In her many roles as a businesswoman, educator and community leader, Jane Beshear, First Lady of Kentucky, has dedicated her life to the service of others throughout the Commonwealth. The first lady was raised in Bowling Green, in western Kentucky and later moved to Lexington. She received a bachelor’s degree in secondary education from the University of Kentucky, which she used to positively impact the lives of her students at Woodford County High School.
Mrs. Beshear is a longtime volunteer board member of many local and state civic organizations. Presently she is an ex officio officer of the Kentucky Commission on Women, a Trustee of the Frontier Nursing Service and an honorary chair of Generations United Seniors4Kids program which seeks to engage older adults in childhood advocacy issues. She recently was awarded with a Friend of Literacy Award from the Collaborative Center for Literacy Development for her work in adult literacy initiatives. She also serves as a co-chair for the Recovery Kentucky Task Force; an initiative to help Kentuckians recover from substance abuse that often leads to chronic homelessness.
An accomplished equestrian, the first lady currently competes her thoroughbred mare, Big Time Magic, in horse shows throughout the area. She serves on the board of directors of Equestrian Events Inc. which organizes the Kentucky Rolex 3-Day Event as well as the FEI World Equestrian Games Foundation Board, which will host the first ever World Games at the Kentucky Horse Park in September of 2010. Mrs. Beshear has also served on the Kentucky Horse Park Foundation board for over 20 years, currently as the board’s secretary.
As Kentucky’s First Lady, Mrs. Beshear plans to address barriers to school success through all levels of education. She will also continue to advocate for women’s health issues. She is currently working towards making the Governor’s Mansion more energy efficient and eco-friendly and encouraging businesses, schools and homes across the state to do the same. Mrs. Beshear is also working closely with the Tourism, Arts and Heritage Cabinet to promote Adventure Tourism across the Commonwealth.
The first lady and the Governor have been married for 39 years and have two sons and one grandson.
First Lady Jane Beshear