 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.The Clay County Judge/Executive renamed a road outside Farmer's hometown of Machester "Richie Boulevard".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.