Black-Owned Farms Thrive Amid Kentucky Challenges

By Blake Jackson

On the eastern edge of Fayette County, Kentucky, Coleman Crest Farm stands as a symbol of Black agricultural resilience. Jim Coleman continues his family’s farming tradition on land first tilled by his great-grandfather, who gained freedom after the Civil War and purchased the farm over 130 years ago.

“Yesterday, I was pulling up mulch,” Coleman says, balancing farm work and administrative duties. “I had harvested hard the day before. Did a little bit of harvesting [yesterday], invoiced it, packaged it, put it in the case, put it in my truck, drove to my customer, and delivered.”

Coleman’s 13-acre farm is one of the few remaining Black-owned farms in Kentucky, reflecting a broader decline in farm ownership among Black producers nationwide. “The average age of farmers is 58 years old. They’re burnt out. They’re debt-ridden. Their kids don’t want it,” he says. Urban development and limited federal support exacerbate the challenges.

Programs like Lexington-Fayette County’s Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) aim to help farmers preserve land while receiving financial support. The new Small Farm Conservation subset allows farms between 10 and 19 acres to participate.

Beth Overman, director of the PDR office, explains, “With a small farm program, once word is out and people know it’s there, then that minority farmer who maybe has five acres or zero acres knowing that they could put the farm into the small farm program and get a little cash back, may help them think, ‘I could maybe take this jump and … try to start my own farm.’

Black-led organizations like Black Soil fill critical gaps. Founder Ashley C. Smith says, “[The PDR program] needs to do a lot more outreach in educating folks in the rural hamlets – technical assistance, as well as the outreach to let people know.” The organization provides funding, technical support, and market access for Black-owned farms across Kentucky.

While the future of Coleman Crest Farm remains uncertain, nonprofits and conservation programs are creating pathways for Black farmers to preserve their land, sustain livelihoods, and continue a centuries-long legacy.

“The future’s bright for those of us who are gonna produce a locally grown product where we can sell it directly – or as closely as possible to the end consumer,” Coleman says.

Photo Credit: gettyimages-kotenko-a