resigned and was
replaced by New York Knicks head coach Rick Pitino.[80] After recruit Henry Thomas suffered an
off-season injury to his anterior cruciate ligament, Kentucky was left with just 8 scholarship
players, none of whom were taller than 6 ft 8 in (2.03 m).[82]

Rick Pitino replaced Eddie Sutton as Kentucky's coach in 1989.

Pitino and newly hired strength and conditioning coach Rock Oliver instituted an intensive
conditioning program.[83] The Lexington Herald-Leader noted that Farmer lost 12 pounds (5.4 kg)
in the off-season, reducing his weight to 168 pounds (76 kg), and Pitino praised his improved
speed and endurance.[84][85] Pitino also brought Billy Donovan – who played point guard on Pitino's
teams at Providence – to Kentucky as a graduate assistant to mentor the team's two-point
guards, Farmer and Sean Woods (now academically eligible).[86]
The team's first intra-squad scrimmage showcased Pitino's fast-paced, three-point-heavy style;
the two teams combined to shoot 98-of-175 from the field, including 23-of-57 from three, as the
Blue team defeated the White team 145–85.[87] Farmer led the White team (the projected
reserves) in scoring with 26 points, including 5-of-13 shooting from three-point range.[87] In the
next scrimmage, played at Farmer's alma mater, Clay County High School, Farmer scored 32
points, but the White team lost to the Blue team again, 125–117.[88] The teams again combined for
175 shots, and Pitino said before the game that he wanted both teams to exceed 120
points.[88] Farmer sat out much of the second half of the final scrimmage due to illness but scored
17 points on 5-of-16 shooting in a 124–120 victory for the White team.[89]
After Kentucky's second game of the year – a 71–69 loss at Indiana – Pitino noted that Farmer,
who had 4 points and 4 assists in the game, was benefiting from extra one-on-one coaching
sessions with Donovan.[90] In a December 19, 1989, victory against Furman, Farmer attempted 7
three-pointers – tied for second-most in the game – as the Wildcats set an NCAA record for most
three-pointers attempted in a game with 47, besting their own record of 41 set earlier in the month
against Tennessee Tech.[91] A week later, Farmer set a career-high in points with 21 – including
three made three-pointers – as the Wildcats set records for the most three-pointers made in a
single game (21) and most points ever scored against North Carolina, but lost the game 121–
110.[92] After the game, Pitino opined that Farmer "holds back a little bit" and noted that he would
expect Farmer to work hard in the off-season to reach his potential.[93] The Wildcats closed out
1989 with a closer-than-expected 86–79 loss against eighth-ranked Louisville, but local
sportswriter John McGill said Farmer had his best game to date with 10 points, 9 assists and 3
steals off the bench.[94]
In a January 20, 1990, contest against conference foe Tennessee, Pitino benched senior
shooting guard Derrick Miller to start the second half, giving his spot to Farmer.[95] Farmer, who
had no assists and 4 turnovers in nine minutes during the first half, responded with 7 assists and
only one turnover in the second half.[95][96] Miller, who entered the game with 17:38 left, scored 17
points in the second half as the Wildcats turned a 44–39 halftime deficit into a 95–83 win.[95] Miller
credited Pitino's decision to bring him off the bench in the second half with taking the pressure off
him and helping him get more comfortable in the game.[95] After a mid-week loss to Auburn, Pitino
announced that he would move Farmer into the starting lineup, replacing Sean Woods, for the
Wildcats' January 27 contest against Ole Miss.[97] "We will change the lineup to try to get more
concentration. We'll try Richie Farmer at the point and see what we get out of that. Right now
we're not getting too much out of that position," Pitino told reporters during an SEC
teleconference.[97] In a 98–79 victory, Farmer tallied 11 points, 2 assists and no turnovers in 24
minutes; Woods registered 8 points, 4 assists, and 2 turnovers in 23 minutes off the
bench.[98][99] Pitino said practice performance would determine whether Woods or Farmer would
start the Wildcats' next game against Mississippi State, and he ultimately decided to return
Woods to the starting rotation.[100][101]
On February 15, 1990, in front of a record 24,301 fans at Rupp Arena, Farmer hit six consecutive
free throws to help Kentucky overcome a career-high 41 points by LSU's Chris Jackson and pull
within a half-game of first place in the SEC with a 100–95 win.[102] Farmer entered the game after
Sean Woods fouled out with 1:54 left, and with Kentucky leading by two with just over a minute
left, LSU coach Dale Brown instructed his team to foul Farmer on each Kentucky possession to
conserve the game clock and regain possession of the ball.[103] "We felt Farmer did not have much
experience, and he was playing a little tight," Brown said after the game.[103] Told of Brown's
instructions to foul Farmer – the team's best free throw shooter at 86% – during a post-game
interview, Pitino expressed surprise.[103] "[Brown] said he purposely wanted to foul Richie Farmer?
What was his reason? ... If I had to pick a guy to shoot it in front of 50,000 people with your life at
stake, it's going to be Richie Farmer shooting that free throw."[103]
Less than two minutes into a subsequent game at Alabama, Farmer and walk-on Tony Cooper
both left the bench when Kentucky's Reggie Hanson and Alabama's Robert Horry engaged in a
fist-fight.[104] Hansen, Horry and Cooper were all ejected, but Farmer was not.[104] Asked about the
difference in penalties for Cooper and Farmer, official Don Ferguson admitted he did not want to
hurt Kentucky's shallow rotation any further by ejecting another regular contributor.[104] As a token
of appreciation to the fans, after the Wildcats' February 24 "Senior day" win over Auburn, Pitino
called his players back onto the floor and presented the individual awards usually reserved for the
team's annual awards banquet.[105] Farmer received the "Best Free Throw Shooter" award.[105] For
the season, he averaged 7.0 points per game.[106] Fans and the media nicknamed the team
"Pitino's Bombinos" for their fast-paced offense that relied heavily on the three-point shot, which
contrasted sharply with the more deliberate offensive schemes run by Pitino's immediate
predecessors, Joe B. Hall and Eddie Sutton.[107]
Junior[edit]
See also: 1990–91 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team
In September 1990, Farmer had a disagreement with strength coach Rock Oliver, returned home
to Manchester, and considered leaving the Kentucky basketball team.[106] Pitino, who was away
from campus on a recruiting visit, called Farmer and scheduled a meeting with him for the
following weekend, after which Farmer decided to return to the team.[106] Pitino characterized the
incident as "a case of someone getting down and needing a couple of hugs to get their spirits
lifted a little bit".[108] Pitino later added that he thought the transfer of point guard Travis
Ford from Missouri – bringing additional competition in the backcourt for the 1991–92 season –
may have played into Farmer's brief departure.[109]
Pitino expressed uncertainty entering the season about who would replace Derrick Miller as the
team's starting shooting guard.[110] Farmer was the leading candidate until suffering a bruised
kidney during a public intra-squad scrimmage in early November and reaggravating the injury
during another public scrimmage days later.[110][111] Sophomore Jeff Brassow got the start for the
Wildcats in their season opening win against Penn.[111] Farmer scored 12 points off the bench –
one of six Wildcats with double-digit points – but left the game with 3:17 remaining after taking an
inadvertent elbow in the back.[111] In the next game against Cincinnati, Farmer briefly replaced
starter Sean Woods at point guard after Woods committed eight turnovers in the first half, but
Farmer fared little better, committing two turnovers and uncharacteristically missing two
consecutive free throws.[112] In the second half, after Woods picked up his fourth foul, Farmer
entered the game and provided steady leadership to preserve a 75–71 win.[112] In the Wildcats'
third game of the year – a win over Notre Dame in the Big Four Classic – Farmer led the team in
scoring with 19 points on 7-of-11 shooting; he added 4 assists and 2 steals against no turnovers
in 23 minutes of play.[113]
Prior to Kentucky's December 15 matchup against Chattanooga, Pitino publicly contemplated
starting Farmer in place of Sean Woods at point and either Carlos Toomer or Jody Thompson at
shooting guard instead of Brassow.[114] The day of the game, he announced Farmer would make
the second start of his career at shooting guard alongside Woods at point.[101] Although he tied
with Pelphrey for a team-high 17 points, Farmer returned to the bench for the following game
against Indiana because Pitino felt he didn't have the size to defend the Hoosiers' bigger
guards.[115]
In a December 22, 1990, win against in-state rival Western Kentucky, Farmer posted a new
career high with 22 points, despite missing his first five three-point attempts of the game.[116] He
would not approach such scoring numbers again until a February 3, 1991, contest against
Georgia, when he scored 16 points after seeing extended minutes due to Woods being in foul
trouble.[117] Farmer suffered a black eye during the game, which was notable for its
physicality.[117] Messenger-Inquirer sportswriter Jake Jennings also noted that Farmer relied on
drives to the basket to score, as opposed to his usual penchant for shooting three-point shots.[118]
Before Kentucky's February 13 game against Tennessee, Woods was hospitalized with an "acute
viral illness".[119] Farmer started in his place, tallying 14 points and 7 rebounds in an 85–74
win.[119] Although Farmer also started the next game against Ole Miss, just 48 seconds into the
game his knee made contact with an opponent's knee, sending him to the locker room and
Woods into the game.[120] Farmer returned to score a team-high 21 points, but also suffered a
scratched eye, in a win that gave Kentucky the best record in the SEC; Woods logged 9 points
and 7 assists in almost 24 minutes of action off the bench.[121] Woods returned to the starting
lineup in Kentucky's next game at Vanderbilt, but Farmer remained a starter as well, replacing
Jeff Brassow at shooting guard.[122] He scored 13 of his team-high 19 in the first half, but Kentucky
lost the game 98–87.[122] Pitino characterized Farmer as "exhausted" in the second half, playing
heavy minutes in relief of Woods, who managed only 15 minutes before fouling out.[123] Two
games later, Farmer hit four of his first five shots – including three 3-pointers – and finished with a
team-high 16 in a win against Alabama.[124][125] Farmer notched 20 points – one behind team
leader Jamal Mashburn – in Kentucky's final game of the season, a 114–93 win over
Auburn.[126] The win pushed Kentucky to a conference-best 14–4 record, but an SEC rule forbade
declaring a team the regular season champion if they were ineligible for postseason play, as
Kentucky was.[126]
Farmer was one of five players to average double-digit points per game (10.1); it was the first
time since Kentucky's 1977–78 championship team that so many players had averaged double-
digit scoring.[127] At the team's postseason awards banquet, Farmer received the Free Throw
Award for the third straight year and was also named the team's Most Improved Player.[128] Pitino
named the four rising seniors – Farmer, Pelphrey, Woods, and Feldhaus – co-captains for the
upcoming season.[129]
Senior[edit]
See also: 1991–92 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team
Shortly after the team's first practice in October 1991, Pitino again commented on Farmer's
improved conditioning, calling it his "biggest surprise" of the early practices.[130] He also
announced that seniors Sean Woods and John Pelphrey would join Jamal Mashburn in the
starting lineup – as the team's point guard, small forward, and power forward, respectively – while
senior Deron Feldhaus would reprise his "sixth man" role from the previous season.[130] Farmer
was projected to compete with junior college transfer Dale Brown for the starting shooting guard
spot.[131] At the team's annual Midnight Madness scrimmage, Farmer joined the announced
starters and sophomore Gimel Martinez on the Blue team, which defeated the White team 67–
54.[132] Farmer had 18 points, including 4 of 6 made three-point baskets.[132] Forbidden from holding
off-campus scrimmages by new NCAA regulations, Kentucky played its only public preseason
scrimmage in Memorial Coliseum; Farmer joined the White team, scoring 21 points on 6-of-12
shooting in a losing effort.[133]
Suffering from the flu, Farmer did not play in the Wildcats' season-opening win against West
Virginia in the Preseason NIT.[134] He played in the following game, but missed all seven of his
shots as Kentucky was eliminated from the tournament by Pitt 85–67, the team's worst home loss
since 1988.[135][136] Farmer came off the bench in the Wildcats' next game – a 90–69 win
over UMass – but matched his career-high with 22 points, including a perfect 10-of-10 from the
free throw line; he saw extended minutes in the game due to a season-ending knee injury to Jeff
Brassow.[136] UMass coach John Calipari called Farmer "the difference in the game".[136]
During the non-conference season, Farmer made notable plays late in important games,
including a game-clinching rebound against Indiana and a key three-pointer in the waning
minutes of a game against Ohio.[137] In a January 2, 1992, game against Notre Dame, Farmer
entered the game after just three minutes when starter Dale Brown sprained his ankle.[138] In the
first half, he equaled his career high of 22 points – including five three-point baskets – en route to
a new career-high of 28 in a 91–70 victory.[138] This performance notwithstanding, complaints from
the fan base about Farmer's lack of playing time – he averaged 17.7 minutes per game through
early February – grew louder and eventually became the subject of media interest.[139] In January,
two of Kentucky's smaller newspapers printed articles on the subject – one speculating that Pitino
was intentionally holding Farmer back so Farmer's popularity wouldn't eclipse his
own.[139][140] Kentucky beat writer Jerry Tipton addressed the topic at length in a Lexington Herald-
Leader column on February 8, drawing a rebuke from Pitino, who called the issue a "non-
story".[139][140]
In late January, shortly before the Tipton article appeared, Pitino decided to start Farmer against
Ole Miss.[141] He believed starting Woods and bringing Brown off the bench would allow him to
have one of his two best defenders on the floor more often; he also believed Farmer's height
would not be a liability against Ole Miss' smaller starting guards.[141] Farmer scored 10 points on 4-
of-10 shooting and led the team with 6 rebounds in a 96–78 victory.[142] Pitino then decided to start
Farmer and fellow reserve Deron Feldhaus in Kentucky's next game against LSU, hoping to draw
Tigers center Shaquille O'Neal farther from the basket by starting better shooters.[143] The strategy
was not successful – Farmer shot 2-of-9 and Feldhaus 1-of-10 in a 74–53 loss – but Pitino
announced that Farmer would continue to start because he was exhibiting more shooting
confidence than Kentucky's other guards.[144][145] Farmer responded with 16 points, including four
3-pointers, in an 85–67 victory over Auburn.[146] He continued to start for the Wildcats for the rest
of the regular season, culminating in a Senior day win against Tennessee, when he scored 11 of
Kentucky's first 16 points and saw extended minutes after fellow senior Sean Woods was ejected
for fighting with the Volunteers' Jay Price.[5][147]
With the team's probation over, Farmer and the other three seniors played in their first – and only
– postseason games in the 1991–92 season.[148] After an opening round win against Vanderbilt in
the SEC Tournament in Birmingham, Alabama, Kentucky won its third meeting of the season with
LSU 80–74 in the second round; the Tigers were without star center Shaquille O'Neal, who was
suspended for fighting with Tennessee's Carlus Groves in his team's opening round
victory.[148][149] In the finals, Kentucky faced three-time defending tournament champion Alabama,
which was without forward Andre Perry, who suffered a broken foot in the semi-finals against
Arkansas.[150] Star sophomore Jamal Mashburn led all scorers with 28 points on 12-of-14
shooting, en route to an 80–54 victory and tournament Most Valuable Player
honors.[151] Mashburn, who shot 26-for-31 in the Wildcats' three tournament games, said of his
performance, "At the beginning of the season, I told the four seniors 'this is the only thing I can
give you. I can't give you any presents, but I can give you an SEC championship. We gave them
a present they really deserved."[152]
Kentucky was seeded second in the East Region of the 1992 NCAA Tourment.[150] The Wildcats
held a narrow 62–59 lead with 8:25 to play in their first round matchup against Colonial Athletic
Association champion Old Dominion when Farmer hit a layup that keyed a decisive four-and-a-
half-minute, 15–2 run, helping Kentucky to an 88–69 victory.[153] Kentucky's next game,
against Iowa State, was decided at the free throw line. Kentucky was called for 29 fouls in the
game, and Iowa State hit 34-of-38 free throws, but in the final 1:27 of the game, Kentucky shot 14
free throws – making 11 – to win the game 106–98.[154] Farmer, who finished with 14 points, hit
four consecutive free throws in the final minute of the game.[154] After the game, Pitino
commented, "If not for Richie Farmer, we don't win the game."[155] In the regional semi-finals, the
Wildcats faced a rematch with third-seeded UMass. After the Minutemen cut a 20-point Kentucky
lead to 2 with almost six minutes remaining in the game, UMass coach John Calipari was
whistled for a technical foul for leaving the coach's box while arguing that one of his players had
been fouled on a loose ball rebound; Farmer, who finished with 7 points, made the resulting free
throws, starting an 11–2 run that helped Kentucky to an 87–77 win.[156]

Farmer's jersey hangs in the rafters at Rupp Arena.

In the regional finals, Kentucky trailed top-seeded Duke by 12 in the second half, but battled back
to force overtime.[157] With 2.1 seconds left in overtime, Sean Woods hit a running bank shot to put
Kentucky up one.[157] Then, Duke's Christian Laettner caught a long inbounds pass, faked right,
and hit a shot at the buzzer to give Duke the 104–103 victory.[157] The game, which ended
Farmer's playing career, is widely regarded as one of the greatest college basketball games of all
time.[158][159] Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski later recalled, "The thing I'll always remember about that
game is Richie Farmer's face as the ball went in. That, to me, helped me to have a better
understanding of that game. ... To me, that was the deepest emotion that was on the court, the
emotion that was on Richie Farmer's face."[160] Describing the impact of the game, Jerry Tipton
wrote, "On one fateful night, the Cats obliterated any lingering association with $1,000 packages
and academic fraud. Alluring images of courage, honest effort and heartracing excitement
became symbols of UK basketball."[161] Local media gave the seniors the nickname "The
Unforgettables".[162] Collectively, they were voted as the Lexington Herald-Leader's 1992
Sportsmen of the Year.[163]
At the team's annual awards night, Farmer won the award for fewest turnovers per minute played
(32 in 705 minutes), but the free throw award – won by Farmer the previous three years – went to
Gimel Martinez.[164] Athletics director C. M. Newton surprised the four seniors by hanging their
jerseys in the rafters at Rupp Arena.[164] In so doing, he violated the standards for the honor set by
former athletics director Cliff Hagan.[165] Those guidelines held that honorees must have
completed a degree from the university and be at least 10 years removed from the end of their
athletic eligibility.[165] Newton cited the seniors' "unusual and outstanding contributions" to the
program as reasons to make an exception to the standards, adding, "I won't say there never will
be another exception, but the likelihood of another is not great."[165] Sportscaster Cris
Collinsworth protested Newton's action because it honored the seniors before other program
standouts like Kyle Macy and Rick Robey.[165]
After the season, the four seniors participated in a 21-city barnstorming tour of the state, playing
against a group of local players in each city.[166] At the game in Farmer's hometown of
Manchester, Farmer scored 107 points for the seniors' team before switching to the Clay County
team for the remainder of the game, hitting an additional three-pointer for a total of
30.[167] Pelphrey hit a three to give the seniors – without Farmer – a 179–176 lead with 25 seconds
left in the game, and the three seniors triple-teamed Farmer to prevent him from getting a shot off
to tie the game.[167] Twenty percent of the proceeds from each game benefited local charities, and
another twenty percent of the total proceeds from the tour was divided between the University of
Kentucky Library Fund, Big Brothers Big Sisters, and AIDS Volunteers of Lexington.[168]
Post-playing career[edit]
In August 1992, Antex Publishing of Lexington released
Farmer's autobiography entitled Richie.[169] In addition to the standard printing, the publisher
offered a special edition of the book in which direct quotes from Farmer were rendered in blue
type, similar to the words of Jesus in red letter editions of the Bible.[170] Long-time Wildcats radio
broadcaster Cawood Ledford wrote the book's foreword.[171] By the end of October, the book had
sold 30,000 copies, and a second printing from the publisher was ordered.[172] Farmer participated
in several book signings across the state, as well as filming television advertisements for local
products and conducting speaking engagements for dental insurance provider Delta Dental to
promote good oral health in his native eastern Kentucky.[162]
Farmer continued taking classes at Kentucky with support from the Cawood Ledford Scholarship
fund – designated to help University of Kentucky athletes who have exhausted their athletic
eligibility finish their degrees – and in 1995, earned a bachelor of science degree with a double
major in agricultural economics and agribusiness management.[173][174] After graduation, he briefly
worked in sports marketing in Lexington before returning to Manchester to join his father in the
insurance business.[175][176] In addition to selling insurance, Farmer also got his securities license to
sell annuities, and eventually rose to become vice-president of Kentucky Financial Group.[175][177]
On April 15, 1998, Farmer married Rebecca Ann Morgan.[178] The couple had three sons –
Richard III ("Trey") and Ryan, born on November 30 in 1996 and 1998, respectively, and Tate,
born in 2001.[177][179]
Farmer was inducted into the KHSAA Hall of Fame in 1998 and the Kentucky Athletic Hall of
Fame in 2002.[180][181] He was one of 88 inaugural members of the University of Kentucky Athletics
Hall of Fame in 2005 and one of 16 inaugural members of the Kentucky High School Basketball
Hall of Fame in 2012.[182][183] "The Unforgettables" were honored on a limited edition collector's
bottle of Maker's Mark bourbon in 2007.[184]

Political career[edit]
First term as Commissioner of Agriculture[edit]
On January 28, 2003, Farmer announced he would seek the Republican nomination for Kentucky
Agriculture Commissioner.[185] In his announcement, he acknowledged that he had never operated
a farm, but noted that he knew many farmers and held a degree in an agriculture-related
field.[186] Ellen Williams, chair of the state's Republican Party, said Farmer's candidacy would bring
"star quality" to a down-ballot race (i.e. state offices other than governor and lieutenant
governor).[185] No Republican had been elected to any of those offices since 1967.[186]
Farmer waited until three weeks before the primary election to begin seriously campaigning and
focused on population centers such as Lexington, Louisville, Bowling Green, and the Northern
Kentucky area, where Republican voters were more concentrated.[187] At that time, campaign
finance reports showed that Farmer had spent about half of the $36,055 raised for his campaign,
while his opponent, Leonard "Buck" Beasley, had raised only $450 and spent nothing.[188] While
he proposed no major changes to the operation of the agriculture department, Farmer
emphasized teamwork as a means to improve the state's agricultural sector, cited the need to
find new markets for Kentucky agricultural products, and expressed a desire to improve the public
perception of the agriculture industry, saying "Farmers have a great story to tell, and I will use any
name recognition I have gained through my experience with UK basketball to help them tell
it."[189][190][191] He also raised the possibility of engaging other former basketball players to promote
the work of the agriculture department and indicated that he would lobby to have half of
Kentucky's allocation of the Tobacco Master Settlement Agreement directed to the state's
Agriculture Development Board.[187]
With 109,742 votes – 79 percent of the total cast – Farmer garnered more votes than any other
Republican candidate for any office on the ballot en route to winning the nomination.[191][192] The
victory set up a general election contest against Democratic nominee Alice Woods Baesler, a
state agriculture department aide and wife of former Congressman and Kentucky basketball
player Scotty Baesler.[191] Bolstered by his significantly higher name recognition, Farmer led an
early July SurveyUSA poll 61% to 33% over Baesler.[193] Baesler charged that Farmer was
unqualified for the job of agriculture commissioner and that his high poll numbers and convincing
primary victory were driven by his popularity as a basketball player, criticizing him for featuring his
status as a member of "The Unforgettables" in his campaign literature.[177] Farmer responded that
his college degree qualified him to be agriculture commissioner and said his need to continue his
day job to support his family often kept him away from the campaign trail where he could expound
more on his ideas for running the Department of Agriculture.[177]
At an August debate in Owensboro, Farmer proposed the cross-promotion of Kentucky
agricultural products and the state park system, awarding points for buying Kentucky produced
groceries that could be redeemed for souvenirs and perks during stays at state parks.[194] On
October 21, The Kentucky Post gave Baesler its endorsement, contrasting her experience
running a farm and her involvement with the agriculture department to Farmer's lack of agriculture
experience and frequent absence at campaign events.[195] Later that week, the Lexington Herald-
Leader also endorsed Baesler, and followed up the next day with an article noting that, as of
October 3, nearly one-third of the $87,825.20 Farmer had spent during the campaign went to
relatives – including his parents, brother, sister, and in-laws – for salaries and campaign-related
reimbursements.[196][197] Interviewed by phone, Farmer responded, "[My family has] probably
worked 60, 70, 80 hours a week campaigning for me trying to get me elected. I don't think we
have done anything wrong."[196] Richard Beliles, chairman of campaign finance watchdog
Common Cause of Kentucky, said Farmer's actions were not illegal but were "rather
odd".[196] Farmer overcame the bad press, however, to take the election by a vote of 575,049 to
466,321.[198]
In April 2004, Farmer announced the formation of a committee to study the effectiveness of state
owned and operated farmer's markets.[199] In June 2005, he was elected secretary of the Southern
Association of State Departments of Agriculture; in 2007, he was elected president of the
organization.[200][201] Farmer also sought to prevent an outbreak of vesicular stomatitis virus in the
state's horses and cattle by banning the import of animals from 20 western counties where the
virus was known to have infected animals.[202] On Farmer's advice, Governor Ernie
Fletcher requested that the United States Department of Agriculture designate Kentucky as an
agricultural disaster area after an April 2007 cold snap devastated the state's fruit and wheat
crops; the designation made Kentucky farmers eligible for low-interest federal loans to help
compensate for their lost crop revenue.[203][204][205]
In December 2004, Kentucky's Registry of Election Finance, the agency that enforces the state's
campaign finance laws, hired Farmer's sister, Rhonda F. Gray, who had previously served as
chair of her brother's campaign for agriculture commissioner.[206] Registry chair John Rogers
maintained that Gray was hired on her own merits, and Gray promised to recuse herself from any
work that might involve her brother's future campaigns.[206] The following May, The Kentucky
Post published excerpts from an email from Dick Murgatroyd, Fletcher's deputy chief of staff, to
Transportation Cabinet officials asking them to find a job for Farmer's brother-in-law, Jamie Gray;
the email indicated that Murgatroyd was responsible for finding jobs for both James and Rhonda
Gray.[207] Gray was later hired as an administrative specialist in the Transportation
Cabinet.[208] Farmer denied any involvement in the hiring decisions beyond submitting
recommendations for both candidates.[208] In July, Murgatroyd was indicted on 19 counts of
violating the state's merit system by making politically motivated hires, including that of Jamie
Gray.[209] A transportation official testified in September that Farmer had declined one job for Gray
because the salary was too low and had negotiated a higher salary on the job Gray eventually
got.[210] Farmer called the claims "ludicrous" and "simply not true".[210]
Second term as Commissioner of Agriculture[edit]
Following the resignation of Lieutenant Governor Steve Pence in June 2006, Farmer was
mentioned as a possible running mate for Fletcher in his upcoming re-election campaign, but
Fletcher chose Robbie Rudolph instead, and Farmer announced his intent to seek re-election as
agriculture commissioner.[211][212] In the Republican primary, Farmer faced Don Stosberg, a former
budget analyst for Kentucky's Legislative Research Commission.[201] Again, Farmer was criticized
for failing to appear at several campaign events; Stosberg told the Lexington Herald-Leader,
"[Farmer is] famous for three things: shooting three-point shots, not returning phone calls and not
showing up."[213] Farmer responded that he was carrying out the duties of his office during his
absences from the events.[213] Farmer countered his absences by outspending his opponent 35-to-
1, investing a reported $102,000 in his campaign.[214] Farmer captured 85% of the vote, defeating
Stosberg by a vote of 155,576 to 26,897.[214] Name recognition played a role in both parties'
primaries: Farmer enjoyed high name recognition from his days as a basketball player, while the
Democratic nominee, David Lynn Williams, had a name similar to that of Kentucky Senate
President David L. Williams.[214]
Shortly after the primary election, Williams made a series of politically unsavvy remarks in an
interview published by a weekly online magazine devoted to Kentucky agricultural issues; among
the gaffes were calling the state agricultural development board and long-time Kentucky
Democratic Senator Wendell H. Ford "a bunch of damn liars".[215] State Democratic
chairman Jonathan Miller called Williams' statements "offensive" and said that several of the
party's executive committee members desired to have Williams removed as the party's
candidate.[215]
In June, Williams was arrested on misdemeanor charges of menacing, disorderly conduct,
and harassment for allegedly threatening his niece, who was the city clerk of Glasgow, Kentucky,
because she did not produce records he had requested under Kentucky's open records
law.[205][216] His trial was not scheduled until after the election.[205]
By October, a Research 2000 poll showed Farmer leading the race 54–35%, with 11%
undecided, and campaign finance documents showed that Farmer had spent $57,075 of the
$168,650 he raised for his general election campaign, while Williams had raised and spent less
than $1,000.[215] The Lexington Herald-Leader made no endorsement in the race, stating that
Farmer's lack of knowledge was obvious during his first term, but that he "looks like a farm-policy
genius" compared to Williams.[217] On election day, Farmer set a record for the most votes
received in an election for a constitutional office in Kentucky, garnering 641,789 (64%) to
Williams' 363,188 (36%).[218] During his victory speech, Farmer denied rumors that he was
considering switching his affiliation to the Democratic Party.[218]
Farmer asked U.S. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack for declarations of agricultural disasters in
the wake of an ice storm in January 2009 that endangered the state's livestock and flooding that
affected Kentucky Lake in 2010, damaging large portions of the state's corn, soybean, and wheat
crops.[219][220] In December 2010, he launched a joint investigation with Democratic Attorney
General Jack Conway into claims that the Eastern Livestock company had not paid Kentucky
cattlemen for $130 million in livestock.[221]
Bid for lieutenant governor[edit]
Farmer was limited to two terms by the Kentucky Constitution, and in October 2009,
the Lexington Herald-Leader reported that he was "in discussions" about running for governor in
the 2011 election.[222] In August 2010, Farmer announced that he would be "running for
something" in the upcoming election and would announce his plans within weeks after
the Kentucky State Fair.[223] The Lexington Herald-Leader speculated that Farmer could run for
governor, secretary of state, or lieutenant governor on a ticket with Senate President David
Williams.[223] On September 1, 2010, Williams and Farmer announced that they would run as a
ticket for governor and lieutenant governor, respectively.[224]
Shortly after the announcement, Farmer began to face criticism for his use of state funds
during difficult economic times that resulted in austerity measures in most state government
agencies.[225] One such criticism involved the attendance of Farmer and three aides at the
Southern Association of State Departments of Agriculture's 2010 annual meeting in St. Croix at a
cost of $10,000.[225] Another involved the approval of merit raises for eleven agriculture
department employees in 2010 when workers in all other state government agencies received
no cost of living salary increases and were required to take six unpaid furlough days.[226] A
department spokesman said the employees had taken on responsibilities for multiple jobs left
unfilled by attrition.[226] "The thought process was that this was more cost-effective than hiring new
people," the spokesman said.[226] Every constitutional officer in the state also donated a day's
salary to the state treasury or to a charity on each of the mandatory furlough days, but Farmer
refused, saying he opposed the entire concept of furlough days for government workers.[227] After
significant public criticism, Farmer apologized and decided to donate six days' worth of his salary
to charity.[228]
Farmer was also criticized for his management of the agriculture department's vehicle fleet. Late
in his first term, Farmer had removed the vehicles used by the Agriculture Department from the
state fleet, opting to have department officials manage them separately.[229] In 2010, the Bluegrass
Institute for Public Policy Solutions, a free market think tank, criticized the department's
management of the vehicles under its control, citing the frequency with which the department's
vehicles were being replaced.[229] The Lexington Herald-Leader noted in 2010 that the
department's fleet had grown from 178 to 206 vehicles since 2007 while the state's fleet had
shrunk by 5%, and that all but three of the department's vehicles were fewer than four years
old.[229] A department spokesman defended the moves, citing decreased maintenance costs and
higher resale values of vehicles being replaced.[229] The Lexington Herald-Leader noted that such
incidents could undermine Williams and Farmer's traditional Republican message of the need for
less government spending.[225]
Farmer's wife Rebecca filed for divorce on April 5, 2011, claiming in court documents that she
had no access to the family's finances except the salary she earned as a teacher's aide.[178] On
April 12, Farmer petitioned the court to dismiss his wife's divorce petition, contesting the idea that
their marriage was irretrievably broken.[230] The divorce proceedings were put on hold by mutual
consent on May 26, 2011, but in a July 12 hearing, Farmer's wife asked that the judge schedule a
trial date; the judge ordered mediation within 30 days instead.[231][232] The mediation failed, and a
trial date was set for November 22, shortly after the gubernatorial election.[233] A second round of
mediation shortly before the scheduled hearing resulted in a settlement between the parties;
terms of the settlement were kept private.[234]
In the Republican gubernatorial primary, the Williams-Farmer ticket defeated businessman Phil
Moffett and former Jefferson County Judge/Executive Bobbie Holsclaw.[235] Williams and Farmer
had led in opinion polling throughout the entire campaign, and neither opposing slate was able to
raise enough money to engage in statewide television advertising; despite this, Williams and
Farmer received only 68,502 votes, 48.2% of those cast.[235] Holsclaw won the voting in her home
county of Jefferson, which contains the city of Louisville and is the state's most
populous.[235] Moffett, a Tea Party favorite, carried the second most populous
county, Fayette (which contains Lexington), as well as heavily-populated Daviess, McCracken,
and Warren counties, and several counties in Northern and Central Kentucky.[235]
Questions about Farmer's use of taxpayer funds continued to dog him throughout the general
election campaign. Democrats demanded that Farmer reimburse the state for hotel expenses
charged to the state while Farmer was conducting outreach activities at the KHSAA state
basketball tournament and the Kentucky State Fair, both located fewer than 60 miles (97 km)
from his home.[236] In May, the office of Democratic State Auditor Crit Luallen notified the Internal
Revenue Service that Farmer had failed to report personal use of his state vehicle as
income.[237] A spokesman for Farmer's office said that the personal mileage had been tracked, but
a department employee had failed to forward it to the state Personnel Cabinet for reporting; he
added that Farmer would file amended tax documents and have deductions taken from his wages
to settle the tax liability.[237] The state Democratic Party filed an ethics complaint against Farmer in
September based on an anonymous email sent to the Personnel Cabinet claiming that, after work
hours, Farmer directed an agriculture department employee to purchase a small refrigerator with
state funds and deliver it to Farmer's house.[238] A department spokesman said Farmer spent a
substantial amount of time working from a home office in 2010 due to a back injury and that the
refrigerator had been moved to department offices in 2011.[238]
Beshear and Abramson easily defeated Farmer and Williams, carrying 90 of Kentucky's 120
counties.[239] Days later, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported that Farmer had placed his
girlfriend in a non-merit agriculture department job on October 31, 2011.[240] Williams confirmed
that the woman was Farmer's girlfriend, but denied knowledge that she had been put on the state
payroll.[240] Farmer defended the hiring, saying his girlfriend was qualified for the job, which
involved administrative and clerical tasks, and that his legal team had assured him that he had
followed all appropriate hiring regulations.[241] Farmer's successor, Republican James Comer, fired
Farmer's girlfriend a day after being sworn into office.[242]

Post-political life[edit]
Investigations[edit]
Five days after Farmer left office, Comer announced that he had requested a full audit of the
department by newly elected Democratic State Auditor Adam Edelen.[243] Among the items Comer
asked Edelen to investigate were 171 items of missing agriculture department property valued at
about $334,000 and another 103 items worth about $146,000 that were supposed to be returned
to the state as surplus but could not be accounted for.[244] A week later, Farmer returned some of
the missing items.[245]
Comer and Edelen released the report on their joint probe on April 30, 2012.[246] It detailed a "toxic
culture of entitlement" in the agriculture department under Farmer, charging that he had required
state employees to conduct personal errands while on the clock, failed to report gifts in excess of
$200 as required by state ethics laws, and signed timesheets authorizing payment to friends in
the department – including his girlfriend – who had performed very little if any work.[246] Edelen
confirmed that his investigation indicated that laws had been broken, and the report was turned
over to the state attorney general for investigation.[246] Minutes after the report was released,
Farmer's lawyer made a public statement in which he opined, "I don't see anything in this audit
report that any law-enforcement agency is going to be excited about."[247] He conceded that
Farmer had declined to be interviewed during the investigation but felt it was unfair that Farmer
was not given a chance to review or comment on the final report prior to its release.[247]
A week after the audit results were released, Kentucky's Executive Branch Ethics Commission
reported that Farmer was the only constitutional officer who had failed to file a required disclosure
of his 2011 finances by the required April 16 deadline.[248] Farmer's attorney said the omission was
"simply a matter of oversight on Richie's part given with [sic] what all has been going on."[248] Days
later, First National Bank of Manchester filed a foreclosure suit against Farmer, alleging that no
payments had been made on his $300,000 home mortgage since January 2012.[249] Under terms
of his pending divorce, Farmer was solely responsible for the mortgage on the house.[249] The
divorce was finalized in July, and on September 24, 2012, the house was sold at auction after
Farmer was not successful in selling it himself.[250] Earlier that week, a judge denied Farmer's
request to reduce his child support payments, which were based on his salary as agriculture
commissioner.[251] Farmer, who had not been employed since leaving office in January 2012, told
the court that the investigation into his tenure as agriculture commissioner had made it difficult to
find employment.[250] The judge found that Farmer was "voluntarily underemployed", although he
suspended the child support payments for the months of September and October 2012 in light of
Farmer's recovery from an August 30 hip replacement surgery.[251] On November 9, 2012,
the Lexington Herald-Leader reported that Farmer had found employment at a car dealership in
Manchester.[252]
Charges filed[edit]
On March 18, 2013, the Kentucky Executive Branch Ethics Commission charged Farmer with 42
state ethics violations, the most ever registered against a single individual; the previous high was
16.[253] Most of the charges against him stemmed from the previous year's auditor's report, but
previously unreported charges included conspiring with his sister Rhonda, who was also charged,
to falsify records submitted to Rhonda's employer, the Registry of Election Finance.[253] Farmer's
girlfriend was also charged for falsifying timesheets.[253] These charges were followed by five
indictments by a federal grand jury on April 19, 2013, alleging four counts of converting state
funds and property to personal use and one count of soliciting a bribe in exchange for a state
grant.[254] U.S. Attorney Kerry B. Harvey said a federal investigation revealed that Farmer had
created jobs in the department for his friends and girlfriend, who conducted personal errands for
Farmer – including "building a basketball court for Farmer, placing flooring in Farmer's attic and
organizing Farmer's personal effects" – while on the clock.[254] He also said that Farmer had kept
some of the gifts ordered in conjunction with the 2008 Southern Association of State Departments
of Agriculture conference for his own use and allowed his family to stay in hotel rooms reserved
for agriculture department employees at the Kentucky State Fair.[254] The indictment did not
specify what bribe was sought in exchange for a grant to conduct an all-terrain vehicle safety
class, but the charges from the state Ethics Commission mentioned that Farmer had received
three all-terrain vehicles in exchange for awarding unspecified state grants.[254] A Lexington
Herald-Leader report noted that the indictment only included events from 2008 forward because
the statute of limitations had expired for any actions prior to 2008.[255]
Farmer pled not guilty to all five federal charges on April 25, 2013.[256] He was released on his
own recognizance, and his trial date was set for July 2.[256] U.S. Magistrate Robert Wier denied
Farmer's request to leave the country in May to celebrate his girlfriend's 40th birthday
in Cancún, Mexico.[256] Wier also ordered the recently unemployed Farmer to seek employment,
surrender his passport, and remain within the state until the trial.[256] In response to Farmer's
lawyer's request to delay the trial until February 2014 – a request the prosecution called
"excessive" – Judge Gregory Van Tatenhove rescheduled the trial for October 22.[257]
Plea bargain and sentencing[edit]
On September 5, 2013, Farmer's attorney filed a motion to allow Farmer to change his plea to
guilty and announced that Farmer had reached a plea bargain to settle all federal and state
charges against him.[255] Farmer would have faced maximum penalties of $250,000 and 10 years
in prison for each federal charge against him.[255] Instead, in exchange for his guilty plea,
prosecutors agreed to pursue a sentence of 21 to 27 months in federal prison and $120,500
in restitution of the $450,000 Farmer was accused of misappropriating.[258] Additionally, Farmer
pleaded guilty to one state charge of violating campaign finance laws in exchange for a sentence
of no more than one year, served concurrently with his federal sentence.[258] Finally, Farmer
acknowledged to the Executive Branch Ethics Commission 35 of the 42 violations he had been
charged with, resulting in $65,000 in fines, the most ever levied by the commission.[258] Farmer's
attorney indicated that U.S. Attorney Kerry Harvey and Kentucky Attorney General Jack
Conway had been pursuing additional indictments against Farmer when the plea bargain was
reached.[255] Although still restricted from leaving the state, Farmer was allowed to remain free
pending sentencing.[258]
Van Tatenhove sentenced Farmer to 27 months in federal prison on January 14, 2014.[259] He
recommended that the sentence be served at the Federal Correctional Institution in Manchester,
Farmer's hometown, but the Federal Bureau of Prisons opted to assign him to the United States
Penitentiary, Hazelton near Bruceton Mills, West Virginia.[259][260] The Lexington Herald-
Leader noted that Farmer's inmate number, 16226-032, was reminiscent of his college jersey
number, 32.[261]
Originally scheduled to report to prison on March 18, Farmer was granted a one-week delay by
Van Tatenhove to watch his son, Trey, play for Clay County High School in the KHSAA basketball
tournament.[262] Clay County lost that game to Covington Catholic High School 80–78 in the first
round of the tournament.[263] Van Tatenhove insisted that he granted the delay in deference to the
Farmer family, not as a special favor for Farmer himself.[262] On March 25, 2014, Farmer reported
to the satellite camp of the Hazelton prison to begin serving his sentence.[264] He was imprisoned
for almost 20 months, transitioned to a halfway house in Lexington on December 18, 2015, and
was released on January 21, 2016.[265][266]
In May 2016, Farmer filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy.[266] His petition stated that he was
unemployed and owed $385,745 in debts – including $120,000 in restitution to the state and
$15,000 in child support that are ineligible for bankruptcy forgiveness – against $24,259 in
assets.[266] He was reportedly renting a home in Clay County from his parents and driving a car
they owned.[266] On March 22, 2018, Farmer was arrested in Laurel County, Kentucky, for driving
under the influence.[267]

References[edit]
1. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g h i j Maloney, Mark (December 16, 1986). "Winning is Habit for Clay's
Farmer". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C8.
2. ^ Tipton, Jerry (March 7, 1992). "Emotionally 'Off the Charts'". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D10.
3. ^ Brammer, Jack (October 19, 2011). "Farmer Takes Pride in Defying the Skeptics – Trying Year
Marked by Unflattering Publicity". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
4. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Fields, Mike (March 23, 1985). "It's 'Another Day at the Office' for Freshman as
Clay Advances". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D1.
5. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (March 5, 1992). "Farmer Just Wants Fans to Remember Him as a
Winner". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
6. ^ Jump up to:a b Fields, Mike (June 24, 1988). "Kentucky Destined to be Second-Best in All-Star
Rivalry". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D3.
7. ^ Fields, Mike (December 14, 1984). "Hillbrook Classic Visitors Have Won 19, Lost 0". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
8. ^ Fields, Mike (March 20, 1985). "Boone and Clay Similar on Court, but Not in History". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
9. ^ Fields, Mike (March 24, 1985). "Clay County, Hopkinsville Take Dissimilar Routes to
Finals". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C6.
10. ^ Fields, Mike (March 24, 1985). "Hopkinsville Wins 65–64 Over Clay for State Crown". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
11. ^ McGill, John (March 29, 1985). "UK Skipped First NCAA Tourney". Lexington Herald-Leader.
p. C2.
12. ^ Jump up to:a b Fields, Mike (March 19, 1986). "Round I of Clay-Pulaski Went into OT, so Expect a
Thriller". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 10.
13. ^ Fields, Mike (November 22, 1985). "Scott County Coach Says It's Lovely at the Top". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
14. ^ Jump up to:a b McLean, Gene (March 20, 1986). "Coach's Kid Leads Pulaski to 2nd Round;
Fraley has 26 Points as Maroons Overcome Clay County 83–78". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D1.
15. ^ Fields, Mike (November 27, 1986). "Hopkinsville Rates as Team to Beat". Lexington Herald-
Leader. p. C1.
16. ^ Fields, Mike (November 27, 1986). "Despite His Size, Hopkinsville's Ware has Climbed to
Top". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
17. ^ Fields, Mike (March 25, 1987). "For Clay County, Future is Now Against Highlands". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. 15.
18. ^ "Rowan Shocks Boyd 61–48". Lexington Herald-Leader. March 18, 1987. p. D3.
19. ^ Fields, Mike (March 27, 1987). "Chadwell's 43 Push Clay Past Highlands". Lexington Herald-
Leader. p. E2.
20. ^ Fields, Mike (March 28, 1987). "Clay Holds Off LaRue 62–56 as Record 24,041 Look
On". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D6.
21. ^ Jump up to:a b Fields, Mike (March 29, 1987). "Farmer Brothers Lead Clay Past Madison
Central". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C8.
22. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e f g Maloney, Mark (March 29, 1987). "Long on Heart, Clay Takes Crown Over
Ballard in OT". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
23. ^ Jump up to:a b Clay, John (March 29, 1987). "MVP Richie Farmer Proud Mountains Own Title
Again". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C14.
24. ^ Maloney, Mark (March 29, 1987). "Richie Farmer's 27 Help Clay Take Title Over Ballard in
OT". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
25. ^ Fileds, Mike (April 5, 1987). "Pelphrey Named Mr. Basketball, Tops All-State Team Feldhaus,
Ellery Close Behind". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
26. ^ Jump up to:a b Cox, Earl (July 3, 1987). "Clay County's Farmer Has Gotten Little Rest This
Summer". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D8.
27. ^ Fields, Mike (July 17, 1987). "All-Stars Giving Prep Football a Healthy Glow". Lexington Herald-
Leader. p. D7.
28. ^ "Kentucky Falls in Prep Finals". Lexington Herald-Leader. July 6, 1987. p. C3.
29. ^ Fields, Mike (December 1, 1987). "Clay's Still King, Ready to Seek Another Crown". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
30. ^ Fields, Mike (December 1, 1987). "Farmer is Hunting Big Game Once Again". Lexington Herald-
Leader. p. C1.
31. ^ Jump up to:a b c "Richie Farmer Breaks Clay's Scoring Record". Lexington Herald-Leader.
December 29, 1987. p. C5.
32. ^ Jump up to:a b "Clay Claims Fifth Place With Win Over Simi Valley". Lexington Herald-Leader.
December 31, 1987. p. C3.
33. ^ Fields, Mike (January 23, 1988). "Clay, Ballard Need Rallies to Advance to LIT
Showdown". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D4.
34. ^ Fields, Mike (January 24, 1988). "Rematch Ends After 2 OTs as Clay Outlasts Ballard 92–88 in
Semi-final". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C12.
35. ^ Jump up to:a b c Fields, Mike (January 24, 1988). "Clay Beats Bardstown in Overtime for LIT
Title". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
36. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e Fields, Mike (January 26, 1988). "Clay's Farmer Deserves Chance to Play for
UK". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
37. ^ "Farmer Scores 51 as Clay Captures Title Middlesboro Outduels Bell in 4 OTs". Lexington
Herald-Leader. March 5, 1988. p. D5.
38. ^ "Farmer's 40 Lead Clay Past Corbin". Lexington Herald-Leader. March 9, 1988. p. B6.
39. ^ "Hart Stuns Bardstown 96–92 in 5th Region Semis". Lexington Herald-Leader. March 12, 1988.
p. D6.
40. ^ Fields, Mike (March 16, 1988). "Rowan is Taking Its Date with Clay County in Stride". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. D11.
41. ^ Maloney, Mark (March 18, 1988). "Richie Farmer's 38 Lead the Way as Clay Rolls
On". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D1.
42. ^ Jump up to:a b Maloney, Mark (March 19, 1988). "Farmer Eclipses Sweet 16 Mark in Clay
Rout". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D7.
43. ^ Maloney, Mark (March 20, 1988). "Rallying PRP on Losing Side of Controversy This
Time". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C8.
44. ^ Jump up to:a b Fields, Mike (March 20, 1988). "Clay's Two-Year Domination in State Ends With
88–79 Loss". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
45. ^ Jump up to:a b Maloney, Mark (March 20, 1988). "Farmer MVP Again, But Wanted Title
More". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
46. ^ Jump up to:a b c d e Tipton, Jerry (March 22, 1988). "UK Isn't Talking About Recruiting of Clay's
Farmer". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
47. ^ Jump up to:a b c Tipton, Jerry (April 14, 1988). "It's Official Now: Richie Farmer is a Kentucky
Wildcat". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
48. ^ Jump up to:a b c Tipton, Jerry (March 28, 1988). "Farmer Puts UK Scholarship Offer on
Hold". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B1.
49. ^ Jump up to:a b Fields, Mike (April 3, 1988). "Farmer Followed Victory Lane All the Way to Top of
All-State". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
50. ^ Fields, Mike (April 17, 1988). "Farmer, Pehlke Both No. 1 in Kentucky Basketball". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
51. ^ Fields, Mike (December 16, 1989). "Farmer Tops Decade Rich with High School Basketball
Stars; Clay County Boasts Player, Coach Program That Dominated 1980s". Lexington Herald-
Leader. p. D10.
52. ^ Jump up to:a b Fields, Mike (May 15, 1988). "U.S. Tames the Soviets as Kemp Goes to
War". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
53. ^ Fields, Mike (June 19, 1988). "Indiana Stars Break Away Late, Win 102–82". Lexington Herald-
Leader. p. C1.
54. ^ Fields, Mike (June 26, 1988). "Kemp Leads Hoosiers to Sweep of Kentucky". Lexington Herald-
Leader. p. C1.
55. ^ Reed, Billy (March 23, 1988). "Can You Picture Cardinal Red in Clay County?". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
56. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Maloney, Mike (April 2, 1988). "Brewer Scores 25, South Wins
Classic". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D5.
57. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Suwanski, Rich (October 14, 1988). "Troubled Wildcats Happy to Begin
Preseason Practice". The Messenger-Inquirer. Owensboro, Kentucky. p. 1B.
58. ^ Tipton, Jerry (November 1, 1988). "UK'S Scott Priming Himself for Mean Season". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
59. ^ Tipton, Jerry (October 25, 1988). "Farmer's Adjustments Typical Freshman Ones". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
60. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Tipton, Jerry (December 15, 1988). "Handling, Progress of Farmer a Hot
Topic". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D1.
61. ^ Tipton, Jerry (October 29, 1988). "Big-Time Games in L.A. Giving Mills Boost at UK". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. D17.
62. ^ Tipton, Jerry (November 23, 1988). "3 Iona Players Suspended for UK Game". Lexington Herald-
Leader. p. C1.
63. ^ Tipton, Jerry (December 4, 1988). "Irish Pound Lifeless Wildcats 81–65; Notre Dame's
Rebounding Leads to Classic Victory". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
64. ^ Jump up to:a b c d McGill, John (December 8, 1988). "Shady Play Late Sealed Wildcats'
Fate". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
65. ^ McGill, John (December 11, 1988). "Cats May Yet Hold Some Good Surprises". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
66. ^ "Self-Searching Wildcats Greet Hoosiers". The Messenger-Inquirer. Owensboro, Kentucky.
December 20, 1988. p. 1B.
67. ^ McGill, John (December 18, 1988). "Cats' New Attitude Leads to Much-Needed
Resolve". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
68. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (January 14, 1989). "UK's Mission: Slowing Down Jackson,
LSU". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D3.
69. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (January 20, 1989). "Sutton Appeals to Bench for Relief". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. D1.
70. ^ Reed, Billy (January 22, 1989). "Tough Odds No Match for Sean Sutton's Heart". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
71. ^ Tipton, Jerry (January 28, 1989). "Farmer Packed Two Year's Worth of Living into
'88". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D10.
72. ^ Engel, Bruce (January 28, 1989). "Farmer is Kentucky Sportsman of Year; L.A.'s Riley Finishes
2nd in Close Vote". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D1.
73. ^ Story, Mark (April 23, 2013). "Farmer's Fall Not Without Its Pathos – He Held Unique Bond With
Kentuckians". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
74. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (February 15, 1989). "Illness-Ridden Cats Invade LSU; Ellis, Mills
Go, Farmer Stays". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
75. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (March 2, 1989). "Farmer 3-Pointer Saves; UK Freshman's Only FG
Beats Ole Miss 70–69". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D1.
76. ^ Tipton, Jerry (March 5, 1989). "UK Fades in Stretch Again; Bomb at :02 Gives Miss. St. 68–67
Win as Wildcats Fritter Away 12-Point Lead". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
77. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (March 11, 1989). "Cats Lose 77–63, Finish With 13–19
Mark". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D1.
78. ^ Tipton, Jerry (November 19, 1989). "In the Beginning, Winning Won't Be UK's Top
Priority". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. 2.
79. ^ "UK Basketball Players Get Awards". Lexington Herald-Leader. Associated Press. April 22,
1989. p. D2.
80. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (June 2, 1989). "Pitino Promises: 'We Will Overcome'; New UK
Coach Begins Hard Job of Rebuilding". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
81. ^ Reed, Billy (June 23, 1989). "Smart Moves Cap UK's Longest Winter". Lexington Herald-Leader.
p. D1.
82. ^ "UK Recruit Thomas Likely to Miss Year". Lexington Herald-Leader. August 26, 1989. p. D7.
83. ^ Tipton, Jerry (September 22, 1989). "Wildcat Conditioning; UK Players Between 'Rock' and Hard
Place". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D1.
84. ^ Tipton, Jerry (October 15, 1989). "New Coaches Make Mark from Players' Toes to
Heads". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C3.
85. ^ Tipton, Jerry (October 16, 1989). "Pitino Charms, Incites During Midnight Madness". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
86. ^ Tipton, Jerry (October 22, 1989). "Pitino's Cats into Chapter 1 of Point Guard 101". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
87. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (October 27, 1989). "Wildcats Come Out Shooting". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. D1.
88. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (November 3, 1989). "A Farmer Team Suffers Rare Loss in
Clay". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D5.
89. ^ Tipton, Jerry (November 17, 1989). "Pitino Applauds Offense Cats in Top Form in Last
Scrimmage". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D1.
90. ^ Tipton, Jerry (December 4, 1989). "SEC's Experimental Six-Foul Rule a Welcome Idea for Thin
UK, State". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C3.
91. ^ Mathis, Mark C. (December 20, 1989). "UK making habit of breaking three pointer record". The
Messenger-Inquirer. Owensboro, Kentucky. p. 1B.
92. ^ Tipton, Jerry (December 28, 1989). "Good-Bad Cats Lose 121–110; Tar Heels Win Despite
Record 21 'Threes' by UK". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
93. ^ Tipton, Jerry (December 30, 1989). "UK-U of L Series 'Written in Stone,' Pitino Says". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. D2.
94. ^ McGill, John (December 31, 1989). "As Losses Go, it was a Triumph". Lexington Herald-Leader.
p. C1.
95. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Tipton, Jerry (January 21, 1990). "Pitino 'Beats' Pelphrey, Miller Wails
Away". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D1.
96. ^ Tipton, Jerry (January 21, 1990). "Cats Turn on Juice, Beat Orange; UK Relies on Conditioning,
Three-Pointers in 2nd Half to Overhaul Vols 95–83". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D1.
97. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (January 26, 1990). "Farmer to Replace Woods as
Starter". Lexington Herald Leader. p. D1.
98. ^ Tipton, Jerry (January 28, 1990). "No Point Guard Should Feel Safe in Starting Spot Under
Pitino". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D6.
99. ^ Tipton, Jerry (January 28, 1990). "Cats Break Glass, Rebels Defense Buoys UK in 98–79
Win". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D6.
100. ^ Tipton, Jerry (January 31, 1990). "Kentucky Starts Charge for Top at Miss.
State". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
101. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (December 15, 1990). "Pitino Won't Shed Woods
Yet". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D1.
102. ^ Reed, Billy (February 16, 1990). "Oh, What a Night! UK 100, LSU 95 Record Crowd
Sees Wildcats Hang on for Stunning Victory". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
103. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Tipton, Jerry (February 17, 1990). "Pitino Says LSU Picked Wrong Man
to Foul". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D3.
104. ^ Jump up to:a b c Tipton, Jerry (February 25, 1990). "Camps Won't Be How Pitino Spends
Summer Vacation". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D3.
105. ^ Jump up to:a b Clay, John (February 25, 1990). "Wildcats Send Fans Their Best in Big
Blue Love Fest at Rupp". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D4.
106. ^ Jump up to:a b c "Farmer returns after reportedly leaving UK". The Messenger-
Inquirer. Owensboro, Kentucky. September 23, 1990. p. 1B.
107. ^ Tipton, Jerry (March 7, 1990). "Pitino Says Cats' Best Yet to Come; Depth is Seen as
Difference Next Year". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
108. ^ Tipton, Jerry (September 25, 1990). "Pitino: Farmer's Frustrations Typical of Training
Camp". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
109. ^ Tipton, Jerry (March 6, 1991). "Expect to See Improved Cats Next Season". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
110. ^ Jump up to:a b Suwanski, Rich (November 9, 1990). "Fast start important for Wildcats,
Pitino says". The Messenger-Inquirer. Owensboro, Kentucky. p. 1B.
111. ^ Jump up to:a b c Tipton, Jerry (November 25, 1990). "Martinez Gets Sympathy for Air-Ball
Debut". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C8.
112. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (November 29, 1990). "Brassow, Mashburn, Woods, Farmer:
4 Cats Who Handled the Heat". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C4.
113. ^ McGill, John (December 2, 1990). "Sharp Play at Point has Cats on a Roll". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
114. ^ Tipton, Jerry (December 13, 1990). "Pitino Ponders Change in Cats' Lineup". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. B1.
115. ^ Tipton, Jerry (December 16, 1990). "17 Points Won't Keep Farmer a Starter". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C4.
116. ^ Donovan, John (December 22, 1990). "Farmer Plants Seed and Wildcats Harvest Win –
11–0 Stretch Lifts Kentucky". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. 13K.
117. ^ Jump up to:a b Donovan, John (February 4, 1991). "UK Emerges Victorious in Cat-and-
Dog Fight". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. 6K.
118. ^ Jennings, Jake (February 4, 1991). "UK dons Sunday best for win over Georgia". The
Messenger-Inquirer. Owensboro, Kentucky. p. 1B.
119. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (February 14, 1991). "Cats Win One to Remember; Hanson
Scores Career High of 28 as Vols Fall 85–74". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D1.
120. ^ Tipton, Jerry (February 17, 1991). "Wildcats' Pressure Wears on Rebels, Refs, Murphy
Says". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D4.
121. ^ Reeves, Barry (February 18, 1991). "Hanson Weaves Magic – UK Senior Helps Put UK
Alone Atop Southeastern Conference Standings". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. 6K.
122. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (February 21, 1991). "Vandy Shoots Down Cats". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
123. ^ Tipton, Jerry (February 21, 1991). "Cats Run Afoul of Vandy; Commodores Hit 40 at
Line, Kill Cats With 18–2 2nd-Half Run". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
124. ^ McGill, John (February 27, 1991). "This UK Game has Wimp Seeing Plaid". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C1.
125. ^ Donovan, John (February 27, 1991). "UK, Pitino Notch Win by Imitating Opponents". The
Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. 6K.
126. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (March 3, 1991). "Cats Parade Past Auburn 114–93;
Pounding Gives UK SEC's Best Record". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D1.
127. ^ Tipton, Jerry (March 10, 1991). "Powers Above, Below Enter Pitino-Davis
Feud". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D3.
128. ^ Tipton, Jerry (March 3, 1991). "UK's Hanson Wins Five Awards, Has One Named in His
Honor". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D4.
129. ^ "Wildcats' celebration continues with parade". The Messenger-Inquirer. Owensboro,
Kentucky. March 3, 1991. p. 6B.
130. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (October 18, 1991). "Four Positions Locked in for Opener,
Pitino Says". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B1.
131. ^ Tipton, Jerry (October 19, 1991). "If Pressure is Back on UK, Pitino Says Cats Not
Feeling It". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D10.
132. ^ Jump up to:a b Reeves, Barry (October 21, 1991). "Going Mad – UK Opens Practice With
a New Twist". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. 8K.
133. ^ Donovan, John (October 30, 1991). "Talented Freshmen Raise Hopes at UK – Fans Get
Look at Newcomers". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. 10K.
134. ^ Donovan, John (November 21, 1991). "Inspired Ford Puts Kentucky in Driver's
Seat". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. 8K.
135. ^ Tipton, Jerry (November 23, 1991). "Bye-Bye, N.Y.! Pitt Stings Cats 85–67; UK Goes
Cold as Pittsburgh Advances in Pre-Season NIT". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D1.
136. ^ Jump up to:a b c Tipton, Jerry (December 5, 1991). "UK Ends Layoff, Lays it on 90–
69". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
137. ^ Tipton, Jerry (December 28, 1991). "'Prime-Time' Farmer Usually Finds Way to Get His
Name in Headlines". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D2.
138. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (January 3, 1992). "Wildcats Hit Benchmark, Rip Irish 91–
70". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B1.
139. ^ Jump up to:a b c Tipton, Jerry (February 7, 1992). "Some UK Fans Want More – Of
Richie, That Is; Farmer's Playing Time Hot Topic, but Pitino, Player Say It's Non-Issue". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. B1.
140. ^ Jump up to:a b "Pitino Voices Displeasure With Farmer Article". Lexington Herald-Leader.
February 8, 1992. p. D3.
141. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (January 30, 1992). "With Ole Miss on Menu, UK Feasts
Again; Mashburn Scores 24, Cats Roll 96–78". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
142. ^ Donovan, John (January 30, 1992). "UK Climbs Back Atop SEC Eastern Division –
Riddick's Woes Are Only Drama". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. 8K.
143. ^ Tipton, Jerry (February 2, 1992). "UK Plans Bombing Raid on LSU, O'Neal". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. D1.
144. ^ Tipton, Jerry (February 3, 1992). "UK Loses Back-to-Back Road Games by 20-Plus For
Only 2nd Time Ever". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C4.
145. ^ Donovan, John (January 30, 1992). "Poor Shooting Dooms Free-Falling Wildcats". The
Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. 8K.
146. ^ "Unlikely Pair Comes Through to Spark Kentucky". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio.
Associated Press. February 10, 1992. p. 6K.
147. ^ Mathias, Mark (March 8, 1992). "It Was a Special Day at Rupp Arena Saturday". The
Messenger-Inquirer. Owensboro, Kentucky. p. 1B.
148. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (March 13, 1992). "UK Seniors Getting Ready For 'First and
Only Chance'". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B1.
149. ^ Tipton, Jerry (March 15, 1992). "With No Shaq to Attack, UK Topples LSU; Free to
Score Inside, Cats Roll On, 80–74". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D1.
150. ^ Jump up to:a b Culpepper, Chuck (March 16, 1992). "UK Wins SEC With Flourish;
Virtuosos Seize Moment to Savor Sweet Victory". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
151. ^ Tipton, Jerry (March 16, 1992). "Wildcats Ride Over Low Tide to SEC Title; Mashburn
Gets 28 as UK Wears Out Alabama 80–54 in Tournament Finals". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
152. ^ Mathias, Mark (March 16, 1992). "Mashburn Keeps Promise of Victory". The Messenger-
Inquirer. Owensboro, Kentucky. p. 4B.
153. ^ "Kentucky's Return to NCAAs a Success – Wildcats Rout Old Dominion". The Seattle
Times. Time News Services. March 20, 1992. p. D6.
154. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (March 23, 1992). "Wildcats Left Standing After 106–98 Duel;
Woods Rules in Fast Pace as Iowa State Falls Short". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
155. ^ Tipton, Jerry (March 23, 1992). "Orr Blasts Officials For Not Keeping Pitino in
Box". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C4.
156. ^ "Technically, Kentucky Capitalizes on Call". The Charlotte Observer. Observer News
Services. March 27, 1992. p. 6B.
157. ^ Jump up to:a b c Culpepper, Chuck (March 29, 1992). "UK Had Won Hearts". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. A1.
158. ^ Waxman, Matthew (March 11, 2004). "16 Greatest Games". Sports Illustrated. Archived
from the original on April 5, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
159. ^ Douchant, Mike (March 25, 2002). "Greatest 63 games in NCAA Tournament
history". USA Today. Archived from the original on June 18, 2014. Retrieved July 30, 2014.
160. ^ Culpepper, Chuck (March 22, 1998). "Emotions High for UK Grudge Match with
Duke". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
161. ^ Tipton, Jerry (March 30, 1992). "Seniors, Pitino Erased Kentucky's 'Shame' With Game
of Games". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
162. ^ Jump up to:a b Story, Mark (February 6, 1993). "Year After Scaling Pinnacle,
Unforgettables Still Thriving". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D10.
163. ^ Story, Mark (February 6, 1993). "Voters Couldn't Forget UK Seniors; True Blue
Basketballers Edge Pitino as Best of '92". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D10.
164. ^ Jump up to:a b Tipton, Jerry (April 8, 1992). "Wildcats' Send-Off Surprise: UK Shocks
Seniors, Retires Jerseys". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
165. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Tipton, Jerry (April 19, 1992). "Newton Broke UK's Policy for Retiring
Jerseys". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. D3.
166. ^ Tipton, Jerry (April 26, 1992). "Tour May Net UK's Seniors $40,000 Each". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. D1.
167. ^ Jump up to:a b "Farmer's 110 Points Lead Seniors in Clay Co". Lexington Herald-Leader.
April 21, 1992. p. C3.
168. ^ Clay, John (May 5, 1992). "UK Seniors Give to Library, Charities". Lexington Herald-
Leader. p. C1.
169. ^ "Glory Days – UK Star Richie Farmer Shares Ups, Downs of Career in New Book". The
Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. August 7, 1992. p. 2K.
170. ^ Tipton, Jerry (August 16, 1992). "We Swear on Stack of 'Richie's, Farmer Quotes
Deemed Divine". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C3.
171. ^ Tipton, Jerry (August 19, 1992). "Farmer Accentuates Positive in Book About His First
23 Years". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C6.
172. ^ "Colleges – UK Loses Two More Starters to Injuries". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati,
Ohio. October 29, 1992. p. 8K.
173. ^ Bailey, Rick (July 23, 1995). "Murray, WKU Men's Basketball Still Trail in Graduation
Rates". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. C1.
174. ^ Coomes, Mark (July 28, 1996). "15 Years After Last Hurrah, Ex-Center Earns
Degree". The Seattle Times. p. D4.
175. ^ Jump up to:a b Estep, Bill (July 28, 1996). "Richie Farmer Shoots for Three Election Wins;
He is Undeterred After Recent Bumps". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A9.
176. ^ Hicks, Jack (March 25, 1998). "White Knuckles, Open Eyes as Feldhaus Watched
Game". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. 1K.
177. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Henderson, Feoshia (September 26, 2003). "It's Farmer Versus a
Farmer – Two in Race for Agriculture Post". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. K1.
178. ^ Jump up to:a b Spears, Valarie Honeycutt (April 10, 2011). "Wife Petitions for Divorce
from Farmer – Access to Household Finances at Issue". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B1.
179. ^ Culpepper, Chuck (June 24, 1999). "Farmer's Feat Eclipses Loss". Lexington Herald-
Leader. p. D1.
180. ^ "Sixteen to be Inducted into Hall of Fame Tonight". Lexington Herald-Leader. March 17,
1998. p. D2.
181. ^ "Farmer, Cooksey Enter Hall". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. July 29, 2002. p. 7K.
182. ^ Tipton, Jerry (September 4, 2005). "Couch a True Diaper Dandy in New Role as Father
– Quarterback Plans to Attend UK Hall of Fame Ceremonies – Unless NFL Calls". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. C3.
183. ^ "First Class for High School Hall of Fame – 16 Ky. Stars to be Inducted in Elizabethtown
on Saturday". Lexington Herald-Leader. July 11, 2012. p. B5.
184. ^ "'Unforgettables' Made Their Mark". Lexington Herald-Leader. March 31, 2007. p. B3.
185. ^ Jump up to:a b Brammer, Jack (January 28, 2003). "Ex-UK Star Wants to be
'Unforgettable' – Richie Farmer Files to Run for State Ag Chief". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B4.
186. ^ Jump up to:a b "Koenig, Grayson Won't Face Primary". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati,
Ohio. January 29, 2003. p. A9.
187. ^ Jump up to:a b Patton, Janet (May 21, 2003). "Ag Chief: Baesler Faces Farmer – Winners
Tied to UK Hoops". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A16.
188. ^ Biesk, Joe (April 25, 2003). "Democrats Lead Money Races – Stumbo, Luallen
Dominating Foes in Primary Fields". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B5.
189. ^ Schreiner, Bruce (April 16, 2003). "Candidate Urges Higher Cigarette Tax – Ag
Commissioner Hopefuls Talk About Platforms". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. C2.
190. ^ Patton, Janet (May 16, 2003). "Farming Outlook Fraught with Uncertainty –
Commissioner of Agriculture". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B1.
191. ^ Jump up to:a b c Schreiner, Bruce (May 21, 2003). "Baesler Versus Farmer in
Commissioner Race". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. K6.
192. ^ Alessi, Ryan; Brammer, Jack (May 22, 2003). "Now to Find the Issues – Candidates
Have Yet to Outline Real Differences". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
193. ^ Kinney, Courtney (July 5, 2003). "Poll's Early Reading: Fletcher by an Edge". The
Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. K4.
194. ^ Lawrence, Keith (August 8, 2003). "Agriculture Commissioner Candidates Tout Ideas at
Debate". The Messenger-Inquirer. Owensboro, Kentucky. p. 4.
195. ^ "A True Farmer". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. October 21, 2003. p. K4.
196. ^ Jump up to:a b c Patton, Janet (October 26, 2003). "Farmer Relatives Draw Salaries from
Campaign Coffers – Father is Paid $20,000 to Serve as Treasurer". Lexington Herald-Leader.
p. B1.
197. ^ "A Help to Farmers – Baesler Has Credentials for Agriculture Post". Lexington Herald-
Leader. October 24, 2003. p. A12.
198. ^ Lockwood, Frank E. (November 5, 2003). "Farmer Scores in Agriculture
Race". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A12.
199. ^ "Drug Policy Considered". Lexington Herald-Leader. April 3, 2004. p. C1.
200. ^ "Personnel File". Lexington Herald-Leader. June 27, 2005. p. C2.
201. ^ Jump up to:a b Alford, Roger (May 18, 2007). "Ag Incumbent Counting on Famous Name
Again". The Gleaner. Henderson, Kentucky.
202. ^ "State Expands Ban on Animals – Goal is to Prevent Livestock Disease". Lexington
Herald-Leader. July 28, 2005. p. B2.
203. ^ Fortune, Beverly (October 26, 2003). "Freeze Takes Bite Out of Fruit Crop – Damage
Estimates Reach 95%". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B1.
204. ^ "Wheat Loss May Reach $63 Million in Kentucky". The Gleaner. Henderson, Kentucky.
April 27, 2007.
205. ^ Jump up to:a b c "Farmer and Williams are Vying for Agriculture Post". The Kentucky
Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. October 16, 2007. p. A5.
206. ^ Jump up to:a b "Richie Farmer's Sister Hired for State Post – Occupational Therapist to
Fill New Job at Registry of Election Finance". Lexington Herald-Leader. December 23, 2004.
p. D3.
207. ^ York, Amanda (May 17, 2005). "Murgatroyd Facing Probe". The Kentucky
Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. K1.
208. ^ Jump up to:a b Cheves, John (June 5, 2005). "Fletcher Aides Leave Plentiful Trail of E-
mail – Prosecutors in Hiring Inquiry Grateful for Tendancy to Message by the Hour". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. A1.
209. ^ York, Amanda (July 7, 2005). "Murgatroyd Indicted – Violations Alleged in Merit
Hiring". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio. p. K1.
210. ^ Jump up to:a b "Farmer Denies Job Allegations". The Kentucky Post. Cincinnati, Ohio.
September 16, 2005. p. K5.
211. ^ "Farmer Says He's Focused on His Job". Lexington Herald-Leader. June 2, 2006. p. A6.
212. ^ Alessi, Ryan (December 10, 2006). "State Candidates Keep Eye on Top
Race". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. B2.
213. ^ Jump up to:a b Massey, Delano R. (December 10, 2006). "Farmer Faces Another Round
of Fault Finding From GOP Foe – Democrats Staying Out of Fray". Lexington Herald-Leader.
p. B2.
214. ^ Jump up to:a b c Sloan, Scott (May 23, 2007). "Farmer Gets His 'Bounce' from UK
Basketball – Incumbent Republican Will Face Democrate Who Spent Just $150 in
Campaign". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A12.
215. ^ Jump up to:a b c Patton, Janet (October 31, 2007). "A Republican Even Democrats
Love". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
216. ^ "Democrats' Candidate for Ag Chief is Charged With Menacity City Clerk". Lexington
Herald-Leader. June 13, 2007. p. B3.
217. ^ "Election Relic: Top Ag Job Should Become Cabinet Post". Lexington Herald-Leader.
November 3, 2007. p. A12.
218. ^ Jump up to:a b Patton, Janet (November 7, 2007). "Farmer Retains Post – Says He'll Stay
With GOP; Top Vote-Getter in State". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A10.
219. ^ Patton, Janet (February 3, 2009). "State Asks Federal Farm Disaster Status – Lack of
Power Disrupts Water, Feed Supplies Milk Dumped". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A6.
220. ^ Capiello, Jante (May 17, 2010). "Kentucky Lake to Hit Highest Level Ever – FEMA
Teams Arrive to Assess Damage". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A6.
221. ^ "Briefs". Lexington Herald-Leader. December 3, 2010. p. B8.
222. ^ Alford, Roger (October 28, 2009). "Farmer Mulls Run for Governor – Former UK Star
'Looking at Options' for Republican Ticket in 2011". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A3.
223. ^ Jump up to:a b Brammer, Jack (August 26, 2010). "Farmer: Decision on Gubernatorial Bid
to be After Fair – Talks with Williams About Slate". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
224. ^ Brammer, Jack (September 2, 2010). "Williams, Farmer Form Team for Governor's Race
– State Senate President, Basketball Icon Going After GOP Nomination in 2011". Lexington
Herald-Leader. p. A1.
225. ^ Jump up to:a b c Cheves, John (October 17, 2010). "Farmer's Trip Costs Taxpayers
$10,000 – Other Convention Attendees Cite Lean Times, Cut Expenses". Lexington Herald-
Leader. p. A1.
226. ^ Jump up to:a b c Musgrave, Beth; Brammer, Jack (December 3, 2010). "Farmer Raises
Pay for 11 Workers – Ag Employees Only Ones in State to Get Merit Boosts During Belt-
Tightening". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
227. ^ Cheves, John (April 9, 2011). "Richie Farmer Opts Out of furlough – Six Elected Officials
Volunteer Day's Pay". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
228. ^ Cheves, John (April 27, 2011). "Farmer Decides to Embrace Sacrifice – Furlough
Reversal Follows Criticism". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
229. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Cheves, John (August 26, 2010). "Farmer Spending More on State
Cars – Ag Fleet Increases as Rest of State Government Cuts Back". Lexington Herald-Leader.
p. A1.
230. ^ Brammer, Jack (April 13, 2011). "Richie Farmer Files Response in Divorce Case – Says
Marriage can be Saved". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A3.
231. ^ Brammer, Jack (May 27, 2011). "Farmers' Divorce Case Put 'On Hold' – No Reason
Given for Canceling Hearing". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A5.
232. ^ Brammer, Jack (July 13, 2011). "Mediation Ordered in Farmers' Divorce Case –
Candidate's Wife Wanted Trial Date Set". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A3.
233. ^ Musgrave, Beth (November 22, 2011). "Farmers' Divorce Trial Postponed Pending
Mediation – Second Attempt at Settlement". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A3.
234. ^ Brammer, Jack (December 28, 2011). "Farmers Reach Settlement Days Before Divorce
Trial – Couple Want Terms Kept Private". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A3.
235. ^ Jump up to:a b c d Brammer, Jack; Kocher, Greg (May 18, 2011). "Williams is Ready to
Rumble – But GOP Ticket Fails to Reach 50% as It Takes Aim at Beshear". Lexington Herald-
Leader. p. A1.
236. ^ Cheves, John; Brammer, Jack (April 28, 2011). "Farmer's State-Fair Tab Over $7,000 –
Most Spent on Louisville Hotels". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A3.
237. ^ Jump up to:a b Cheves, John (May 4, 2011). "Farmer Didn't Pay Taxes on State SUV –
Personal-Use Miles Not Paid for 6 Years". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A1.
238. ^ Jump up to:a b Brammer, Jack (September 7, 2011). "In Governor's Race, the Ethics
Complaints Keep Coming – Commission Dismisses Accusation Against David Williams Over
Gambling Winnings". Lexington Herald-Leader. p. A3.
239. ^ Brammer, Jack (November 9, 2011). "Beshear Sees Win as Vote Against 'Rank
Partisanship' – Promises 'Lean and Efficient' Government in Second Term". Lexington Herald-
Leader. p. A1.
240. ^ Jump up to:a b "Farmer Put Girlfriend on His Payroll – She Started Oct. 31, Gets $5,000 a
Month". Lexington Herald-Leader. Associated Press. November 19, 2011. p. A3.
241. ^ "Farmer Defends Hiring of Girlfriend, Says She's Qualified – Outgoing Ag Chief Says
His