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 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.
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
