History

The Kentucky Food Action Network was formed in 2019 with leadership from the Community Farm Alliance, Feeding Kentucky, Kentucky Equal Justice Center, and the Kentucky Center for Economic Policy. KFAN stands on the shoulders of  the work done by the Kentucky Food Policy Network that existed in 2012-2014. We believe that with deeper engagement from communities and other sectors this network can be a hub for positive change through food policy. KFAN members can be any resident of Kentucky, Kentucky based organization, or regional/national allied organizations.

Our Goals

• Form working groups to address broad policy categories and related research such as healthy food access, equity, climate change, farmland access, and others.
• Identify strengths and gaps in Kentucky’s food system specifically related to food-insecure populations and farming sustainability.
• Bring together key players to ensure collaboration and the elimination of duplication of services (including both government and charitable anti-hunger efforts).
  public-private partnerships to ensure more Kentuckians have access to the nutrition assistance they need.
• Develop actionable recommendations to strengthen federal nutrition assistance programs and public-private partnerships to ensure more Kentuckians have access to the nutrition assistance they need.
• Recommend programs and policies that enhance economic growth through the state’s agriculture industry, while cultivating a safe, healthy and available food supply.
• Develop and support regional food policy networks and coalitions.​

STEERING COMMITTEE

The Steering Committee of the Kentucky Food Action Network is made up of Kentuckians from across every section of our food system. They advise and direct the work of the network and ensure we are staying true to our values and mission. KFAN's Steering Committee strives to include majority directly-impacted people and we define that as folks on public assistance, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color), and farmers and producers.

Ryan
​Burnette

Owner of Hickory Grove Farms,
Pleasureville, Kentucky

Dalla
​Emerson

Director of Food Service Operations, Bowling Green Independent School District 

Amber
Lawrence

Kitchen Manager, 
FoodChain, Lexington, Kentucky

Tania
​Whitfield

Mother and Community Leader,
Lexington, Kentucky

Heather
​Shaw

Western Area Nutrition Agent,
Kentucky Nutrition Education Program (SNAP-Ed)​

Medester Gougisha-Waye

Mother and Community Leader,
Winchester, Kentucky

Kent
​Gilbert

Chair of the Justice and Advocacy Commission of the KY Council of Churches
​Berea, Kentucky

Jessie
​Calhoun

​Health Education Specialist for Harm Reduction Outreach Services
Louisville, Kentucky ​

Beth
​Bennett

Small Business Owner,
Louisville, Kentucky​

STAFF

The Staff of Kentucky Food Action Network are a team of folks from 4 different organizations who bring their unique strengths and specialties together to manage the day-to-day operation of the network.

Jessica Klein

Policy Analyst, KyPolicy

Kimmie Ishmael

Policy Campaign Coordinator, Community Farm Alliance

Tyler ​Offerman

Food Justice Fellow, Kentucky Equal Justice Center

Robin ​Kunkel

Kentucky Food Action Network Coordinator, Kentucky Equal Justice Center