Michael's Story

For more than 35 years, Woodford County has been home to Michael Duckworth and his family. Michael and his wife, Debbie, have been married for more than four decades and raised their children, Amanda and Steven, in the community they are proud to call home.

Michael has spent his life working hard, serving others and helping Woodford County grow. His diverse background includes hauling cattle, raising tobacco, farming Christmas trees, serving as a 4-H agent and County Agriculture Extension Agent, and a 21-year career in commercial banking working with local farmers and businesses.

Beginning in 1990, Michael served Woodford County through Cooperative Extension, where he worked directly with farm owners, tenant farmers and agriculture leaders across the county. As Kentucky transitioned away from its traditional tobacco economy, Michael helped local farmers adapt and pursue new opportunities. During that transition, the Woodford County Agriculture Development Board made 929 cost-share investments totaling $6.3 million in local farms.

Michael also helped support and develop programs that remain important parts of Woodford County today, including the Woodford County Farmers Market, Master Gardeners, Twilight Festival, Leadership Woodford County, Woodford Leadership Tomorrow, the Beef Cattle Association and Farm to Table.

For 21 years, Michael also built a career in commercial banking, managing loans and working directly with local farms and businesses. That experience taught him to evaluate decisions using the five C’s of lending — capacity, capital, collateral, character and conditions. It is a practical, disciplined approach to financial decision-making that Michael believes government should follow as well: understand the numbers, weigh the circumstances, protect taxpayers and make responsible decisions for the long term.

A lifelong believer in servant leadership, Michael has served First Christian Church as a Deacon, Elder, Board Chair and Trustee and led a Men’s Accountability Group. He currently serves as Board Chair of the Woodford County Conservation District and as a board member of the Woodford Foundation.

Now, Michael is running for Woodford County Judge Executive to put his lifetime of experience in agriculture, business, finance and community leadership to work for the people of Woodford County — bringing a practical approach to county government, responsible stewardship of taxpayer dollars and a commitment to preserving what makes Woodford County special.