District Commission Members

Jay Smith ​ 1st District

Jay Smith, of Paducah, was appointed as the 1st District representative on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission on Jan. 20, 2025.

Jay was born and raised in Paducah and attended Paducah Tilghman High School. He received a Bachelor's degree from the University of Alabama, where he was a member of the official bass fishing team. Jay also earned an M.B.A. from Murray State University. He is vice president of Midwest Terminals, LLC. Jay is a devoted baseball fan, and serves as President of Paducah's Brooks Stadium Commission and is co-founder of the Paducah Chiefs Baseball Club, a collegiate summer league baseball team in the Ohio Valley League.

Jay is an avid angler and hunter, and is especially passionate in his pursuit of bass, crappie, deer, wild turkeys and waterfowl. He enjoys creating and managing habitat on his family's farm, particularly for waterfowl and other wetland species. Being a tournament angler and growing up on Kentucky and Barkley lakes, he wants to see continued success in the removal of invasive carp.

“Conservation is paramount to the success of both current and future sportsmen!"

First District Counties: Ballard, Caldwell, Calloway, Carlisle, Christian, Crittenden, Fulton, Graves, Hickman, Livingston, Lyon, Marshall, McCracken, and Trigg counties.

Jeff Raymer​2nd District

Born and raised in Western Kentucky on a Butler County farm, Jeff Raymer developed a love for being outdoors early in life. He started going hunting and fishing with his dad and his grandpa when he was around four years old. The fever for hunting and fishing just continued to grow. 

Jeff spent hundreds of hours reading anything he could get his hands on related to hunting or fishing. His favorites were Outdoor Life, Sports Afield, Kentucky Afield, and Happy Hunting Ground magazines, along with any hunting tales of adventures in Alaska and Africa. Jeff can remember reading some of the articles multiple times.

As he got older, Jeff got into target archery and rifle and pistol competitions. He spent many years and traveled most of the Eastern United States competing with other archers and marksmen. Jeff’s goal is for everyone in Kentucky who desires to hunt or fish to have the opportunity to do so and for every child to have a chance to develop a love for the outdoors.

Second District Counties: Allen, Butler, Daviess, Hancock, Henderson, Hopkins, Logan, McLean, Muhlenberg, Ohio, Simpson, Todd, Union, Warren, and Webster counties.

​Matt Rhodes3rd District

Matt Rhodes, of Oldham County, received his appointment as the 3rd District representative on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission on April 15, 2024.

Born and reared in Griffin, Georgia, Matt grew up loving the outdoors and spent countless hours fishing, in the woods, or playing sports. He moved to Kentucky in 1990 to pursue his B.S. in Public Health from Cumberland College in Williamsburg. Following his playing days, Matt continued to pursue his love of football by coaching at his alma mater for four years. During a visit to Louisville for the ‘94 Kentucky Derby, Matt met his future wife and relocated to Oldham County a year later. He began a career in public health and eventually obtained his Master of Public Health at the University of Louisville in August 2015. Matt advanced to serve as Director of Operations for Louisville Metro Public Health and Wellness, where he oversaw day-to-day operations prior to retiring. He accepted the role of Director of the Oldham County Health Department in November 2020.

His passion for public service and creating safe & healthy conditions for people to live, work, and play has remained a principle throughout his career. He has almost 30 years of experience in the Environmental & Public Health field. Matt has served in many volunteer leadership roles. He remains actively involved in local service organizations, including Rotary, and currently serves as a board member for Hope Health Clinic. Matt continues to serve state and national professional associations, including the Kentucky Health Department Association (KHDA), where he currently serves as Co-chair of the Legislative & Advocacy Committee. He previously held an adjunct position at the University of Louisville, School of Public Health & Information Sciences.

Matt spends as much time as possible fishing, hunting deer, turkey, and small game, or just being in the woods. His appointment to the Fish and Wildlife Commission is a culmination of a lifelong passion for public service, hunting, fishing, conservation, and the outdoors environment. Matt and his wife, Kelli, reside on the family farm in Oldham County. ​

Third District Counties: Breckinridge, Bullitt, Jefferson, Meade, Oldham, Shelby, and Spencer counties.​

Greg Cecil4th District

Greg Cecil, of Munfordville, was appointed as the 4th District representative on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission on Jan. 19, 2023.

Greg grew up in central Kentucky and graduated from Western Kentucky University with degrees in general science, biology, guidance counseling and school administration. He is currently the principal of Hart County High School and has served the Hart County community for the past 10 years after also serving the communities of Hardin and Meade counties for 17 years prior.

Greg is a lifelong sportsman with a deep passion for fishing, small game hunting, deer hunting, and waterfowl hunting. He has been a member of Ducks Unlimited, the National Wild Turkey Federation, and the National Rifle Association.

"I am honored to be selected to serve on the wildlife commission,” he said. “I have a love of the outdoors and I want to see our hunting, fishing and conservation heritage continue to thrive in Kentucky.”​

Fourth District Counties: Adair, Barren, Cumberland, Edmonson, Grayson, Green, Hardin, Hart, Larue, Marion, Metcalfe, Monroe, Nelson, Taylor, and Washington counties.

Josh Cummins​5th District

Josh Cummins, of Owenton, was appointed as the 5th District representative on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission on Jan. 20, 2025.

Josh was born and raised in northern Kentucky, primarily Grant County. He currently resides in Owen County with his wife Whitney and their two daughters. After graduating from Asbury University with a degree in education, Josh then received a Master of Divinity in pastoral leadership from Cincinnati Christian University. He is currently the pastor at Revive in Dry Ridge, holding that position since the church opened in 2014.

Josh’s passion for hunting, fishing, and the outdoors was instilled in him at an early age by his grandfather. He enjoys hunting elk, mule deer, and coues deer, among others. Josh also prioritizes taking youth turkey and deer hunting, in hopes that they will have stories to tell in the future.

“Being in the outdoors for me is not just about killing an animal,” he said. “It’s about the experiences, spending time with people, enjoying God’s creation, and the stories that come from it. I hope that as a commission we can make decisions that benefit all hunters, anglers, the resource, and future generations.”

Vacant​6th District

Sixth District Counties: Anderson, Boyle, Casey, Clark, Estill, Fayette, Franklin, Garrard, Jessamine, Lee, Lincoln, Madison, Mercer, Powell, Rockcastle, Scott, and Woodford counties.

Chuck Meade, Chair7th District

Charles "Chuck" Meade, of Staffordsville, was appointed the 7th District representative on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission on April 15, 2024.

Chuck is a veteran of the 82nd Airborne Division and the Gulf War, a former KY State Representative, and a business owner. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Morehead State University.

Chuck is honored to serve as the representative of the 7th District and is excited to bring his diverse background and wealth of experiences to his role. He looks forward to working with the district's sportsmen and sportswomen and advocating for responsible resource management. Chuck draws inspiration from his family, including his wife Jackie, a teacher, and his children Cody, a chemical engineer, and Chayce, a UK mechanical engineering student.

Chuck's love for the outdoors, passion for people, and dedication to serving others have fueled his journey. As the 7th District representative on the commission, Chuck is dedicated to personally serving and striving to create policies, regulations, and guidelines that support responsible hunting, fishing, conservation endeavors, and habitat ​preservation.

Seventh District Counties: Breathitt, Floyd, Johnson, Harlan, Knott, Lawrence, Leslie, Letcher, Magoffin, Martin, Owsley, Perry, and Pike counties.

Fred Shortridge​8th District

Fred Shortridge, of Mount Sterling, received his appointment as the 8th District representative on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission on Jan. 20, 2025.

Fred is an avid outdoorsman with a deep passion for hunting and fishing, pursuits he enjoys often now that his distinguished career in law enforcement has concluded. Born and raised in Clark County and a graduate of George Rogers Clark High School, Fred now resides on a farm in Montgomery County. He dedicated 22 years to the Kentucky State Police as a trooper and detective, followed by two decades of service as the Sheriff of Montgomery County. Fred is an active member of his community, consistently volunteering his time and resources to various local initiatives.

A devoted family man, Fred and his wife have been married for 47 years. They have two children and five grandchildren. Years spent patrolling Kentucky’s roads and serving as sheriff in the county where he raised his family give him a unique perspective and profound appreciation for its diverse landscape, making his time spent tracking game or casting a line all the more meaningful. Fred has a deep respect for both the law and the well-being of his neighbors, and plans to utilize his lifetime of experiences to guide his time as a member of the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission.​

Walter Robertson9th District

Walter B. Robertson, of Russell Springs, received his appointment as the 9th District representative on the Kentucky Fish and Wildlife Commission on April 15, 2024.

He was born and raised in Russell County, where he resides, and is a lifelong sportsman with a passion for deer, turkey, and small game hunting. He graduated from Russell County High School and has been an employee of Tarter (also known as Tarter Farm and Ranch) for over 51 years. He is also a full-time grain and cattle farmer with over 600 acres. He has two daughters and is a New Friendship United Baptist Church member. He is a long-time president of the Russell County Sportsman Club, a member of the local chapter and the ​National Wild Turkey Federation.

He is passionate about the outdoors, and his goal on the commission is to help create more opportunities for Kentucky hunters and youth who share his passion. He wants to be a voice for the 9th district.​

​​Ninth District Counties: Bell, Clay, Clinton, Jackson, Knox, Laurel, McCreary, Pulaski, Russell, Wayne, and Whitley counties.​