Bill Best Award

The Bill Best award is given annually to a Kentucky resident or community-based organization. Rather than a ‘captain of industry,’ this award seeks to recognize the patient, humble, and community-sustaining work of a food and farm steward.

As noted in our inaugural remarks about Mr. Best, stewardship is the slow work of the seasons; found in the practical labors of caring for each other and the land that sustains us. We seek nominations for those whose work is defined both by its humility and by its generosity. Grounded in an intimate knowledge of land and place, food and farm stewards build our self-reliance while simultaneously showing us our deep interconnection. They give generously of their knowledge and skill, safe in the understanding that our true wealth and joy can only multiply as they are shared.

Nominees should:

• Demonstrate a strong personal commitment, expertise, and leadership around stewarding a more vibrant, equitable, and resilient local food system in Kentucky
• Have made a significant and/or innovative contribution(s) to advancing Kentucky’s local food and farm system
• Inspire and engage others to continue the work of local food systems development

Nominations will be reviewed by The Food Connection staff and the award recipient will be announced at the annual Kentucky Local Food Systems Summit. Recipients receive a plaque, and are requested to join us at the Local Food Systems Summit to be celebrated and to talk about their work in food systems.

Nominate a KY Food and Farm Steward Now

Past Recipients

2025: Michelle Howell

2024: Leandra Forman

2023: Sharon Stone

2022: Mary Berry

2021: Roger Snell

2020: Mark and Velvet Henkle

2019: Sarah Fritschner

2018: Bill Best

Innovator Award

The Innovator Award is presented annually to an individual or organization in Kentucky that has made a significant and innovative contribution to the development and advancement of local food systems. This award honors those whose work reflects creativity, leadership, and a visionary approach to addressing the challenges and opportunities within Kentucky’s food and farm systems.

Unlike traditional accolades that focus on large-scale industry leaders, the Innovator Award seeks to recognize those whose ideas and actions are transforming the way we grow, produce, and distribute food in Kentucky. Whether through the development of new models for food access, sustainability, or community engagement, the recipient of this award is someone who pushes boundaries and inspires change in both big and small ways.

Nominees for this award should demonstrate:

• A strong personal commitment to advancing Kentucky’s local food systems, with a focus on innovative solutions and strategies.
• Leadership in creating sustainable and resilient food systems that benefit communities across Kentucky.
• The ability to inspire and engage others, catalyzing collaboration and action toward building a more vibrant  food system for the future.

The recipient of the Innovator Award will be recognized at the annual Kentucky Local Food Systems Summit, receiving a plaque and the opportunity to share their work with the community. We encourage you to nominate individuals or organizations whose bold ideas and actions are shaping the future of Kentucky’s local food systems.

Nominate a KY Food and Farm Innovator Now

Past Recipients

2025: Birch Bragg

Legacy Award

The Legacy Award is presented annually to an individual or organization whose lifetime of work has made a profound and lasting impact on Kentucky’s local food systems. This award honors those whose visionary contributions and dedication to the land and community have shaped the landscape of food and farming in Kentucky for generations to come. Recipients of the Legacy Award are true stewards whose work continues to inspire others long after it began.

Nominees for this award should demonstrate:

• Unwavering dedication to Kentucky’s local food systems, with decades of service focused on fostering sustainability and community well-being.
• A transformative contribution to the local food and farm system in Kentucky, whether through policy, education, farm management, or advocacy.
• The ability to inspire and engage others, building strong, sustainable communities that will carry forward the mission of improving food systems for future generations.

The Legacy Award recipient will be honored at the Kentucky Local Food Systems Summit annually, receiving a plaque and the opportunity to share the enduring legacy of their work. This award celebrates the individuals whose vision and commitment continue to shape the foundation of Kentucky's thriving local food movement.

Nominate a KY Food and Farm Legacy Now

Past Recipients

2025: Bob Perry