Farmer Bios

Mark Chapman, alongside his father, operates Chapman Farms located in Warren County with an emphasis on the latest advancements in agricultural technologies. Their farm raises row crops including corn, wheat, and soybeans.

Tonya Cherry and her husband Mark run Cherry Farms on the border of Allen and Barren Counties. Currently, the couple and their son raise row crops and a beef herd, as well as running their dairy, and they sell USDA grade beef and pork. Tonya also has a lavender crop that she uses to create homemade cow’s milk soaps and other home goods.

Travis Cleaver farms in Hart and Larue Counties with his family. Through their direct-to-consumer farming operation, they work to meet the needs of their customers by providing a variety of quality vegetables and meats.

Bill Davis farms in Barren County, where he also long served as an agriculture and chemistry teacher. Retired from teaching, Bill now farms full-time alongside his two sons. Their family farm is primarily a beef cattle operation, in addition to growing row crops including wheat, corn, and soybeans.

Paul Dennison founded Dennison’s Roadside Market in Hart County with his wife Kathy. They grow produce, and the market supplies their community with fresh, seasonal products. They also raise a tobacco crop and a small beef herd.

John D. Dawson is a farmer located in Logan County. His family farm has a diverse operation of beef cattle, dark air-cured tobacco, and row crops, including wheat, soybeans, and corn.

 

Peggy and “Droopy” Drake own the Drake’s Farm Service store in Butler County. As a third generation business founded by Peggy’s father, their store has provided essential services to farmers and other members of the community for over 50 years. Their son now manages most of the store’s day-to-day operations, continuing the Drake’s legacy.

Greg and Rita Drake are the 7th generation of farmers to cultivate their land in Butler County. They grow row crops including soybeans, wheat, and corn. Passionate about the future of farming, the couple is active in their community through various organizations.

 

Jack Estes, a 6th generation farmer, co-operates the Estes Farm on the border of Edmonson and Warren Counties. Working with his two brothers, their farm has a beef cow and row crop operation.

 

 

The Halcomb family farms in Logan County, where their family farming tradition goes back to the early 1800s. This multi-generational farm family includes Meredith Halcomb and her two sons and daughters-in-law, Sam and Stephanie Halcomb and John and Sarah Halcomb. Together, they run Walnut Grove Farms and raise a variety of row crops and grains to serve an evolving clientele, including distilleries.

Sarah Jones, her husband Bart, and their son Ty operate Red Hill Farms on the rolling hills in northern middle Tennessee and south-central Kentucky. As the seventh generation to farm their land, the family is currently active in raising beef cattle, row crops, in addition to a swine operation.

Willis and Brittany Jepson, along with their two sons, manage Jepson Family Farms located in Simpson County, Kentucky, and Robertson County, Tennessee. Their multigenerational farm currently raises dark tobacco and row crops including corn, wheat, soybeans.

Loretta Lyons is a retired farmer from Monroe County. Taking over the family farm after her husband’s death, she would go on to grow the farm over the years, raising tobacco and beef cattle and running a dairy operation with the support of her sons. The farm is now operated by her sons and has continued to grow and change.

Donnie Peden is a farmer and businessman managing the family’s sewing operation alongside his uncle and partner, located in Monroe County, Kentucky. The men also have a farm operation, primarily operated by his son and the son-in-law of his uncle. Their family farm raises beef cattle, hay, and a tobacco crop.

Al Pedigo is a farmer based in Allen County. He and his son run a family beef cattle operation, and raise tobacco and row crops, including corn and soybeans. Al is also active in a variety of local, state, and regional agricultural organizations.

Marty Pennington, a farmer from Metcalfe County, has spent a majority of his life raising tobacco. Now, his two sons continue his family’s legacy, helping his father with some of the operations. Their farm now raises specialty hay for consumers.

Angela and Dennis Vaughn are fourth generation farmers located in Simpson County. After meeting in the WKU Agricultural Department, they would go on to have two children and farm a diversified operation of corn, soybeans, and beef cattle. 

Bub and Ruth Waddell are farmers from Metcalfe County. Known for running their family’s dairy, Bub and Ruth also grew pumpkins and other produce for local markets at one time. Though they are now retired, their sons continue to cultivate portions of their family land.

Gregory and Grant Whittle are 5^th generation farmers in Edmonson County. The brothers have worked alongside one another with their dad since childhood, and they built and ran a dairy together for over 30 years. They currently raise beef cattle and a variety of row crops, including corn and soybeans, and wheat.