The Ballew family has launched a campaign to support their ACES Cooperative Farming Program, an initiative focused on helping new and aspiring farmers access mentorship, shared equipment, and hands-on learning opportunities.
ACES, which stands for Agricultural Community & Education Services, is designed to build pathways into farming by connecting beginning farmers with experienced growers, shared resources, and real opportunities to learn the skills needed to steward land and build sustainable farm businesses. Programs like this are especially important as new farmers face barriers to land access, equipment, and technical support.
This effort is also about continuing and sharing generations of agricultural knowledge. The Ballew family — a family of Black farmers — is working to make sure that farming wisdom, community connection, and opportunities in agriculture continue to grow for the next generation.
Supporting the campaign means investing in people, land, and the future of local food systems. It’s a way to help expand access to tools, mentorship, and cooperative support that can make farming more accessible for new producers.
Agriculture has been part of Kurt Mason’s life for as long as he can remember. Growing up on a farm shaped how he sees land, community, and the people who make our food system work. Today, Kurt continues that connection as a board member with Community Farm Alliance (CFA) and as the owner of a farm in Georgetown, Kentucky.
Kurt’s Role in the Food and Farm System
Kurt grew up on a farm where his family raised beef cattle and tobacco and worked closely with organizations like the Farm Service Agency and Cooperative Extension. His farmland is in Scott County, and while it is still a working hay and cattle farm, Kurt lives in Louisville and can’t be involved hands-on as much as he likes. While he’s not able to farm the land day-to-day, he still sees himself as part of the broader food system by making sure the land stays in agricultural use.
“I’m one of those folks that helps provide land that’s accessible for farming and for the production of food and fiber.”
Right now, that means making sure the land continues to support agriculture and the farmers who rely on it. Instead of letting the land sit idle, Kurt made the decision to lease the farm to a younger farmer—giving someone else the opportunity to stay engaged in agriculture while keeping the land in production. For Kurt, it’s one way to help keep farming going for the next generation.
“I try to help younger people understand the opportunities and challenges they’re going to face in agriculture.”
Kurt was first introduced to Community Farm Alliance through his parents, who engaged with CFA while helping develop a farmers’ market in Scott County. Through those conversations, he started to learn more about the organization and its work supporting farmers and rural communities.
The Impact
Through his involvement with CFA, Kurt says his perspective on agriculture has grown and evolved.
“The face of farming is changing. CFA helps people engage in something they truly love, even if they didn’t always have the avenues to do it.”
CFA helps farmers—especially smaller farmers—connect with resources, opportunities, and one another. As a CFA board member, Kurt sees part of his role as helping guide the organization and make sure it continues to serve farmers well. He’s seen firsthand how many agricultural programs historically benefited larger farms, while smaller farmers—especially those working other jobs—often missed out on opportunities.
“CFA gives farmers a voice—especially the smaller farmers who traditionally didn’t have one.”
That kind of advocacy and connection is something he believes is deeply important.
What Kurt Wants Others to Know
For Kurt, agriculture is about relationships just as much as it is about land.
“So much of the success in agriculture comes down to how well you’re connected to the resources around you—and CFA does an excellent job bringing people and opportunities together.”
And that’s exactly what keeps him involved—helping make sure farmers across Kentucky have the support, connections, and voice they deserve.
Jim Gilles grew up in Owensboro, KY, where his family raised beef cattle. When he came back to the family farm, he noticed customers wanted access to locally raised beef, but many hesitated to buy a half or quarter of beef. Not everyone could afford or store that much meat at once. So, he started selling individual cuts of beef at Owensboro Regional Farmers Market on Saturdays during the summers.
What started with his own beef soon expanded to raising chickens and incorporating pork, milk, and cheese from other farmers alongside his market offerings. By 2016, seasonal Saturdays had expanded into a year-round, on-farm retail store carrying milk, cheese, pork, and produce. Today, Hill View Farms Market a reliable place for people to pick up products from more than 20 local farms.
Setting up an on-farm store started when a vacant house on the farm became available. Jim and his family had considered renting it, but they decided to take a chance and turn it into a storefront instead. “We didn’t have anything to lose,” Jim said. “If it didn’t work, we’d just fall back on renting the house out.”
Happily, the on-farm store worked. As Hill View gained traction and a loyal customer base, Jim added SNAP as a payment option around five years ago. He knew the importance of making local food more accessible and saw how programs like Kentucky Double Dollars (KDD) helped shoppers stretch their benefits at the farmers market. benefits used at the market.
When he heard CFA would be piloting on-farm markets and roadside stands, Jim was excited to sign on. In 2025, Hill View Farms Market began offering Kentucky Double Dollars to allow SNAP customers to double up to $20 of their
“I kind of knew what I was getting into,” he said, having seen the program in action at the Owensboro Regional Farmers Market. He worked closely with CFA staff to understand the required reporting and design a system that fit how Hill View already operated. “Honestly, getting SNAP was more difficult than figuring out how to do KDD at the store.”
Using a simple voucher system—dated and tracked with stubs—Hill View began offering KDD, making it easier for SNAP shoppers to return, redeem vouchers, and buy more.
“It helped folks who use SNAP to come to the store more often and buy more,” Jim explained.
Hill View’s SNAP sales continue to grow gradually, and the store is committed to welcoming more shoppers who want fresh, local food from Kentucky farms.
For other farm stores considering the program, Hill View’s experience shows that with the right support, it’s possible to make KDD work for on-farm retail, too—not just for farmers markets. If you have a farm market or roadside stand and are interested in offering incentives, check out Kentucky Double Dollars here: https://kentuckydoubledollars.org/retailer-or-farm-stand-information/. CFA can can work with you to accept SNAP if you are interested!
When a devastating EF-4 tornado tore through Laurel, Pulaski, and Russell Counties earlier this year, family farms across the region faced a familiar reality: being first to feel the impact, and often last in line for recovery resources.
At Community Farm Alliance (CFA), we leaned into the relationships we’ve built over decades—because in times of crisis, it’s community connections that move fastest.
Through the Central Appalachian Family Farm Fund (CAFFF), and with the support of the Sassafras Collective and the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, CFA helped coordinate relief for those hardest hit. The Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky managed the fund, while CFA led outreach and supported the application process with the help of our trusted partners on the ground.
Extension offices in Laurel, Pulaski, and Russell Counties played a key role in helping us reach farmers quickly and equitably. Together, we focused on a simple goal: get direct assistance to people who needed it—without red tape.
By the Numbers:
$82,800 in grants distributed to 22 farms
Total estimated damages: $2.7 million
Estimated 2025 income loss: $786,000
13 farms experienced total loss of barns or structures
14 farms had major equipment losses
18 farms dealt with severe debris in their fields and pastures; all hay growers lost their first cutting
How It Worked
The relief effort was grounded in trust, local knowledge, and collaboration. CFA staff and partners worked directly with affected communities to identify needs, support applications, and coordinate next steps. This wasn’t just about recovery—it was about standing with farm families as they navigated uncertainty and worked to rebuild.
This process also surfaced deeper, long-term needs:
Gaps in emergency assistance for small and mid-sized farms
The vulnerability of infrastructure and equipment
The critical role of local networks in disaster response
These are not new challenges, but the storm brought them into sharper focus and reaffirmed the importance of continued investment in rural resilience.
Thank You to Our Partners
This fund was made possible by the Sassafras Collective, the Foundation for Appalachian Kentucky, and the ongoing dedication of the county extension offices in Laurel, Pulaski, and Russell Counties, as well as Grow Appalachia, Extension Agents, farmers, Cowan Community Action Group, and KCARD for helping identify farmers and serve on the review committee.
What’s Next
As we look ahead, CFA remains committed to:
Supporting ongoing recovery in these counties
Advocating for stronger safety nets for family farms
Building infrastructure that’s prepared for whatever comes next
We know that when local organizations work together, solutions take root faster—and deeper.
Over the summer and fall of 2025, seven Lexington high school students took part in BUFF+2—a youth urban agriculture training program created in collaboration with FoodChain, Seedleaf, Two Suns Farm, and Community Farm Alliance. But this wasn’t just a summer job or classroom lecture. It was a season of hands-in-the-soil learning, led by educator and farmer Sharon Stone at Two Suns Farm, a third-acre growing space tucked into downtown Lexington.
From the very first day, the program centered student voice, autonomy, and critical thinking. Each participant was assigned their own individual plot at the farm and was asked to create a full production plan based on their personal goals. Their plans included business vision, resource needs, planting schedules, soil health, and pest management strategies. Sharon Stone, who owns and operates Two Suns Farm, brought her experience as both a grower and an educator to the forefront.
“You can’t teach someone unless you know them,” she said. She worked with each student to refine their plan, helping them shape realistic, meaningful goals. With her guidance, students not only learned what to grow, but why it mattered to them.
Problem-Solving in Real Time
Halfway through the season, students noticed something was going wrong in the field. Crops were being disturbed, and plants were disappearing overnight. With curiosity and concern, the group launched their own investigation, ruling out soil conditions, bugs, and other common culprits. Eventually, they decided to install a video camera—and what they caught on tape surprised everyone.
A groundhog.
The students sprang into action. They discussed humane removal options, set a trap, and notified Mr. Stone, who relocated the animal. For many, it was a turning point: a real-world farming challenge that they solved themselves, using teamwork and critical thinking.
Learning by Doing
Beyond their work at Two Suns Farm, the students participated in hands-on sessions with several regional experts and partner organizations, including:
UK Extension Office
American Farmland Trust
Commonwealth Community Credit Union
Briana Bazile, UK Graduate Entomologist
Through these sessions, they explored the connections between farming, business, science, and community development.
BUFF+2 students also helped with seasonal production for CSA shares and the Woodhill International Market, contributing directly to the local food economy. They hosted two open farm days for the public, selling flowers and produce while showcasing their hard work and creativity.
The program culminated with students selling their harvest at the Lexington Farmers Market’s Wednesday night market—where they managed their booth, engaged with customers, and proudly represented their farm plots.
Later that fall, they were invited to present their experience to the Fayette County Board of Education, reflecting on what they’d learned and how the program helped shape their interests and goals.
From Seed to Story
Each student came to BUFF+2 for different reasons—some with prior garden experience, others brand new to agriculture. By the end of the season, they had not only grown food, but grown confidence, skills, and a deeper connection to their community.
As Sharon Stone put it: “Assigning each student their own role helped them step into leadership. Once I understood their individual goals, I could help them shape their own plans. That’s where the learning really happened.”
This is what youth-led agriculture looks like—rooted in trust, fueled by curiosity, and grounded in the belief that learning should grow from the inside out.
Special thanks to:
The students!
Sharon Stone and Two Suns Farm
Partners at FoodChain, Seedleaf, and Community Farm Alliance
All the educators, mentors, and family members who supported the journey
