Joshua Vandgrift was born and raised in Hancock County by Gilbert and Charlotte Vandgrift. He is a 1998 Graduate of Hancock County High School. He and his wife, Lori, are celebrating 20-years of marriage this year, and they have 3 teenage children. The Vandgrifts live between Lewisport and Hawesville, and are members at Union Baptist Church.

While in high school, Josh joined the Hawesville Fire Department initially as a “Cadet”, which helped him gain a great love for Emergency Services and serving his community. Upon graduation, Josh enrolled in classes at KCTCS (then KY-Tech), and earned his EMT Certification. At just 18-years-old (upon hiring), Josh served Hancock County as a Full-Time EMT and was stationed in the Lewisport area. He transitioned his Fire Department membership to the Lewisport Fire Department until eventually deciding to go back to school to pursue a degree in Aviation (looking to eventually become a MedEvac pilot).

While in college, Josh worked at the Hancock County Jail under the leadership of Priscilla Lambert, until her tenure in office came to an end. He continued his flight training during this time at the Owensboro airport, wherein he attained his Pilot’s License. He then enrolled at Embry Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida to continue his education in both Aviation and Business Management.

After college and during a time of economic recession, Josh ended up in Nashville for a season before eventually returning home to Hancock County. Josh was employed at Aleris Rolled Products for nearly a decade, and during that time he met Lori, settled down, and started a family. While employed at Aleris, he also started a series of successful small businesses which eventually allowed him to transition entirely into entrepreneurship as a full time vocation.

And just when everything seemed to be finally settling down, God began to work in Josh’s life, calling him to serve in Pastoral Ministry with both the Internal and External call (if you know, you know). What started out as a temporary means to helping plant a small church (aimed at reaching a very overlooked people group with the Gospel) turned into bi-vocational ministry, and this eventually led to Josh stepping away from entrepreneurship altogether and serving the church and community in full-time ministry for several years.

In the midst of the Covid debacle, and while residing in the Atlanta, Georgia area (long story there), Lori looked at Josh one day and simply said “I want us to move back home”…. so they packed up and moved back to Hancock County in 2020.  Josh soon began working temporarily at Henry’s Plumbing while deciding on where God was leading his family to serve next, but he soon found great joy in working with his hands again, and decided he’d like to stay if they would have him. He’s since served at Henry’s in many different roles, including Plumber, Plumbing Manager, and now HVAC Residential Install Manager. In these roles, he’s overseen and been accountable for a large number of projects and personnel.

While it was always a dream, the opportunity to serve the Community that has loved him well over the years has now come in the form of the election of Hancock County Sheriff, and he would love nothing more than to come full-circle and return to serving this great county as the next Sheriff. If elected, Josh is devoted to serving for no less than 24 years in role of Sheriff, if the opportunity continues to allow.

In addition to his experience and history, if you know Josh, you’ll hopefully recognize and affirm the following Character Traits that would make for an excellent choice for Sheriff:

• Determined: When Josh sets his mind to something, he does everything in his power to make it come to fruition, often spending a good deal of his own personal time researching and networking to make sure it’s accomplished as close to perfection as any external limitations will allow.  One individual once described Josh’s don’t-stop-until-it’s-right mentality by saying “That dog will hunt”.
• Ingenuitive – Josh is an “out-of-the-box” thinker who is always looking at creative ways to improve processes and systems, making them more efficient, effective and safer. This sense of ingenuity earned him and his business partner an “Innovator Award” from the Kentucky Innovation Network years ago.
• Humble: Josh is not afraid of admitting fault or seeking additional help when needed. He’ll be quick to let you know that he’s not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, and that he might even let you down on ocassion. But if he does, he is also Approachable, willing to seek resolution, and will do everything he can to make it right.
• Just: Although his kids may disagree with this statement (as the phrase “that’s not fair” was surely spoken in his home), Josh has a bend toward seeking true Justice in all things and doing “what is right”.  He has high Ethical and Moral Standards, which are rooted in Biblical Principals undergirded by Scripture.  Furthermore, he views governmental authorities and Law Enforcement as a gift that has been instituted by God for the good of mankind and for upholding justice (Romans 13:1-7).
• Pro Life (all stages): Josh also believes as scripture teaches that ALL people are purposefully created in the image/likeness of God (Genesis 1:27, James 1:9) and are of great Value – from conception to the grave.