Free Virtual Summit for Kentucky Farmers Selling Direct-to-Consumer
2025 Kentucky Direct Marketing Summit
This three night event will cover important marketing topics, valuable to producers from every agriculture sector. Each night will cover a different marketing channel—CSA, Farmers Markets, & Food As Medicine. Sessions will run promptly from 6pm EST-8pm EST with time for questions after each presentation. Questions? Send them to bethany@kyhortcouncil.org
Even if you are unable to make it, please register! You will be sent recordings of the presentations after the summit concludes.
Schedule
Monday, October 20: Community Supported Agriculture
CSA Model Innovations- Finding What Works For Your Farm (& for your customers)
Presenter: Chris and Amy Coulter from Coulter’s Good Earth Farm
Bio: Chris and Amy have been growing together for over 20 years after having met as science educators during college. Over this time they have built a more sustainable agricultural system on their 30 acre farm in Kentucky. They spent four years of their marriage in Asia working in agriculture, and from this experience comes the name of their farm, drawn from the Pearl Buck novel “The Good Earth.”
Who Wants a Vegetable Subscription? An analysis of consumer values related to CSA subscription decisions in Central KY.
Presenter: Jairus Rossi
Bio: Jairus Rossi is a PhD graduate of the University of Kentucky Geography Department. Jairus is interested in how land use patterns are shaped by citizen science initiatives, emerging technologies, and diverse cultural economies. His dissertation work examined the use of genetics and seed banking in ecological restoration work. Jairus’ work with CEDIK involves detailing regional food networks with an eye toward promoting novel local food distribution strategies. In particular, he is assessing the potential for Community Supported Agriculture programs to create relationships with health and wellness initiatives.
Tuesday, October 21: Farmers Market
Engaging Your Community with Farmers Market Programming
Presenter: Savannah Columbia
Bio: Savannah is a University of Kentucky Alumna with a Bachelor’s Degree in Agricultural Economics and a minor in Sustainable Agriculture. She has worked as an Agricultural Extension Associate in the Agricultural Economics Department since July 2020. Her work is in specialty crop marketing, management, and local food systems. She works with farmers on marketing strategies, exploring and establishing new markets, and diversifying their operations. She works with all kinds of growers, from vegetables to cut flowers!
Community Fundraising & Grants for Farmers Markets
Presenters: Maddie Grider and Jennifer Weeber
Bios: Maddie joined the KCARD team in July 2021 after graduating from Western Kentucky University where she studied Agriculture, Literature, and Professional Writing. She provides support on client communications, data analysis, and project planning.
Jennifer grew up on a small farm where her family raised hogs and corn. In college, she was drawn to social work where she has spent much of her career working on food security and housing issues. She has been involved with the Perry County Farmers Market for several years in various capacities including as a volunteer, vendor, and board member. With CFA, she is putting her experience with program development and operations and her passion for food and equitable access to resources to use in growing the local food system.
Marketing Through the Year: Marketing Opportunities for Farmers Markets
Presenters: Kati Bowman and Brett Wolff
Bios: Kati Bowman has rejoined the KCARD team in 2024 after spending time in the healthcare industry. She brings over six years of technical assistance to Kentucky producers and will be assisting producers as they look to expand their markets, increase direct-to-consumer and wholesale sales, scale up their businesses, or explore new markets.
Brett Wolff coordinates the team-managed Center for Crop Diversification and leads the UK SARE program. He has written, managed, and reported on over $600,000 in federal, regional, and state grant programs, and has been a named partner on grant projects valued over $2 million since 2014. He spearheaded the redesign, build, and maintenance of this large, organizationally complex Extension website. The CCD website has seen over 300,000 users, 1.5 million page views, and over 1 million publication downloads since 2016.
Wednesday, October 22: Food as Medicine
Local Food, Local Impact: Leveraging ‘Food is Medicine’ in Direct Marketing
Presenter: Heather Norman-Burgdolf
Bio: Dr. Heather Norman-Burgdolf is an Associate Extension Professor in the Department of Dietetics and Human Nutrition at the University of Kentucky. With a Ph.D. in Nutritional Sciences and a Graduate Certificate in Public Health Essentials from Cornell University, she leads statewide efforts to translate nutrition science into accessible, evidence-based programs that improve community health. Her work focuses on chronic disease prevention and comprehensive nutrition education, particularly in rural populations.
Strategies for Marketing the Health Benefits of Local Food
Presenters: Bethany Cox and Emily Spencer
Bios: Bethany Prekopa Cox joined the Kentucky Horticulture Council in July 2020 as the Direct Marketing Program Manager. She comes to the Council from the University of Kentucky’s Food Connection. She is a fierce advocate for farmers markets across the Commonwealth, and she is proud of her past work with the Lexington Farmers Market promoting and assisting vendors with online store creation and setting up mobile payments. Her role at KHC is focused on supporting growers selling products directly to customers. Schedule: