Tag: Membership

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Hazard Member Meet Up

CFA Admin

Long time CFA member Jenny Williams hosted a garden party for friends of CFA in her backyard in Hazard in April. Some guests were long time members, including Maggie Bowling and Jenny Williams, who have both served on CFA’s board, and some were completely new to CFA. Several guests have ties with the Perry County Farmers Market, an important hub of local food activity in the area.

Spring was a great time to hear about everyone’s plans for the growing season. CFA staff member Jennifer Weeber said, “The casual, backyard gathering really reminded me of the importance of community in the work we do. We had some great conversation about farming and local food and what CFA does, but also just about life and what’s going on – the type of conversation that helps people to get to know one another and build connections that go deeper than a particular policy issue or program”.

Everyone enjoyed Jennifer’s and Jenny’s delicious snacks, including Jenny’s marinated deviled eggs. There was also a frittata. Jenny had received a bounty of eggs from a local farmer. Along with many lively and colorful stories, Jenny reminded us that sometimes the biggest benefit of supporting an organization with our time and resources is not a perk like a t-shirt or member discount, but the real benefit is being part of an organization that is just plain doing good work and making our communities better for Kentucky farms and the people they feed. 

CFA would like to host more small, regional get togethers like this one. If you’d like to host a CFA meet up in your area, let us know.

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Sunday Supper for Family Farms: Setting the Table for What’s Possible

CFA Admin

It was the kind of evening that felt meaningful from the moment guests stepped through the door.

At Holly Hill Inn, a place known for its Kentucky roots and thoughtful, locally inspired cuisine our amazing friends, farmers, and supporters gathered for Sunday Supper for Family Farms. Together we shared a meal and a shared commitment to the future of family farms.

Setting the Table

Around 80 guests filled the space with conversation, laughter, and a sense of connection that’s hard to manufacture but easy to recognize. Old friends reunited, new faces found their place at the table, and throughout the room, you could feel something steady and growing— community.

Guests got to take tours of the gardens at Holly Hill Inn thanks to their on staff farmer, David Wagoner, and enjoy a delicious farm to table supper of a Kentucky classic– soup beans and cornbread.

But this wasn’t just a supper. It was a reminder of what happens when people come together with purpose. At its heart, Sunday Supper was about more than raising funds— it was about telling a story 40 years in the making.

Through shared conversation and time together, guests reflected on the work of Community Farm Alliance: organizing, advocating, and building a stronger future for Kentucky’s family farms. The evening offered a glimpse of what’s possible when that work is supported— when farmers, neighbors, and advocates all have a seat at the table.

Sowing Gratitude

Thanks to the generosity of those who bought tickets and participated in the silent auction, the evening raised between $3,000–$5,000 to support that ongoing work.

Guests, both in-person and virtually, go to bid on experiences like a milkmaid session from Slak Market Farms, a cabin stay from Red River Gorgeous, tickets to Paris Story Fest, and a hands-on workshop at The Berry Center just to name a few. We are so thankful for the farmers and local businesses who donated those amazing items.

Each bid, each conversation, each shared laugh added up to something bigger than any one moment.

What lingers most from the evening isn’t just what was raised— it’s what was built.

A table where longtime members and first-time supporters got to sit side by side and share a meal. A space to honor the past while looking toward the future. A feeling of momentum, rooted in connection and carried forward by everyone in the room.

We’re deeply grateful to everyone who joined us; those who traveled near and far, those who gave generously, and those who continue to believe in the power of community-led change.

And to the team at Holly Hill Inn for creating such a warm and welcoming space to gather.

What Comes Next

Sunday Supper was one night, but it’s part of a much longer story.

Because of this community, Community Farm Alliance can keep showing up— for farmers, for families, and for the future of agriculture in Kentucky.

And we hope you’ll stay part of what comes next.

If you are not currently a CFA member or need to renew your membership, please consider doing so to help the future of Kentucky agriculture grow. Become one here: UQuyjX37s0SMQD1dnjEVwg2

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Board Member Spotlight: Kurt Mason

CFA Admin

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. 

Member Story

Michelle Howell’s CFA Story

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Michelle’s path as a farmer and community leader began with her own vision for what food justice could look like in her community. Drawing on her lived experience and deep commitment to her neighbors, she built her farm and food work one step at a time — grounding it in dignity, sustainability, and shared leadership.

As she and her husband Nathan grew their farm business, Michelle navigated the realities of markets, production, and community needs with determination and insight. At the same time, they worked to create a new farmers market – one that was helping to serve the whole community, not just those able to purchase local food as a luxury. Her work created new points of connection: between families seeking fresh food, farmers looking for stable markets, and community members working for healthier food systems.

With growth came new challenges — not because she lacked skill, but because the systems surrounding farmers are often complex, under-resourced, or not designed with women farmers and small farmers. Michelle’s leadership has meant navigating those systems while staying focused on her mission and her community.

CFA walks alongside Michelle by offering spaces where farmers lead the conversation, share strategies, and shape policy and programs together. Through these partnerships, Michelle’s voice and experience help guide broader work on food access, regional markets, and values-based food systems. Her leadership is shaping the future of farming in Kentucky.

Member Story

Birch Bragg’s CFA Story

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Birch’s journey began in Metcalfe County, where he grew up close to the land and the people who work it. His love for food and farming led him into both worlds, first as a farmer and later as a restaurant and food hub owner. Today, he co-owns Locals Food Hub and Pizza, with one location in Louisville and another in Frankfort.

Locals is more than a restaurant; it is a model of what a community-led food system can look like. With locally sourced cheese, vegetables, and meats, plus a small grocery that features Kentucky producers, Birch has built a business that keeps farmers at the center.But his work has also shown him the challenge: despite their essential role, farmers often lack the platform or power to influence the decisions that affect their livelihoods. Communities want to support local food, but without strong farmer leadership, the systems around them aren’t built to last.

Through his deepening involvement with CFA, Birch saw how farmers’ voices could be lifted in meaningful, respectful ways. Birch was able to share his experiences directly—at meetings, in advocacy efforts, and through community storytelling. He also worked with CFA and Kentucky Double Dollars to bring a SNAP Triple Match program to Locals, funded by local business partners. For Birch, this was more than a program; it was a way to align his values with tangible action, making fresh, local food accessible to more families.

Birch’s experience demonstrates how leadership grows when farmers are supported, trusted, and connected. His work stands as proof that when farmers have a platform, communities strengthen, local economies thrive, and real change grows from the ground up.