Winchester Living Vol. 1, Issue 2

Winchester Living

living

Running on

FAITH Pastors talk about what belief means to them, the community

Harvest to hand Farm families host dinner to support agriculture education

Sweet ride Winchester bakers take delectables on the road

JLUY/AUGUST 2017

JULY/AUGUST 2017

From the Publisher

Faith, diversity can bring us together to condense everything these individuals had to say about a topic they are clearly Michael Caldwell is publisher of Winchester Living magazine and The Winchester Sun.

passionate about into a manageable these are no exception, would be quick to tell you being short on words is rarely something they face. human beings who are representative of

F

4 | Winchester living

MANAGING EDITOR Whitney Leggett

format. Most pastors, and I would say

We believe we featured four amazing

aith is an integral part of the fabric of Winchester; it is engrained into the very fiber of our community.

Our belief system helps define who we are, how we relate to one another and how we impact those around us.

So when the Winchester Living staff decided to do a feature on local pastors and what faith means to them, we knew we would face at least two significant challenges.

First, how do you choose these individuals? Our community has dozens of devout men and women of faith who have powerful stories to tell. Narrowing it down to four was a significant hurdle and one that risked offending someone who wasn’t chosen.

Our goal was to handle this delicately and responsibly.

We talked to several members of the community to find interesting stories and respected leaders in the faith community, while at the same time working to ensure we reflected diversity in all aspects — denomination, age, experience, race and background.

Second, we knew it would be difficult

PUBLISHER Michael Caldwell

the faith community in Winchester and

EDITORIAL Fred Petke Seth Littrell CONTRIBUTORS Kasey Moore Photography

Clark County.

Pastors Freda Blair, Janice Claypoole, Marvin King and Mike McCormick each thoughtfully and articulately shared their views on faith and how it can play a vital role in lifting up the community.

Our goal was never to elevate one religion or group over another but to simply showcase different perspectives.

Were there other pastors who we would like to have included? Certainly.

This is something we will absolutely revisit and, if readers respond favorably, may consider making a standing feature in each issue of the magazine.

Regardless of someone’s beliefs, asking questions about faith, how to live a meaningful life and what comes next is important.

Maybe religion and politics are too taboo for some dinner tables, but the willingness to acknowledge the vital role faith plays in our community is

MARKETING Lana Smith Dianna Roe CONTACT US Winchester Living magazine is published bi-monhtly by The Winchester Sun 20 Wall St. Winchester, KY 40391 WinchesterLivingMagazine.com

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES 859.759.0077 Advertising rates and information are available by request.

EDITORIAL INQUIRIES 859.759.0049 SEND US YOUR FEEDBACK: Mail to 20 Wall St., Winchester,

yet another characteristic that makes

KY, 40391, or email feedback@

Winchester special. §

winchesterlivingmagazine.com.

What’s inside?

IN EVERY ISSUE

COMMERCE

FEATURES

6 Way Back in Winchester

22 Business Showcase

37 Running on Faith

Winchester’s original depot was integral part of downtown

Campground and boat dock rich in history, outdoor fun

Pastors talk about what belief means to them, the community

20 What’s Happening?

26 What’s in Store?

46 Harvest to Hand

Events coming up this summer in Winchester and Clark County

Put a twist on summer entertaining with pieces from Eklektic Alchemy

Farm families collaborate for dinner to support agriculture education

LIVING

FOOD

28 Difference Maker

56 At the Table

ARTS & CULTURE

Clark native devoted to helping animals in need at shelter

Sweet Ride hits the streets with desserts, delectables

8

66 Why I Love Winchester Nancy Turner shares her pride in promoting the town she loves

30 How To

60 From the Cookbook

Phil May’s murals dot downtown, telling community’s rich history

Follow these steps to make your own nail-string art

Recipes to cool down or spice up your summer snack menu

12 Have You Been Spotted?

32 Health 101

Winchester residents enjoy getting out on the town

Hemp considered a superfood with plethora of health benefits

Artist Spotlight

32

8

22 37

56

60

Winchester living | 5

Tracks of history

Arts & Culture | Way Back in Winchester

Winchester’s original depot was integral part of downtown

Story by Fred Petke Photos courtesy of Bluegrass Heritage Museum

A

century and a half ago, the path of the railroad was critical to the success of any community. Trains connected the country, hauling both passengers and freight. Towns were often built around the railroads, and depots soon followed.

Winchester was no different.

In 1872, Winchester’s original depot was built to serve the Elizabethtown, Lexington and Big Sandy Railroad. Through acquisitions and mergers, the depot eventually served two railroad companies: the Louisville and Nashville, and the Chesapeake and Ohio.

After three decades of service, the depot’s best days were behind it. The L&N finally replaced it with a new depot in 1907 for a cost of $10,206.06.

Winchester’s railroad history continued for decades for passengers, freight and the famous.

In 1948, President Harry S. Truman famously stopped in Winchester as part of his whistle-stop campaign for a full term as president. Though his stop was only supposed to be six minutes, it grew to 11 minutes as he spoke to a reported 6,000 people from the back of the train along Depot Street.

Fast forward to the 1980s, and the depot sat

6 | Winchester living

empty.

XXXXXXXX xxxxxxxxxx Several|groups in town wanted to restore and preserve the building for a variety of uses including public meeting space.

Others were trying to add it to the National Register of Historic Places. A developer was reportedly interested in converting it to a restaurant.

City leaders were busily negotiating with the L&N to purchase the depot and felt confident a final deal was imminent.

Things did not work out as everyone hoped.

Early on the morning of Saturday, July 25, 1981, a crew hired by the railroad came to Winchester and demolished the depot with no advance warning.

Mayor Carroll Ecton said he was shocked and believed he had a verbal agreement with the railroad to buy the depot for $1.

A railroad spokesman said the depot was torn down to allow the railroad to realign the tracks along Depot Street.

Residents were dismayed by the action and held a public “funeral� for the depot a couple days later.

Decades later, the surprise demolition of the depot brings a tinge of sadness to longtime residents as they remember what used to fill a large part of downtown Winchester. § Winchester living | 7

mural The

art of the

Phil May uses buildings as canvas to share history

8 | Winchester living

Artist Spotlight | Arts & Culture

Winchester living | 9

Arts & Cutlure | Artist Spotlight

Story by Fred Petke Photos by Mike Caldwell, James Mann & Steve Foley

P

hil May’s art work is nothing if not public. His abstract paintings fill the walls at local hospitals, including Clark Regional Medical Center. He has painted in the halls and libraries of several Clark County schools, including Shearer, Conkwright and Trapp.

But his most recognizable works adorn Winchester buildings.

His latest piece was a mural on the roof of Clark Regional Medical Center.

Why the roof ? It gives patients on the upper floors of the adjacent clinic something interesting to see, he said.

The retired art teacher has found plenty of inspiration around Winchester, along with a second career.

“I love painting those murals because they are about history,” he said. “I always liked that kind of thing. In 10 | Winchester living

Winchester, most of the murals are about the history of Winchester.”

One of them is styled like a postcard. Another is a montage of historic buildings around downtown Winchester.

A third adorns the side of a long-time hardware store. And on, and on.

More are in the works, he said, especially for downtown.

“I’ve been talking to (Main Street Winchester) about another mural,” he said. “It’s in the planning stages now.

We’re looking for a location.”

May said he can complete a mural faster than many people think.

“I can paint it pretty fast,” he said. “I’ll spend half the time designing the mural, planning and picking the paint. I can paint one in four to six weeks, if the weather cooperates.”

When the weather isn’t cooperating, May will work on abstract paintings for clients.

“I do a lot of large abstracts that were sold to the hospital,” he said.

May said he started drawing as a child and never stopped.

“My dad was a contractor, so I started drawing houses,” he said. “My mother was a big influence because she made quilts. She would take leftover ties and pieces of cloth.

They were abstract art to me.”

Born in Floyd County, May moved to Lexington with his family in the 1960s.

After graduating from Morehead State University with an art degree and University of Kentucky with his master’s, May moved

to Winchester in 1974 and became an art teacher for the Clark County school system.

“I enjoyed teaching middle school,” May said. “The last five years I taught elementary (students). It was a good change.

“Now I have these 40-year-old people coming to tell me, ‘You were my art teacher.’”

May has no plans to stop honing his craft, either.

“I just enjoy doing them and showcasing Winchester,” he said. “You make it, you build it and it evolves. The last one I did is always my favorite.” §

Winchester living | 11

SPOTTED YOU’VE BEEN

Jim Tipton and Diane Kennedy

Diadra Heine and Megan Pratt

Reed, Callie and Sydney Miller

Sheila and Frank Doyle

Robert and Trish Parker

Denise and Greg Yates

Russell and Karen Allen

Pat and Russ Morrison

Scott and Mark Hisle 12 | Winchester living

Susie and Mark Craycraft

Gloria and Henry Branham

Winchester-Clark County Chamber of Commerce banquet May 18, 2017

Bob and Betty Berryman

Mary and Vic Bloomfield

Nancy Turner, Cindy Banks and Erika O’Brien

Lisa Smith and Judy Cooper

Ron Kibbey

Jeremy and Rebecca Rainey

James and Betsy Wells

Carey Isaacs, Beverly Kelley and Valeria Damron

Tammy Butler, Lewis and Langdon Winburn

Whitney Leggett, Diana Roe and Lana Smith

SPOTTED YOU’VE BEEN

Joe Cartwright

Bob and Theresa Johnson

Clark County Jailer Frank Doyle and Sheriff Berl Perdue

Emily Riggins, Kristie Norton and James Williams

Rep. Donna Mayfield and William Elkins

Stacey Hocks and Carol Simmons

Julie and Caleb Staton

Beer Cheese Festival Downtown Winchester June 10, 2017

Victoria Lewis and Debra Parr

Keith and Jane Green

Carvel Norman

Lorrie and Andy Hamon

Charla Hylton with Snickers and Spike

Linda Long, Sallie Dailey, Karen Ward, Sheila Doyle and Clark County Judge-Executive Henry Branham Winchester living | 15

SPOTTED YOU’VE BEEN

Harley LeMaster and Clover

Bruce Manley and Winston

Several young participants pose with their medals.

16 | Winchester living

Jeremy and Sarah Gregory and Penny

Run for the Paws 5K BCTC Winchester-Clark County May 21, 2017

Lisa Manley Chris Pattison

Frank Kraft

Jesse Mills

Kathy Estes, Chelsea Estes and Wally

Eva Heath and Ace

Lolana and Graham Luchtefield Madison Reddix

Karen Smith

Jessica Chamberlain

Susan Cederholm

Ann Cheuvront

Patrick Kraft and Michael Phillips

SP TTED O

YOU’VE BEEN

Bruce Manley, Desiree Marshall, Ashley Gei, Joy Trent, Sharon Grimes and Ramsey Flynn

Arlene Ross and Melissa Burkhart

MEMBER

FDIC

EQUAL HOUSING

LENDER

Community Job Fair BCTC Winchester-Clark County May 12, 2017

Juliette Kirkpatrick, Mike Shepherd and Ashley Breeze Michael Jackson, Almond Howard and Shawna Ferrell

Christina Zwischenberger and Brandon McClure

What’s Happening?

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Upcoming events in Winchester and Clark County

JULY

14

JULY

16

MOONLIGHT MOVIE NIGHTS SHOWING OF ‘SING’ 7 p.m. at BCTC 2020 Rolling Hills Lane

“ONE MORE FINE DAY” 7:30 to 10 p.m.

Leeds Center for the Arts

This event is free, as are upcoming other showings including “Beauty and the Beast” July 21 and “LEGO Batman” July 28.

Written by Lexington native Caitlyn Waltermire Leonard, this dark musical comedy has been accepted into New York City’s International Theatre Festival’s Summer Season.

JULY

22

VEGETABLE FESTIVAL 8 a.m. to noon at WinchesterClark County Farmers’ Market Celebrate local produce!

Stop by the market for your chance to win prizes, snag some delicious produce, and visit booths from local organizations.

JULY

AUGUST

29

5

FARM TO TABLE DINNER 6 to 8:30 p.m. at WinchesterClark County Farmers’ Market on Depot Street

HARVEST TO HAND DINNER 6 to 10 p.m. at Gilkison Farm 345 White Calloway Road Two family farms invite you to taste and celebrate local, fresh fare on a working farm. All proceeds benefit agricultural education in Clark County. Tickets are $55.

Dinner to support local farmers’ market featuring a meal from local chefs using local products. Tickets are available for $50 at the market.

AUGUST

12

HOLY SMOKE BBQ CONTEST 8 a.m. to noon at WinchesterClark County Farmers’ Market Local pit masters compete and help raise money for the market. For $5, visitors get a sandwich, chips, drink and cookie. Lunch served from 11 a.m. until supplies run out.

AUGUST AUGUST

18-27

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“HAIRSPRAY” 7:30 p.m. Aug. 18-19, Aug. 2526; 2:30 p.m. Aug. 20 and 27 at Leeds Center for the Arts

STRIDE’S WILD GAME DINNER AND AUCTION 6 to 11:30 p.m.

2490 Van Meter Road

You can’t stop the beat in this musical about one girl’s dream to dance. Tickets are available for $20 at leedscenter.org.

Dinner and auction to support STRIDE, which provides recreational therapy services to individuals with disabilities. Tickets are $35 and includes dinner.

Commerce | Business Showcase

At the mouth of the

Red River

Campground, boat dock rich in history, outdoor fun

22 | Winchester living

Story and photos by Seth Littrell

R

obert Angel has livded on the Kentucky River for 37 years.

During that time, he has bought and sold several properties along the body of water, but he has always had a passion for bringing families to its banks.

“I’ve been a river rat all my life,” Angel said. “I love the river.”

Angel, a Kiddville native, worked for decades in the concrete business, spending whatever free time he could eitheron the banks of Kentucky’s main waterway or on it in a canoe or boat.

After his retirement, Angel decided to make his passion his full-time job and purchased Red River Boat Dock and Campground, which sits on 12 acres of land at the mouth of the Red River where Clark County meets Estill and Madison counties.

Red River Boat Dock and Campground offers a bucolic,

family-oriented location for people to gather, camp, fish and have fun on the river. In addition to primitive camping sites and space for several recreational vehicles, the campground features two small rental cabins.

Anyone staying at the campsites is given access to an open pavilion area with a refrigerator, grill and seating for people to gather, cook and enjoy meals.

The campground comes complete with rentable kayaks, canoes and paddle boats that can be taken out on the river. Angel said he has some pontoon boats he is working on that will soon be put on the river as well, and the campground has a boat dock available for anyone coming from the water.

Angel said he wants families to come to the campground and bring their children with them.

“Kids have a fun time here,” he said. “They look for arrowheads, they play in the creek, go fishing and they just enjoy running around.”

In the busy summer season, Angel said he will

Winchester living | 23

IF YOU GO — Red River Boat Dock and Campground is located at 1260 Ferry Road in Winchester.

— Cabin rentals are $50 during the summer and $25 in the off season.

— Paddle boats can be rented all day for $20.

— Canoes and Kayaks can be rented at $25 for a half day or $30 for a full day — Daily, weekly and monthly boat slip rentals are available — The campground includes camper hookups and tent sites, with a bath house on the premises — For more information, call (859) 842-4590.

24 | Winchester living

Business Showcase | Commerce

occasionally host live music or even July 4 fireworks shows that draw crowds ranging from 50 to 500 people.

In addition to offering access to two different waterways and three counties, the area is steeped in local history, Angel said. The general area was once the site of a Native American community, and those who take the time to look can still find arrowheads and other traces of the civilization that once lived there. It also once functioned as a ferry, with remnants of the operation still visible along the bank.

The location also features an old log house built in 1887 that operated at one time as a riverside restaurant.

The restaurant has since been converted back into a house that Angel’s son resides in, but he said in the future, he would like to reopen it in some capacity as a

grill.

Angel said the campground has been a work-inprogress for him, and he is making enhancements here and there as he is able. In the short term, he plans to add two more rental cabins and repair an older boat dock on the side of the property that will increase the overall docking space.

He said although he wants to expand the campground to accommodate more campers, he also strives to keep the location small enough that those who do visit can relax the way he does when he sits on the patio to watch the river.

“That’s my favorite thing to do here,” he said. “I can just watch the river flow by for hours.” §

Commerce | What’s In Store?

Entertaining with an ‘Eklektic’ twist

Eklektic Alchemy, located at 104 S. Main St., specializes in vintage, antiques and curiosities. Owned

by Ronald Conboy and Barton Holden, the specialty shop sells a wide variety of merchandise from furniture, dishes and glassware to clothing, linens, art and literature. This summer, dazzle your guests at cookouts or dinner parties with some of these unique pieces.

Right: Vintage 1960s mid-mod bar, $250; Top left: Erne grapefruit ceramic pitcher and tumbler 9-piece set.

Made in Australia, $125; Top right: Eklektic Alchemy’s mascot, Astrid, pushing a 1960s Hollywood regency tea cart, $195.

26 | Winchester living

Vintage 1940s orangeshaped ceramic pitcher, $25; McCoy strawberry-shaped cookie jar, $30.

From left: Small blue and green lucite grape cluster, $30; Vintage 1960s-1970s “Golden Sunset” large lucite grape cluster, $60; “Moon Glow” large lucite grape cluster, $75.

Better Made picnic plates and cup-holders.

Set of 9, $19.

Thermal grass-encased pitcher and cups.

Set of 12, $65.

Authentic vintage “hippie” shirt, $20; Vintage authentic Hawaiin shirt, $30; Vintage paisley-patterned shirt, $25;

Winchester living | 27

Living | Difference Maker

28 | Winchester living

Labor of love

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Clark native devoted to helping animals in need Story by Fred Petke | Photo by Mike Caldwell

A

t any given time, there are dozens of dogs and cats in the Clark County Animal Shelter.

Some are strays. Some were birthday or holiday presents that became too much for families. Some were surrendered as their owners couldn’t care for them any more, whether because of health issues or relocation.

The vast majority of the animals will find another home, thanks to the efforts of the shelter staff and director Adreanna Wills.

A Clark County native and life-long resident, Wills became the shelter director three years ago.

“I started (college) with the intent of going to veterinarian school,” she said.

“Life happens and things change and that landed me here.”

Her love of animals started when she was young, living in rural Clark County with her family.

“There were barn cats that would come up to the house and I’d play with them,” she said. “We had a dog when I was little.

We always had some kind of pet. Most of them found us. If they showed up, they were going to be fed and they would be taken care of.”

That is the concept for the county’s shelter as well.

As an open-intake facility, no animals are turned away.

“They will have a bed, they will have full bellies and they will be cared for,” she said.

During her three years as shelter director, Wills has brought a lot of tasks previously performed by other animal groups back in-house. Wills had already spent six years working at a veterinarian’s office, then started working with another animal group following the birth of her children.

“When this position came open, it was like it fell into

“

place,” she said. “Some of the people in the shelter could do some of that work without a third party” such as taking photos of the animals or handling some of the placements.

That is not to say the other groups aren’t needed.

“At times, we’re just overwhelmed,” she said.

“Sometimes, I can call one (group) and ask if they can come out and help catch up on photos or laundry.”

Wills has also helped build a staff that truly cares for the animals.

“We have animals come in that are scared to death,” she said. “Their world has been turned upside down. (The staff) has to be patient and recognize those things.”

The hardest days are those when the decision has to be made to euthanize an animal.

“We get attached to the animals,” she said. “Sometimes, they really bond to us, but not to visitors coming through. We all want what is best for the animals coming through our facility.

“Sometimes, even though we can see past the hurt and scars … the best thing we can do is make that decision. Sometimes there’s not enough room for all the animals that need help.”

Any time an animal gets a new home, though, is a win. More than 97 percent of all dogs who enter the shelter are eventually adopted, Wills said. The numbers are lower with cats, partly because there are more. Female cats can have two litters of kittens a year and “repopulate the world,” she said.

Wills and her staff care for the animals and instill a little trust that not all humans are bad, which can make a huge difference in a pet.

“One of the most rewarding things is seeing an animal come through the door with its spirit broken ... and see them run, greet people and be happy,” she said. “You can’t Winchester living | 29 get any better than that.” §

They will have a bed, they will have full bellies and they will be cared for.”

Home is where the heart is Make your own nail-string sign

Story and photos by Whitney Leggett

30 | Winchester living

s

SUPPLIES — Blank wooden plaque. Can be made with reclaimed wood, pallet pieces or purchased at a craft store — Print out of the shape of Kentucky to fit width of selected wooden plaque — Print out of heart shape at desired size — Crochet thread — Nails (I used small laminate floor nails in gold) — Hammer — Tape — Tweezers

How To | Living

INSTRUCTIONS 1) Roughly cut out the shape of the state leaving about 1-inch of blank white space around the outline. Position the cutout on the wooden plaque and secure using three or four pieces of tape.

2) Cut out the heart shape and place it over Clark County on the map of Kentucky and secure using tape.

3) Place the plaque on a firm, flat surface and use a hammer to insert the nails only about half way into the wood while following the outline of the state as closely as possible. Leave about a 1/4-inch space between nails when possible.

4) Using the same method, outline the heart shape with nails.

5) Tear away the paper guides and use

tweezers where necessary to remove small fragments left at the base of the nails.

6) Carefully check that each nail is secure in the wood before wrapping the thread 7) Tie the start of the thread around a nail on the Kentucky outline and wrap it beneath the nail head several times.

8) Stretch the thread to one of the nails on the heart outline, wrap it beneath the nail head twice and then extend it back to one of the nails on the Kentucky outline.

9) Continue stretching and wrapping until every nail has been wrapped once.

Then, continue stretching and wrapping until the thread fills the space to your desired result.

Winchester living | 31

hemp?

Living | Health 101

Why choose

32 | Winchester living

Centuries-old ‘super’ crop has plethora of uses, health benefits Story and photos by Whitney Leggett

W

ho says you can’t have it all?

Across the U.S., people are learning about the benefits of a misunderstood centuries-old crop that is making a comeback: hemp.

When it comes to health benefits and uses of hemp, the options are seemingly endless, and in Winchester, there are several places to find products using this “super food.”

Often referred to as agricultural or industrial hemp, the plant is a variety of Cannibis sativa, making it a “cousin” to marijuana. Despite widespread misconceptions about the crop, hemp keeps you healthy rather than getting you high.

Hemp contains less than 0.3 percent of THC, which is the psychoactive element in cannabis that creates a euphoric feeling.

Hemp has a long history in the U.S. The Declaration of Independence was drafted on hemp paper and the likes of George Washington and Thomas Jefferson grew hemp and advocated for its use.

Hemp has been cultivated for centuries as a source of fiber, food, oil and fuel. Because nearly every part of the plant can be used, there are a wide array of products available — about 25,000 uses are estimated.

Kentucky once had a thriving hemp industry.

According to the Kentucky Department of Agriculture, the state’s first hemp crop was grown in 1775, and Kentucky went on to become the nation’s leading hemp-producing state in the mid-19th Century with peak production of 40,000 tons in 1850.

U.S. hemp production declined after the Civil War, and almost all of the nation’s hemp was grown in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky. Federal legislation passed in 1938 outlawed production of cannabis, including hemp, in the U.S. Most recently, hemp farming became legal in 31 states under the 2014 Farm Bill. By 2016, 9,650 acres of industrial hemp were grown across 16 states, including Kentucky.

Winchester living | 33

Living | Health 101

Hemp seeds Lauded as the most nutritionally-complete seed in the world, hemp seeds have a rich, nutty flavor — similar to flax or sunflower seeds — and can be eaten whole or shelled, raw or toasted, plain or flavored.

Seeds can be sprinkled on fruit, blended into protein shakes and smoothies, mixed with granola, oatmeal or other hot cereals or baked into breads or muffins.

Hemp seeds have a highly-concentrated balance of protein, essential fats, vitamins and enzymes. Hemp seeds also are low in sugar, starches and saturated fats.

The seeds are high in easily-digested protein — more digestible than proteins like meat, eggs or milk — which helps strengthen immunity, fend off toxins and provide energy.

Seeds are also a great source of essential fatty acids, including super omegas Stearidonic Acid (SDA) and Gamma Linolenic Acid (GLA) and all nine Essential Amino Acids, which the human body can not produce naturally and must be consumed through diet. These fatty acids are beneficial for cardiovascular health and strengthening the immune system.

Hemp is rich in antioxidants, amino acids, fiber, iron, zinc, carotene, calcium, magnesium, sulfur, copper, potassium, phosphorus, enzymes and vitamins B1, B2, B6, D and E. Because hemp seeds are packed full of these essential vitamins and minerals, they are classified as a super food — foods that are so nutrient-rich they are considered especially beneficial for health and well-being.

Hemp is also cholesterol-free, vegetarian, gluten-free and has no known allergens, meaning it can be eaten even by those with allergies or sensitivities to nuts, lactose or sugar.

Hemp oil Since its discovery in 1992, researchers have been investigating a central regulatory system in the human body called the endocannibinoid system (ECS).

Made of cannabinoid receptors which are found throughout the body, the ECS is believed to be one of the most important physiologic systems involved in establishing and maintaining human health.

In each tissue, cannibinoids perform different tasks, but the goal is always the same: maintaining a stable internal environment despite fluctuations in the 34 | Winchester living

A full range of hemp products can be purchased locally at — Atalo Holdings Located at the old Rickard Seed facility, Atalo Holdings is a leader in research, commercialization and development of industrial hemp. Atalo is focused on harnessing the power of industrial hemp for food, fuel, fiber and other uses. Atalo offers hemp-derived CBD products, hemp protein powder, hemp hearts and hemp oil. Visit ataloholdings.com to order.

— Full Circle Market Owned by Laura Sheehan, Full Circle Market is a onestop shop for all things hemp, including hemp hot dogs, hemp hearts, hemp seeds, hemp chocolate and hemp drinks, handcrafted hemp purses and tote bags, skin care products and even a full line of CBD oil products. The store is located at 24 Redwing Drive.

— Laura’s Mercantile Laura Freeman produces a line of hemp chocolates using hemp grown organically at Mt. Folly Farm in Clark County. The farm is part of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture’s Hemp Research Pilot Program. The line includes hemp and cranberry dark chocolate bark, hemp and dark chocolate wafers and hemp dark chocolate truffles that can be purchased at more than a dozen local retailers or at laurasmercantile.com.

external environment.

Cannabidiol (CBD), a chemical compound in the cannabis plant, can be extracted and works with the body’s natural endocannibinoid system to promote and protect well-being.

CBD has a long list of potential health benefits, including the treatment of inflammation, epilepsy, oxidative injury, anxiety and vomiting and nausea .Some research even suggests CBD has the potential to protect the brain from damage and degeneration caused by some diseases.

U.S. Patent No. 6,630,507, which was granted in 2003 to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, covers the potential use of non-psychoactive cannabinoids for this purpose. Researchers have discovered that non-psychoactive

compounds in cannabis may have antioxidant properties that could be beneficial in the treatment of certain neurological diseases.

According to the patent,“Cannabinoids are found to have particular application as neuroprotectants, for example in limiting neurological damage following ischemic insults, such as stroke and trauma, or in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease and HIV dementia. Hemp-based nonpsychoactive cannabinoids are particularly advantageous to use because they avoid toxicity that is encountered with psychoactive cannabinoids at high doses.”

Hemp oils are distributed in different forms ranging from high-strength CBD concentrate to soft gels, capsules, drops,

spray and balms.

The oils are also used in a number of beauty products and cosmetics, including lotions and soaps. Beyond moisturizing the skin, hemp oil products have been shown to help with acne, psoriasis and eczema and promote smoother, thicker hair growth. §

Any interested person may receive a copy of KRS 194A. 700-729 and 2010 KY Acts Ch. 36, sec.l 2 and re levant administrative regulations for Kentucky Assisted Living by requesting from Brooks Place

Running on

Fai h Pastors talk about what belief means to them, the community Story and photos by Mike Caldwell

F

AITH. A short word of just five letters but one with a complex and powerful meaning.

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines faith as “belief and trust in and loyalty to God; belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion; firm belief in something for which there is no proof.”

Many people would dispute that last phrase as they have seen firsthand all the evidence they need that God is guiding our lives.

Winchester Living recently sat down with four pastors — each with diverse backgrounds, beliefs and approaches to leading a congregation — to talk about what faith means to them, how they share it with others and how they believe it can play an important role in Clark County’s future.

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Mike McCormick Calvary Christian Church

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or Pittsburgh native Mike McCormick, the seeds of faith were planted very early, growing out of tragedy no 7-year-old should have to deal with.

His 4-year-old brother was diagnosed with Leukemia and, of course, that had a really big impact on the entire family.

He was sick for about a year and a half before passing away.

Mike was 9.

“My mind started to think about things. About how short life was and the time we have and how fast it goes. And also things that would last for eternity. I can remember thinking I wanted to do things that matter. I wanted to do things with my life. For whatever reason, I was still here and I wanted to do things that lasted forever and made a difference in people’s lives. God took a difficult thing in my life and turned it into something positive.”

Mike, looking back now at the age of 40, knew he wanted to follow a ministry path but didn’t know where that would lead. He visited Asbury College and it became a story about love. He fell in love with the state. He fell in love with Ale-8. He fell in love with UK basketball. He fell in love with his future wife, Kristina.

He spent time in Dallas and Pittsburgh but always felt he wanted to be a lead pastor elsewhere when he saw a job posting for a church in Winchester in November 2014.

“When I was in the interview process, I came down to check out the scene and I looked into Calvary’s lobby through the door window and I saw an Ale-8 machine in the lobby and thought ‘Well, this is it. This is God’s guidance right here.’”

would my mother die? Why would I have cancer? Or why would I not get that job? Why is it like that?

“I really want to understand what is causing the pain they are experiencing that is sending them a message that there is nobody out there. … There is a verse in the Bible, where God says, ‘My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ I really like that because God may not take the bad things away, but he always promises to be with me. He promises to give me the strength I need, and actually, the weakness or the difficulty might have been one of the best things that ever happened to me because it caused me to realize I need help and I can’t just rely on myself all the time.”

What do you think the churches can do to help lift up the Winchester community?

“My second year here I became the president of the Association of Churches for Winchester and I mainly agreed to that because I wanted all the churches in the community to know that Calvary is here to serve the community, and I wanted to force home that we wanted to be one of the best churches for the community not the best church in the community. I think that was a different mind-set. I started working with other pastors and we spoke almost a year just trying to get to know each other.”

Ultimately, they hosted a joint Thanksgiving service that reached about 1,500 people. Now, six churches are working to bring to the community Upward Basketball, a Christ-based program that teaches both skills and character to youth.

“In this one effort, we are serving the kids who the (recent Harwood Institute) report said were hopeless and needed things to do and they didn’t see a future for their community. We are breaking down the racial barriers because we’ve got churches from different racial backgrounds coming together and we’ll actually be getting our congregation in each other’s churches because we’ll be playing there and practicing there. We are breaking down the church divide. It’s a way for us to come together across denominations and to serve together for the community.”

“What makes faith good or not good is not necessarily how strong it is within you but how strong the object of your faith is.”

How do you define faith?

“The Bible defines it in Hebrews 11:1, that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is trust and faith is a confidence you have in something you can’t see. ... I think faith is really important because you can have faith in a lot of things, but what makes faith good or not good is not necessarily how strong it is within you but how strong the object of your faith is. …. Mostly, I think faith, in the Biblical sense, is a knowledge of who God is —when you know his character, that he’s a good God, that he’s a powerful God, that he loves you, that he’s a just God and he’ll do what’s right. When you really know who he is then he’s worthy of trust so you can kind of rest in him because of who he is.”

How do you talk to someone who is struggling with their faith?

“I will ask about their life experience because all of us have both good things and bad things that happen in our life. I think that it is the pain of the hard times that really causes us to wonder if this whole God thing is for real. Because if he is real, then why

What is one message that may sometimes get lost?

“I think there’s a challenge Jesus would give us in that we need to broaden our view of who is our neighbor, who is the person we have commonality with. They are going to be different in a lot of ways. ... I think if all of us spent a little more time trying to live like Jesus, and treat people the way he did, we would have an answer to a lot of the problems we are having today.”

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or Pastor Freda Blair, Christ Temple Apostolic Church has been a part of her life for almost as long as she can remember. It was founded by her mother, Marine Brown Sharp, 32 years ago.

After her mother passed away, Freda was voted to take over in 2006, something she did with some reluctance because she had seen everything her mother went through for nearly two decades.

She couldn’t turn away from what she felt called to do.

“To be honest, I didn’t want to (take the lead) because I worked with her for 19 and a half years and saw what she went through, but I didn’t want to see her legacy die. So, with that in mind, and all the work she put in, it made me think twice and put those other thoughts behind and say whatever the will of God is, I will do it.

“Now I feel like I made the right decision. It has not been an easy place to be because I had some big shoes to fill, but with the help of God, you can do anything,” said the 53-year-old pastor with a congregation of about 80 members with big dreams. “So, with the church allowing me to come in after sitting with them as one of their members and then allowing me to grow and learn and develop some things, it has been a great experience.”

been through. One of the things I think helps people more than anything is being transparent. Letting them know things happen and what I’ve gone through and giving them the actual testimony that I went through this and I didn’t think this would happen, but then I began to trust God and really know that God is the answer. He is the answer to everything.

“Being able to give someone a testimony of what God has done in your life, those are usually the eye-openers.

Then bringing their memory back. Remember when God did such-and-such for you. Sometimes we forget what God has done for us, and when you bring that back to someone, their life changes because they have something to rely on.”

“Our mission statement is to live by faith, to be the voice of hope and to be known by love. ... I really believe that faith is love, hope and truth and it means that we rely on God and that we have to trust in him.”

How do you define faith?

“I think about the scripture and Hebrews 11:1. It tells us that faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. It brought to my mind that faith is love, hope and truth. Our mission statement is to live by faith, to be the voice of hope and to be known by love.

“With those in mind, I really believe that faith is love, hope and truth and it means we rely on God and we have to trust in him. The scripture says it is the truth that will set you free, and that’s what faith means to me.”

How do you talk to someone who is struggling with their faith?

“I try to give them examples not just in scripture but mostly examples in real life. I try to be a living example and I try to give someone an example of something I’ve 40 | Winchester living

What do you think the churches can do to help lift up the Winchester community?

“The mor we are unified we can do more. Sometimes it seems like some of the churches want all the glory, but if we come together and let the community know we are all doing the same thing, all unified, we can provide better for the community … We are all supposed to be going to the same place.”

What is one message that may sometimes get lost?

“We should reach out in any way possible. Not just feeding the soul, but feeding the whole man. We love doing outreach programs and we had a lot of different programs at our Oliver Community Center, but have not really able to do it as much as we used to. We had a food bank, clothing bank and after-school programs.

We haven’t been able to do all those things now, but those are some of the things I think are reaching the whole family. We also feed at the homeless shelter every week and jail ministry. We are trying to reach all parts of the community. We also go out to the nursing homes. We try to reach all ages and do everything we can so we can help anybody who wants help. We are reaching out, getting out of the four walls and reaching out into the community and touching lives by sometimes just talking and just being the ear to listen.”

Running on Faith | Feature

Freda Blair

Christ Temple Apostolic

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Feature| Running on Faith

Marvin King First Baptist Church

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Houston native, Pastor Marvin King has been all over the country and spent a lot of time working in corporate America. But, King said, it became clear to him the Lord was calling him into the ministry and, ultimately, to Winchester in January 2010.

“It was very easy for us to embrace the community; the people were great. The people were very welcoming and nice, and when I looked at the city, I just saw so much potential. It wasn’t hard to embrace the community,” the 44-year-old said of taking over the congregation. “I do see lots of needs, especially in my vocational capacity, but it’s just a city that’s very easy to fall in love with.”

How do you define faith?

“I define faith as having a core set of values and, of course, mine are rooted in a Biblical narrative that actually defines and drives how I interact with God and with my fellow man, which is community. I believe faith is when we take those values and we live those out in the context of human community.

“From my perspective, my values teach me to respect each individual regardless what their personal faith and belief is and to respect our community and the fact that everyone has gifts and everyone has something to contribute.

I define faith to be your belief — in action. For me, my faith drives me in a positive direction to unify people of various races, ethnicity, cultures, academic, socioeconomic backgrounds.

And so my faith drives me to seek to unite community.”

own personal faith and how I got to where I am and try to give them something to uplift and encourage them.”

What do you think the churches can do to help lift up the Winchester community?

“I think it’s imperative that we have to leverage our resources to make a positive impact in our communities.

In our Biblical narrative, what we are taught is to love our neighbors more than ourselves. So, when we talk about partnerships from a community standpoint and partnerships with other churches, if the church down the street is my neighbor, not neighbor in terms of physical address, but if they are my neighbor in terms of humanity, then it’s imperative for me to connect with them to live out our shared core common beliefs together, to agree on those things that are essential and those things that are not essential, don’t let that divide us. “… We are greater together. One of the things that we believe is that we are many different people with various gifts but we are one body. We all have a usefulness to our community. We all have something to contribute.”

“My faith drives me in a positive direction to unify people of various races, ethnicity, cultures, academic, socioeconomic backgrounds and so my faith drives me to seek to unite community.”

How do you talk to someone who is struggling with their faith?

“I take a very unique approach. I don’t get very doctrinal or impose my faith on anyone. I really like my life to exemplify what I believe and that core belief is loving everyone. What I try to do with that person who is maybe on the fringes or on the fences of a Biblical faith, I just try to encourage them and love them where they are.

“I try to give them positive, motivational kinds of things to connect with them first. Once the connection occurs and we have a relationship, then I’ll articulate my

What is one message that may sometimes get lost?

“I think churches have gotten a bad rap in terms of some dogmatic views and some intolerant views. ... Not every community of faith is an intolerant community or insensitive community or judgmental community. There are some people out here who are willing to engage in some very tough conversations to understand the plight of humanity and the plight of community and the plight of our culture to be able to make a difference.

I think there are some faith communities that are willing to, not necessarily compromise their beliefs, but are able to figure out creative ways to live together with those beliefs. “ … When we know each other, and have a genuine, affectionate love for one another, it just makes it easier to accept who we are as individuals. We can connect in our humanity and not really try to connect via our ideologies.

I think when we begin to communicate in our humanity, I think we tap into the human creativity to be able to really promote solutions and promote ideas and create the bonds that really strengthen our community.”

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o say faith and ministry run in the family for Pastor Janice Claypoole would be an understatement of, well, Biblical proportions.

Born and raised in North Winchester, Janice remembers walking to the small country church across the street from her current home on Winn Avenue. Her mother would sing a song about 99 sheep and one missing “That burden to see people rescued and helped got in my spirit from a very young age. We had a little grocery store on the north end of town and we would feed people and so we couldn’t have anything for momma feeding everybody. So, the feeding program and the burden I have for people who are less fortunate and who are hurting, it came out of the faith of my mother.”

After spending time at another church, it was 28 years ago in July Janice knew she was needed elsewhere.

“This church was birthed from a burden, for people who are addicted and down and out. I left a church of 17 years to go to downtown Winchester where we started beside a pool hall in a little storefront. I began to minister there and peoples’ lives were changed and people had been delivered from drugs and alcohol. I have all walks of life. Our mission was the mission of Jesus. He said, ‘I come to heal the broken hearted and to set the captive free and to reach the ones no one was reaching.’ That’s how we got started.”

Then came a second building on Broadway. They started in the current building in 2006. Today, they provide almost 200 meals a day and have a jail and prison ministry that goes to 14 different jails and prisons throughout the state. They have a drug rehab facility next door called Mercy House.

And that family tradition continues as she has a son, daughter, son-in-law and two teenage grandchildren who are preachers or pastors.

Christ. He’s the door.”

How do you talk to someone who is struggling with their faith?

“I would just give them the word of God. He says, ‘When you seek me with your whole heart, you’ll find me.’ I can challenge a person to begin to pray and I have faith the Lord will manifest himself to them in a way they can understand. I love to be able to minister to people who feel hopeless. There’s not a person ever hopeless but they think they are, and when you find God and Jesus, you find peace. You find the fulfillment you want in life. It’s satisfying when you completely give it all to God. “…The mission of this church is we believe the word. Jesus said, I was hungry and you didn’t feed me, naked and you didn’t clothe me, sick and in prison and you didn’t visit me, a stranger and you took me not in.

Those are the things that are important to him.

It may not be important to everybody else because a lot of people don’t want the poor.

They don’t want the people who have the problems. Jesus said the well do not need a physician.

I think the mission of the church is to reach the broken, to heal the hurting and the way that is done is introducing them to Jesus Christ. He is the burden-bearer, the heartmender and the peace-giver. He is everything and more my momma taught me he is to be.”

“The thing is: Faith in what? I say a faith in a living God... when you have faith in him it’s the life line to joy, and the life line to peace.

The only way to get it is through Jesus Christ.

He’s the door.”

How do you define faith?

“The thing is: Faith in what? I say a faith in a living God, the one true God. And when you have faith in him, it is the lifeline to joy, and the lifeline to peace. You know no matter how dark it gets in this world, he is in control of your life and you trust him totally. Then you have that precious hope that this is not all there is. You have a faith that he is God and his word is true and when this thing is over, we don’t really die, we just move on to a higher plane with him: Heaven, eternal life. Faith is a faith in a true living God and the only way to get it is through Jesus

What do you think the churches can do to help lift up the Winchester community?

“They need to get together. The pastors need to meet and talk and share and drop all the religious or spiritual divide. …We believe in prayer. We have prayed for this city. We have prayer walked the city and every entrance to this city we have put a stake in the ground with a scripture on it. We are believing this city to be touched by God. I don’t know how the unity is going to happen, or how it’s going to come together, but we’ll just leave it up to God. We have been praying for years that we come together.”

What is one message that may sometimes get lost?

“I think if we join our faith, if we join hands and our prayers together, there will be an absolute sovereign rule of God. I believe there will be a community change. Just like when you come to church and people begin to worship, it changes the atmosphere. So, when you get together and you call on God to do what he wants to do in the first place, it could change the atmosphere of this city.” §

Running on Faith | Feature

Janice Claypoole Ark of Mercy Church of God

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harvest to hand

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Harvest to Hand | Feature

Farm families collaborate for dinner to support agriculture education Story by Whitney Leggett Photos by Whitney Leggett and Kasey Moore

The American farm family is quickly becoming a rare breed.

In fact, farm families make up less than 2 percent of the U.S. population, and most research suggests the average American is at least three generations removed from the farm.

With that separation, comes common misconceptions about farming practices and the agriculture community.

Two local farm families have collaborated to start reconnecting Clark County’s youth with the world of agriculture.

Through an annual farm to table-style dinner, the Gilkisons and Reeces are raising funds to support their mission.

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Brandon and Amy Reece work in their strawberry plot with their sons, Brock, Tate and Cade.

Reece Farm: An unexpected success Raising a farm family wasn’t exactly where Brandon and Amy Reece saw themselves when they were married 13 years ago.

Although Brandon’s parents always raised a garden, he wasn’t eager to be involved as a child.

“We always had a garden growing up,” he said. “And I hated it. I wanted nothing to do with it.”

The couple had a “similar friend group,” but didn’t start dating until after they graduated from George Rogers Clark High School in 1999.

There were married in 2004, and Amy landed a job with Clark County schools, while Brandon went to work as a firefighter in Lexington and worked construction on his “days off.”

When the couple began looking for a home, they landed near where Brandon was raised in rural Clark County.

And, despite Brandon’s early aversion to gardening, the couple decided to raise a small plot at their new home on Judy Pike.

“The first summer we lived here, we just had a small 48 | Winchester living

garden,” Brandon said. “It wasn’t until 2012, when my dad retired from his job, that he wanted to raise a big garden. I told him we had plenty of room at our place, so we raised about a tenth of an acre that first year.”

The small garden yielded more than the families could eat, freeze, can or even give away, so they joined the Winchester-Clark County Farmers’ Market to sell some of their produce.

“We had some success selling what we considered the leftovers that year at the market,” Brandon said. “We had some cucumbers, tomatoes, beans, bell peppers, your typical stuff. That was when the market was in the museum parking lot and there were only about five regular vendors at the time.”

After seeing some success at the market, the Reeces decided to expand, and from then on, the expanding hasn’t stopped.

“The county was in a bit of a transition at the time,” Brandon recalled. “The agriculture extension agent was retiring and they were in the process of hiring a new one. Along came David Davis and he had a horticulture background from North Carolina. With his background and our interest in expanding, we grew.”

Through the connection, the Reeces were partnered

with the University of Kentucky for a black plasticulture program.

“Pretty much everything we do is with that plastic,” Brandon said. “It helps with weed competition. We can fertilize exactly what the plant needs at the root base and we can control the amount of water the plants get.

“That year, we had an acre of vegetables. The university came out and showed us how to lay the plastic, they provided some of the materials, and we supplied the rest along with the labor and plants.”

The Reeces continued raising “your normal produce” — tomatoes, beans, corn, bell peppers, banana peppers, squash and zuchinni — until David introduced them to what has perhaps become their signature crop.

“It was in our second year David started talking to me about strawberries,” Brandon said. “His dad had always raised strawberries and I like to eat strawberries, so we thought it might be something good to raise.”

The following year, the Reeces raised about 2,000 strawberries, while also adding more than a dozen hens for eggs.

“To be quite honest, that first year of strawberries was a complete failure,” Brandon said. “We didn’t really know what we were doing. We were very inexperienced and they just didn’t yield what they should.

“So, like normal people, we doubled the crop the next year.

With about 4,000 plants that year, we figured some things out and we had a pretty good year.”

The strawberry plot has since grown to about 6,000 plants — about half an acre.

Along with the expansion of their farm operation, the Reeces were also around to see the local farmers’ market’s rebirth.

“The farmers’ market has been huge for us,” Brandon said. “Direct marketing is everything. We’re not on the scale for commercial production. We’re limited with our size and our time — with two full-time jobs and three small children.

Everything we do is with direct marketing in mind. If the farmers’ market hadn’t grown to what it is now, we wouldn’t be able to be successful like we have been.”

Aside from the Reeces’ personal success, Amy said the market has been vital for the community.

“It has become a social event every weekend,” she said.

“People used to come out and just get their produce, but now, they can come get local coffee, local crafts, eat local foods prepared by local farmers for breakfast and lunch. There are different meat vendors and baked goods.”

From the start, the Reeces’ success story has been laced with a helping hand or an eager collaboration with other people in the agriculture community.

“I think the agriculture community in general are

very helpful and networking-type people,” Amy said.

“Without some of the connections we’ve made, we wouldn’t be where we are now.”

Many times that helping hand comes from their own family, whether that be their parents or their children. While the Reeces are raising strawberries, pigs and vegetables, they are also raising three boys — Brock, Cade and Tate.

“We think it’s really important for the boys to know where their food comes from,” Amy said. “We also think it’s important for them to grow up knowing what hard work is, and we want to start them out young.”

The older boys have been given the chance to pick something to raise on their own. Brock is growing cucumbers, which he has planted and plans to harvest himself and sell at his own farmers’ market stand.

Cade recently got a shipment of turkey chicks he will raise, with hopes of having one on the family’s table for Thanksgiving.

“The boys are very involved,” Amy said. “We wanted to offer them something they could grow up learning how to do.”

With the many new ventures at Reece Farm, Brandon and Amy have learned to be more inventive in their marketing techniques, finding new ways to use their products.

“I’ve never been one to shy away from something new,” Brandon said. “It goes back to the small footprint we’re working with. We have to figure out how to make the most of what we have and also understanding what we can do better.

“How can we make a big impact while maintaining a small footprint?”

While they added pork and more hens, they also began making strawberry jam and candied jalapeños.

Reece Farm’s newest product is a line of ice creams made with their locally-grown berries.

“We had a bunch of berries we picked that weren’t good enough to go into the containers,” Amy said. “So we began brainstorming ways that we could use those berries. I can only freeze so much and we had to figure out what to do with them.

“Brandon is part of the Kentucky Agriculture Leadership Program through UK. Through that, he made some connections and one of those was Chaney’s Dairy Farm, where we are now able to use our berries to make ice cream.”

Strawberry, strawberry with chocolate shavings and a mixed berry variety, which is made using black raspberries grown by Gilkison Farm, are sold by the 50 | Winchester living

Harvest to Hand | Feature

Brennan and Serena Gilkison with some of the cattle at Gilkison Farm on Calloway White Road.

scoop, quart or half pint at the farmers’ market every weekend.

They sold ice cream by the scoop for the first time at the 2016 Beer Cheese Festival.

“We scooped more than eight gallons at the festival,” Brandon said. “We had no idea it would go over so well.”

That unexpected success is a feeling the Reeces have experienced time and again since they started gardening.

“Farming was something that could keep me home on my days off instead of working construction,” Brandon said. “We wanted to be able to make a little extra money.

But the success of it all has been a surprise for sure.”

And the couple intends to build on the momentum of that success.

“It definitely took off more than we expected,” Amy said. “Even with how it’s grown, we’re no where near where we hope to be. We’re always looking for ways we can improve or do things better.”

Gilkisons about cultivating interest In the case of Clark County natives Brennan and Serena Gilkison, farming is in their blood.

The couple has been married almost 15 years, and both were born and raised in the world of agriculture. In fact, they met through their fathers’ farming work.

“Her dad had always done work for my dad combining,” Brennan said. “I think he was actually out here combining on the day she was born. I worked for her dad at Agro Fertilizer later on. He had a custom harvesting business, and I was helping him rebuild a combine at their house.

The rest is history.”

Brennan grew up on the land where the couple now operates a commercial farm on Calloway White Road.

Serena was raised on the “opposite side of town,” in the Judy Pike area. Both families made a living on the farm.

“My parents did tobacco, cattle and grain farming,” Brennan said. “Most of that was full-time, but part-time.

Both of my parents always had a job, and so did I. “Serena’s family raised cattle and tobacco, and her dad always did custom harvesting.”

Growing up on the farm, Brennan and Serena knew they wanted to raise a farm family as well, although with different levels of certainty.

“I think, for me, I always knew I wanted to go into farming. I don’t think for Serena that was the case,” Brennan jokes. “I think she was headed to Fort Lauderdale, I’m sure, and still wants to.”

The couple, however, have made a life for themselves in the agriculture industry. Brennan worked full-time with Pioneer Seed Company while Serena worked for

Brennan’s dad selling crop insurance.

And they farmed.

“Then, when the kids were born (twin girls Leland and Rivers and a boy, Curry), she stopped selling insurance and I continued working for Pioneer until about two years ago,” Brennan said. “Now, we’re farming full time and I help dad sell the insurance.”

The couple are the sole owners of the Gilkison Farm operation, and all of the more than 4,000 acres of land is rented or crop shared for a variety of purposes.

“I still think that tobacco is our main enterprise,” Brennan said. “It doesn’t make up most of our acres, we only have about 75 acres of tobacco.”

“It’s our backbone, though,” Serena said.

“We started with tobacco and then moved into cattle,” Brennan said. “Then I started renting farms that I actually grew up on. My dad got out of farming in the 1990s, but I started picking them back up.”

The majority of the acres are for corn and soybeans.

The Gilkisons also grow cereal rye and several varieties of corn, including red corn, white corn and blue corn, which are specialty crops for two distilleries.

The farm is also in its fourth year of the Kentucky Department of Agriculture Hemp Pilot Program, raising hemp for either CBD production or grain production.

“We also raise about three acres of black raspberries, which brings our only farm-to-table product,” Brennan said.

The raspberries are used for Gilkison Farm jam and a barbecue sauce for Burley BBQ, of which Brennan is a partner.

Much like their fathers’ connection when they were kids, the Gilkisons have grown to understand the importance of connecting with other farmers.

“I think those connections are one of the most important parts of a good operation,” Brennan said. “If you can’t get along with your neighbors, if you can’t share ideas, you can’t be as successful. There are parts of the country where the environment is cut throat. I’m glad our community isn’t like that. I think everybody respects each other for the most part.”

Locally, the Gilkisons are connected closely with their literal neighbors, who they rent or crop share land with, and then the greater Clark County agriculture community. But the connection extends across the country, too.

“We are able to call our friends from around the country and talk with them, whether it is about legislation issues or how to prepare ground for a new crop 52 | Winchester living

Harvest to Hand | Feature we’re exploring, it’s helpful to be able to call each other and strengthen one another,” Serena said.

A farm of their size is bound to meet its obstacles, though.

“We’ve always had labor issues,” Brennan said. “We get the majority of our labor through the Visa worker program. And regulations have always been a hurdle.”

Having grown up on a tobacco farm, Brennan has also seen a shift in marketing methods.

“Being in tobacco, it was my opinion that we were never good marketers because we took what the tobacco companies offered us,” he said. “That’s one thing that has changed — that way things are marketed.”

That change has forced farm families to be creative with uses for their products. Take the Gilkisons’ raspberries — they are used for jam, barbecue sauce, a mixed berry ice cream and are being explored as an option for a beer variety by West Sixth Brewery.

“You have to be creative with the ways you market your product,” Brennan said.

For Serena, much of the creativity comes in ways to

spread the word about agriculture.

“We’ve had to learn how to convince the consumer that we’re not out to hurt anyone,” she said. “We both come from families that have always been part of the community and have been active in public service. We’ve been involved in leadership programs, like the Kentucky Agriculture Leadership Program.”

“I think that inspired a lot of our way of thinking to try to educate the public,” Brennan said.

Much of that education starts at home, teaching their children the value of hard work.

“Neither of us were ever forced into farming,” Serena said. “We just had an interest. I think you have to be born with it. Brennan was. I have it about 50 percent of the time.

“Because of that, we don’t push farming on our own kids. But they all show their own interests. Most importantly, we teach them about hard work.”

For Serena, the idea of “reaping what you sow,” is one she wants to instill in her children.

“That’s huge,” she said. “Not every time, but most of

From left, Brandon Reece, Amy Reece, Brennan Gilkison and Serena Gilkison at the the 2016 Harvest to Hand dinner.

the time, what you put into something, that is what you are rewarded.”

When their children are on the farm, the Gilkisons make it a point to teach them about how to treat the land and the animals.

“They know there are good days, there are some bad days and there are some really bad days,” she said. “They see life. They see death. They watch us obsess over the radar.”

were very eager to be part of it,” Serena said.

Out of the connection was born Harvest to Hand, a farm to table dinner to benefit agriculture education in the community.

The dinner consisting of locally-sourced meals is hosted in a barn on Gilkison Farm.

“We wanted it to be really authentic,” Brennan said.

“We wanted to get people out here in this atmosphere. Last year was our first year. I think Amy and Serena hoped for 150 people. I hoped for 200, and we ended up with about 260 by the time we got tired of making tables.”

As both families strive to raise Local chef Steve Atkins prepared a hardworking children with an meal with locally-sourced foods, from understanding about agriculture, they Reece Farm, Gilkison Farm and other also have a passion for teaching other local farm families. children those same values.

“It’s just good fellowship,” Brennan Much of that passion is driven by said. “We like to talk about each course, a belief that farming, agriculture and about where those ingredients came from.” the people who make a lifestyle of it are In fact, the popular mixed berry ice misunderstood. cream flavor was developed for the Harvest “For awhile, it was as though we were made out to be monsters,” Serena to Hand dinner. said. “People are scared of what they “Our ice cream was new at the time, and don’t understand. So we set out to build the strawberry had been really popular,” relationships. We want the consumers to Brandon said. “We decided to do the mixed The second annual get to know us.” berry and debut it at the dinner.”

Harvest to Hand dinner When Clark County third-grade will be from 6 to 10 p.m.

Last year, more than $4,000 was raised teacher Jessica Thomas proposed a field Saturday, Aug. 5 at Gilkison and donated to Clark County 4-H with the trip to Gilkison Farm, Serena developed Farm, 345 Calloway White mission of creating agriculture education Ag Day. Road. opportunities in local schools.

“We gathered up some speakers and Tickets are available at Along with Ag Day, the families want to put it together the first year,” Brennan the Reece Farm booth at implement other agriculture curriculum said. “Heather Cassill with Clark Winchester-Clark County at the schools, including an aquaponics County 4-H loved the idea and the next Farmers Market or on lettuce project where students can plant, year she organized it and we hosted it.”

EventBrite.com for $55. harvest and eat lettuce grown in waterbeds In its fourth year, every third grader in the schools’ libraries. Serena would in the county is invited to learn more also like to see the Kentucky Agriculture about agriculture, but the challenge was Literacy program continue to spread throughout the how to foot the bill for the program. district.

“These farm-to-table dinners were popping up at “Children are so open minded,” Serena said. “But, so the time,” Brennan said. “We decided if we could get many of them are many generations removed from the people out here to tell them what we do, we wanted that farm. They don’t know where their food comes from. opportunity. We were also seeing that the schools were Through these programs they can learn about agriculture, having to pay for buses and 4-H was paying for meals. We know about where their food comes from and we can decided we would take the proceeds from our dinner and break down some misconceptions about farming. put them back into agriculture education.”

“In Kentucky, we might not get a lot of things right, And who better to partner with than Serena’s but our agriculture community is strong and growing. We childhood friends, Brandon and Amy Reece?

“We asked them if they wanted to help us and they want to showcase that.” §

Gathering at the table

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Winchester living | 55

Food | At the Table

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Sweet ride

Mother, daughter-in-law team take delectables on the road with food truck Story and photos by Seth Littrell

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According to Karen, the truck is a partnership between two businesses she and her daughter-in-law individually own. “(Ashley) owns Sassy Sweets, a company that specializes in custom wedding and birthday cakes, and I own Granny Boe and Auntie Jo’s Sweet Treats,” Karen said.

Granny Boe and Auntie Jo’s is officially new, Karen said, but it is the professional name she uses to sell the old-fashioned candies and other sweets that have been passed down through her family.

When Karen and Ashley began baking together, they decided to try getting a truck so they could take their show on the road.

“I’ve wanted one for a long time,” Karen said. “I researched and I love watching all of the cooking shows.

Ashley talked about getting a cupcake truck at one time, so it just made sense that we do it together because we 58 | Winchester living

both have a lot to offer in the decadent dessert line.”

Since its inception in April, Sweet Rides has been found at numerous public events in Clark County, including the 2017 Beer Cheese Festival, but they also cater to the schools in the county.

Karen, who spent many years as an educator and principal, said one of her goals when starting the business was to help out teachers.

“Teachers and staff only get 20 to 30 minutes of lunch each day,” she said.

“So we wanted to go (to the schools). I’m a retired principal and I know how limited they are on time, so Ashley and I would go and serve a nice lunch there with a dessert and we made sure we got it out quickly so they didn’t have to wait.”

Ashley said Winchester has been almost overwhelmingly supportive since they began their new endeavor.

“The first day, we went to the courthouse downtown, and it was amazing,” Ashley said. “We didn’t know how

it would go our first day out and all these people showed up. It was just amazing.”

The idea of using a truck to deliver baked dessert items was a bit of an experiment as well, the pair said.

“We work very close together in the truck, it’s a good thing we love each other,” Karen joked. “But the good thing about a truck is you don’t have to bake it all right there. You can have it pre-baked and have it ready. We usually bake all day the day before so it’s fresh and ready to go.”

Both women bring some signature items to the Sweet Rides menu.

“I do strawberry cakes and a caramel cake that’s really good,” Ashley said. “People really like my icing, my butter cream.”

Karen offers candy recipes that have been passed down through her family for three generations.

“Peanut butter roll is the favorite,” she said. “And divinity, a confection

made very similar to peanut butter roll except you don’t roll it out. I make all different flavors of divinity.”

She also makes a wide variety of pie babies.

“I’ve made those since I was a little girl,” Karen said.

The truck will also serve a hot item as well as lemonade for lunches, Ashley said.

Ashley and Karen say they feel the new business venture has brought them closer as family members.

“I think it has added to our relationship,” Karen said. “I feel closer to Ashley now that we’ve gone into this together.”

Ashley agreed.

“We’ve gotten to have long conversations on our rides,” she said.

“We’ve gotten to talk about it all.”

Ashley said the best way to inquire about bringing Sweet Rides to a business or event is through Facebook.

“(Karen) has a page for Granny Boe and Aunty Jo’s Sweet Treats and I’m Sassy Sweets,” Ashley said.

“We’re going to make one for Sweet Ride itself, but everything has taken off so fast we haven’t had time to do it yet.”

The truck has the capacity to serve as many as 1,000 customers, Karen said.

Sweet Rides will be at as many community events as Ashley and Karen can get to, they said. They will also take the truck to businesses and organizations upon request in the Winchester and greater Lexington area.

“We strive to be local,” Karen said. “We’ve also gone to schools in Lexington, Madison County and Montgomery County. We’re very hopeful that when school starts back, we’ll be going to a lot of schools. We love being in Winchester and selling in Winchester, though.” §

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5

Food | From the Cookbook

tasty treats to try this summer

Apple lemonade — 2 to 3 cooking apples, unpeeled, chopped into small pieces — Sugar, to taste — Juice of 1 lemon — Sparkling water (to serve) — Ice Put the apples into a saucepan, cover with cold water, bring to a boil and simmer until soft.

Strain, pressing the pulp through the strainer with a spoon.

Add sugar to taste, stir until dissolved, then let cool.

To serve, pack a pitcher with ice, half-fill the glass with the apple juice, add the lemon juice, and top with sparkling water.

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Smoky chicken with white BBQ sauce

White BBQ sauce — 1 cup mayonnaise — 1/2 cup cider vinegar — 2 tablespoons Creole mustard — 1 teaspoon prepared horseradish — 1/2 teaspoon coarse ground black pepper — 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder — 1/4 teaspoon salt Smoky chicken — 1 cup hickory wood chips — 2 pounds bone-in chicken parts — 2 tablespoons applewood rub

To make sauce: In medium bowl, mix mayonnaise, vinegar, creole mustard, horseradish, black pepper, garlic and salt until well blended.

Cover. Refrigerate at least 2 hours before serving to blend flavors.

To make chicken: Cover wood chips in water and soak 30 minutes.

Season chicken with rub. Drain wood chips. Fill smoker box with wet wood chips. Place smoker box under grill rack on one side of grill before lighting. Close grill.

Prepare grill for indirect medium heat (350-375 F). Heat grill by turning all burners to medium. Once cooking temperature is reached, turn off burner(s) on one side. Place chicken on unlit side of grill. Close grill cover.

Grill, turning occasionally, 30 to 40 minutes, or until internal temperature of thickest part of chicken is 165 F. Move chicken to lit side of grill with skin side down. Turn lit side of grill to high.

Grill, uncovered, 3 to 5 minutes longer, or until chicken is charred.

Serve chicken with white barbecue sauce.

Refrigerate any leftover sauce and use as salad dressing, condiment for burgers or dipping sauce for pretzels and vegetables.

Winchester living | 61

hamburger Mile-high

— 1 tablespoon vegetable oil — 10 baby mushrooms, sliced — 8 pieces center-cut bacon — 8 whole onion rings — 4 lean hamburger paiites — 8 slices Pepper Jack cheese — 1 cup mayonnaise — 1/4 cup hot sauce — 1/2 cup mustard — 1/4 teaspoon salt — 1/4 teaspoon black pepper — 4 hamburger buns — 1 tomato, sliced — 2 romaine lettuce leaves Heat grill to medium-high.

In saute pan, heat vegetable oil and saute mushrooms 2 to 3 minutes. Set aside. Fry bacon to desired doneness, about 5 minutes on each side. Set aside. Bake onion rings according to packaging instructions. Set aside.

Grill burgers 5 to 7 minutes on each side until they reach desired doneness. Place two slices cheese on each burger and continue to grill until melted. Remove from heat. Mix together mayonnaise, hot sauce, mustard, salt and pepper, and spread on both sides of buns, to taste.

To assemble burger: layer bottom bun with patty with cheese, tomato, lettuce, mushrooms, two onion rings, two pieces of bacon and top half of bun.

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From the Cookbook | Food

Red, white & blueberry frozen pops

— 1/2 cup granola — 2 teaspoons brown rice syrup — 3/4 cup reduced fat milk — 6 ounces fat free vanilla Greek yogurt — 1 cup whole strawberries — water — 1-1/4 cup blueberries, divided In small bowl, stir granola and brown rice syrup until combined. Using end of wooden spoon, press approximately 3/4 tablespoon granola into each frozen pop mold. Granola should be packed tightly into bottom of molds.

In another small bowl, stir together milk and yogurt; set aside.

Using small food processor or high-powered blender, puree strawberries until smooth. Stir water into each puree so they are pourable, about 2 tablespoons each, more if necessary.

Set aside 30 blueberries and puree remainder. Add water, as needed, to make pourable.

To layer pops, start by pouring, piping or syringing 1 tablespoon milk and yogurt mixture into each mold, covering granola layer. Put each mold in freezer until firm, at least 1 hour.

Layer 1 tablespoon strawberry puree on top of frozen yogurt layer in each mold. Cover top of molds with foil, insert sticks and freeze again until solid.

Remove foil, add another layer of yogurt and freeze again.

For final layer, add 1 tablespoon blueberry puree and 3 blueberries to each mold. Freeze until solid.

Keep frozen pops in molds until ready to eat. Run each mold under lukewarm water for approximately 10 seconds to loosen and remove frozen pops. Pops can be made 1 day in advance.

Tip: For clean lines between frozen yogurt layers, use small syringe.

Winchester living | 63

Dulceicedecream Leche

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— 2 cups half-and-half or milk — 4 large egg yolks — 1/2 cup sugar — 12 ounces butterscotch chips, divided — 1 cup heavy whipping cream — 1 teaspoon vanilla extract Prepare a large bowl or pan of ice water. In the top of a double boiler, heat the half-and-half over simmering water until steaming. In a bowl, whisk the egg yolks until blended, then whisk in the sugar. Whisk in about half of the hot half-and-half and pour the yolk mixture into the pan of half-and-half.

Stir with a silicone spatula or spoon and cook over simmering water for about 8 minutes. Stir in 1 cup of the chips and continue stirring until blended in and the custard coats the back of the spatula, about 2 minutes more.

Immediately place the custard pan in the ice bath and stir the custard occasionally until it cools to room temperature. Transfer to a container and stir in the cream and vanilla. Cover and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled, about 3 hours.

Freeze in an ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. When the ice cream is almost frozen, add the remaining 1 cup chips and churn until blended in, about 15 seconds more.

Transfer to a container, cover and freeze until firm, about 2 hours.

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WINCHESTER

Why I Love Winchester ‘I get to promote the community I love’

W

inchester-Clark County Tourism Director Nancy Turner was bred for what she does. As an eighthgeneration Clark Countian, she lives in her family’s home that was built in 1792.

After studying at Western Kentucky University, she worked for several museums and returned to Winchester as the first director of the Bluegrass Heritage Museum.

“The tourism director position became available and that offered me the opportunity to work with numerous organizations simultaneously to promote a community that I love,” she said.

Her deep Clark County roots give her just the insight needed to promote the community and draw visitors from around the world.

Winchester Living magazine talked with Turner about what she loves about Winchester and what anyone visiting needs to see and experience.

WL: What do you love most about your job?

NT: I love meeting new people and seeing Winchester and Clark County through fresh eyes. People would be surprised by how many tourists stop in our office. They are excited to see what we have to offer as a community and are very complimentary of their visits.

WL: Besides your job as tourism director, in what other ways are you active in the community?

NT: I serve on the Daniel Boone Pioneer Festival Committee, Farm to

things happening in our downtown — many long-standing businesses, a newly-renovated theater, a top-notch history museum, great shopping and dining venues and a lot more to come!

WL: What is your favorite time of year here?

NT: I’m pretty partial to spring.

Everything is coming to life.

The beautiful trees budding on Boone Avenue and the Thomson Neighborhood are breathtaking. The wildflowers are blooming along the river, Lower Howard’s Creek and the Civil War Fort at Boonesboro.

It’s a nice reward for a cold and gloomy winter!

WL: If you were going to Table committee, BPAC, Clark Community Foundation Board and the Downtown Development Plan Committee. I serve on the Chamber of Commerce and Heritage Commission boards in an exo-ficio capacity.

I also volunteer for Main Street Winchester, the Bluegrass Heritage Museum and numerous events throughout the year.

WL: What is your favorite thing to do in Winchester-Clark County?

NT: My very favorite thing to do is sit on my front porch and drink coffee with my husband, enjoy the sounds of nature and piddle in my garden.

I love to stroll around downtown and enjoy the architecture and know that it looks almost the same as it did 150 years ago. We are blessed with an intact downtown that many communities have long since lost. I’m pleased to say we have a lot of good

introduce someone to WinchesterClark County for the first time, what places, faces or activities would you tell them not to miss?

NT: I’d start them off with an ice cold Ale-8-One, a little beer cheese and send them on a cell phone tour of downtown. During their tour, they should stop by and pick up a local handmade item at the Artisan Gifts & Gallery or Dirty South Pottery, and visit one of our great antique stores or boutiques to purchase a souvenir of their visit. This also gives them a great opportunity to meet some of our friendly shop owners.

Then, on to the museum for a historical overview of the area and off to the river for a canoe trip. It’s pretty humbling being on a little boat floating among the palisades.

So much history transpired along the banks of Boonesborough, it’s truly overwhelming to think about. §

Winchester Living

living

Running on

FAITH Pastors talk about what belief means to them, the community

Harvest to hand Farm families host dinner to support agriculture education

Sweet ride Winchester bakers take delectables on the road

JLUY/AUGUST 2017

JULY/AUGUST 2017