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.
There are themes in the applications we receive for school garden mini-grants: Kentucky students are disconnected from food production AND schools value hands-on learning experiences for students. School gardens are a great way to address both. Now in the fourth cycle, School Garden Mini-Grants provide $5,000 to Kentucky preK-12 schools for gardening and related cooking activities. These grants are highly competitive. This year, 72 schools submitted letters of intent to apply for a grant. Thirteen of those were invited to submit a full proposal, including a garden plan, an education plan, a financial plan and a project budget.
This year’s grantees are: Hawthorne Elementary in Jefferson County, Cumberland County High School, Royal Spring Middle School in Scott County, Southern Middle School in Fayette County and Munfordville School in Hart County. Plans include garden clubs, STEM activities and garden-to-table cooking. Several of this year’s projects will benefit special ed students and several feature strong student leadership. School resource officers and janitors, parents and principals and teachers are all working together to bring these projects to life.
Last year’s grantees reported over 45,000 hours of student time in the garden. One elementary school project lead said the best thing about their project was “the amazement from the students on harvesting. The children were always so amazed and surprised about what we were able to grow.” Community Farm Alliance would like to thank the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky for their financial support of these grants.
The last weekend of February brought sunny skies and 200 Eastern Kentucky Farmer Conference attendees to Corbin. Farmers, aspiring farmers, technical assistance providers, students, and others gathered at The Corbin Center to learn and network – and enjoy some delicious food prepared by farmer and chef, Kristin Smith (The Wrigley Taproom & Eatery).
After last year’s interest in onsite learning, the conference offered two pre-conference activities:
A tour of the Wilderness Trail Area Marketing Alliance which supports cattle, sheep, and goat producers by reducing transportation costs to market, providing space for health screenings, and hosting Extension-led workshops focused on improving livestock care, health, and market profitability.
Over the course of a day and a half, farmers, technical assistance providers, and university faculty led 18 workshops focused on horticulture and livestock production and the business of farming. Participants left with pages of notes and heads full of new ideas after learning how Maggie Bowling adapted strawberry plasticulture production to her farm, the nutrient rich recipes Robert Jones uses to keep his bees heathy over the winter, and how Chad Conway has adapted his farming operation to more resiliently withstand extreme weather events. Just down the hallway, staff from Pine Mountain Settlement School were preparing the next generation of farmers with sessions geared to school aged youth.
New to the conference this year was a round table discussion on cut flower production in the mountains led by three cut flower farmers where the room was almost standing room only – emphasizing the need for additional education and support for cut flower production in eastern Kentucky.
Appalachian Regional Healthcare’s mobile unit offered free health screenings to participants while Raising Hope’s mobile unit provided farm safety resources and mental health support. In addition, 25 other organizations serving eastern Kentucky farmers set up in the conference exhibit hall to provide information and resources to attendees. (see social media post from ARH employees)
Mealtimes served as both an opportunity to network with other farmers and to be inspired. Friday evening, Deputy Commissioner of Agriculture Warren Beeler shared stories of farming from across the Commonwealth, recognizing the hard work farmers do to feed our communities. Saturday’s lunch featured a panel of women farmers and writers reading pieces they wrote, and which are featured in Rooted, Resilient, Rising: Women Growing Food Across the Mountains, an anthology edited by Amy Le Ann Richardson which will be published soon by University Press of Kentucky. One conference participant noted, “The panel of women at lunch was an unexpected and intimate look into Appalachian women farmers. It made everything seem more woman friendly as these events can be heavily man based and focused.”
Launched at the 2023 Eastern Kentucky Farmer Conference, awards are presented each year to organizations and individuals nominated by attendees for their work and impact on farming in eastern Kentucky. This year, the following were recognized:
In the words of one farmer who nominated them: “They provide outstanding financial support to farmers, are dedicated to serving BIPOC farmers, and have a deep commitment to regenerative soil.”
Outstanding Farmer Resource – Brett Wolfe, Center for Crop Diversification
An excerpt from one nomination: “Whether developing new tools, adapting swiftly in response to challenges like COVID-19, fostering collaboration among stakeholders, or leading CCD to new heights, Brett exemplifies the very essence of being an outstanding farmer resource.”
Outstanding Farmer Mentor – Jeff & Sue Howard, Howard Farms
From one of their nominations: “They are always more than happy to mentor people who need it and…willing to host field days and share information about their experiences. They are very easy to talk to and will give their time to help solve your problems.”
Attendees left the conference inspired, excited, exhausted, and full of new ideas. Some even left with door prizes. One attendee noted, “I think it was an amazing experience and very helpful!” while a first-time conference attendee said they “had a good time networking and learning.” The planning team (Community Farm Alliance, KCARD, Grow Appalachia, UK Horticulture, and Pine Mountain Settlement School) is already working on the 2027 Eastern Kentucky Farmer Conference, so stay up-to-date by following the conference on Facebook or checking out our landing page.
The Farmers Market Support Program hosted our annual Farmers Market Gathering on February 13. The Fayette County Extension Office was vibrant with energy as more than 70 farmers market leaders from across the state gathered for a day of learning, collaboration, and inspiration.
The day featured insightful presentations from UK Cooperative Extension Service agents, who shared updates, resources, and strategies to support thriving markets. Chelsey Brock from Feeding Kentucky shared opportunities for collaboration to increase food access across communities. Margie Stelzer, CFA’s Kentucky Double Dollars Administrator, presented on the impact and expansion of the Kentucky Double Dollars program, emphasizing how incentive programs boost both farmer revenue and healthy food access statewide.
After the morning sessions, participants enjoyed a delicious meal provided by Alfalfa’s, which offered a fresh, locally inspired spread.
Attendees then moved into breakout sessions tailored to practical, real-world market needs. A sharing circle on community partnerships encouraged open dialogue about building strong local relationships with health departments, tourism, nonprofits, state parks, local businesses, and more. Growers and managers explored tools and techniques for extending the market season during an engaging workshop led by Grow Appalachia, focusing on season extension strategies that help farmers markets increase profitability and consistency.
Meanwhile, Kentucky Center for Agriculture and Rural Development (KCARD) guided participants through the business side of farmers markets: covering governance, financial sustainability, vendor management, and long-term planning.
Beyond the formal sessions, the gathering fostered meaningful peer-to-peer exchange. Market leaders shared successes, challenges, and creative solutions, leaving with renewed energy and actionable ideas to implement in their own communities. One participant shared that “we always enjoy the gathering, but this was the best one yet!”
Thank you to every participant and partner for making the gathering a huge success! We can’t wait to see y’all next year!
