But Brewtanicals owner, Stephen Greasor, hasn’t always loved coffee. He laughed as he described his first experience with coffee as a teenager. Working for a roofing company, he tried the end-of-the-day breakroom brew that made him swear coffee off entirely. That vow lasted until 2018, when he got his first Keurig, quickly followed by his first pour over set-up, which was quickly followed by his first espresso set-up.  

And when COVID hit, like most of us, Stephen needed a project. Luckily for Richmond, it was perfecting the art of all things coffee. However, it would be a few years before the idea for Brewtanicals fully took shape. 

With a newfound love for quality coffee, over the next few years, Stephen enjoyed traveling and sampling local coffee shops around the country. A friend had also introduced him to the world of plants, so he was also spending a lot of time exploring botanical gardens and arboretums. As his job at the Bluegrass Army Depot started to wind down, he began to think of what was next, and what he could bring to his community.  

Building A Business

“One day, I just woke up and said, ‘I want to open a coffee shop,’” Stephen said. “I’ve always wanted to start a business, but it never presented itself until that moment.”

After that day of clarity, it was on. He began to look at spaces, pull together funds, and research the basics of business. In late 2024, with the perfect space leased, and flexible financing from the Mountain Association, Stephen started the build-out phase.  

“I wanted to create a place you don’t expect. Somewhere you can come in and forget your everyday problems, and sit and relax.”  

And that he did. Almost all of the work in the perfectly curated, moody yet vibrant space, he completed himself — from redoing the ceiling, the drywall, the paint, to installing the flooring and building the bar. He hunted through thrift stores for the right decor and Facebook marketplace for the right furniture. All while, keeping dozens of plants carefully tended.

As with any good remodeling project, there were a few setbacks in his timeline, but finally, in August 2025, Brewtanicals opened its doors. Stephen said every bit of the hard work over the last year has been worth it. 

“One of my favorite things is to watch how people come in and just naturally strike up conversation with each other,” he said. “It makes my day to see people connect and pause.” 

Building Community

Community and collaboration is at the heart of his mission as a business owner. They’ve partnered with Golden Leaves from Richmond on a special Rescue Blend tea that sends $1 from every purchase to the humane society, and Stephen personally drives extra pastries and goodies to Madison Home, a local shelter, on his way home.

And in just the first three months of opening, they’ve hosted local musicians, a poetry night, and have plans to add yoga and meditation sessions. Stephen has also partnered with the fellow shopping center businesses to offer customer discounts for supporting other businesses in the complex. 

He said great mentors from regional coffee shop owners, like Leestown Coffee House in Lexington, City Roastery in Georgetown, and Hazard Coffee Company in Perry County, have helped him troubleshoot equipment and cheered him on. Business experts from the Kentucky Small Business Development Center helped him through the planning process, while Mountain Association’s Lending Team worked with him on the flexibility he needed in a payment schedule to get his doors open and get business built up.

“I couldn’t have done it without that flexibility, it feels like you all are really here for small businesses and what we need.”

In the future, Stephen said he hopes to offer coffee workshops, plant exchanges, and more. But for now, he is trying to pace himself and enjoy that the shop is already exactly what he envisioned—a little oasis from the hectic world. 

Follow along on the Brewtanicals journey here: https://www.brewtanicalsky.com/

The post Richmond, Kentucky’s Newest Coffee Shop is a Plant Lover’s Paradise appeared first on Mountain Association.

Since Cox Foods started serving the people of eastern Kentucky in the late 1970s and early 1980s, a simple statement has guided the company: “To serve the people of eastern Kentucky clean, fresh, family-friendly grocery stores at a competitive price.”

Tate Cox, the company’s president, said that simple sentence speaks volumes on how Cox Foods has succeeded.

“That’s what it is, and that’s what it’ll always be, regardless of how many people are here or what the economy is doing.  So that’s what we’ll always try to do,” he said.

A Family Legacy

Perhaps it was inevitable that Tate would end up in the grocery business.  His dad, Jimmy, helped establish the Cox Foods brand in eastern Kentucky, and his older brother, Martin, also stepped in to help.

“I grew up in Hindman, and that’s where he ran a small store and he and my mom lived in an apartment over the store.  I grew up in a double-wide trailer the first years of my life that was right next to the store and we could walk to it,” Tate said.  “From there, he expanded into multiple stores and my older brother, Martin, stepped in as well to help.  At one point, they had actually grown the company to about 14 stores throughout Kentucky and Ohio.”

But then, Tate’s dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease when he was in his mid-50s and Tate was a teen.  While he was in college, his dad’s health was declining and Tate’s future took a turn.

“He and my brother asked me to kind of step into that role, so I became president of the company in February of 2020,” Tate said.  “We had to do some different things, kind of downsize and restructure the company and the group.  And then, COVID in March of 2020.”

A new president, his dad’s health declining and a national pandemic.

“It’s weird to say it was a blessing that nobody else knew how to handle it either, so you just kind of had to figure it out on your own,” Tate said.  “But we had a really good team, and that’s what allowed us to do what we needed to do and why we are still here today.”

Community Partners

Today, Cox Foods has locations in Happy, Jackson, Hyden, McDowell and West Liberty.  [Additionally, they added Pikeville to their portfolio, and have renovated that location, reopening it in 2025.]  All the locations take pride in being a valuable member of their communities, and no better example of that is when those communities have experienced a disaster.

West Liberty was the site of a massive, deadly tornado in 2012, and then there was the deadly flooding in eastern Kentucky in 2022.

“The West Liberty store was one of the few things that somehow managed to not get damaged.  We spent a lot of time just trying to be there for the community,” Tate said.  “That was the right thing to do, and we spent a lot of time handing water and cleaning supplies out.  Just being there for the community.”

Then came the floods where employees lost their homes and everything they had.

“I do think part of our job as the local grocer is to be there for people, whether it’s your own employees or the customers,” he said.  “You just [have] to be there for your communities, and I think that’s one of our greatest strengths.  This is us.  This is who we are, where we are from.  We are born and bred and raised here, and it’s our people.”

Tate said that mindset goes back to the legacy his dad left.

“I feel like my dad was one of the kindest and wisest people that I ever knew, and he always took care of people.  I can remember Christmases where he would have a box full of holiday hams and I’d ride with him around the community just handing out hams for free to people.  That leaves an imprint on your mind.”

Protecting SNAP Benefits

During the 2023 General Assembly, House Bill 367 was filed, which would have restricted SNAP eligibility requirements.  The bill did not pass the Senate, but Cox Foods knows how important the benefits are for their communities.

“I think there’s a stigma out there that eastern Kentucky is known for struggling.  And I’m from here; I understand what that means and what that feels like.  And food stamps do play a huge role in the overall health of our economy.  So many people need them and truly need them to help feed their families.  It’s not just a cliché.  I mean, people really need it.”

He said it is easy to see the impact SNAP benefits have on the community when he sees sales reports.

“The first thing you see is, wow, what happened to the SNAP benefits here?  Because you can just physically see the numbers coming in,” Tate said.  “Compare it to during COVID, when they were sending out more benefits with people, and then all [the sudden] take it away.  And you can physically see the drastic decreases.  You can see it through the month, because they come out typically first of the month, and then towards the end you see the falloff.

“It feels like there’s probably a lot of hungry people right now, which is sad.  It’s a huge part of our community, and there’s no doubt that when those things are altered or changed, it not only impacts the people in our community, which we care about the most, but it also greatly impacts the local grocer and their ability to do what they need to do to support the community.”

Cox Foods Has Seen the Region Through It All

Cox Foods has seen eastern Kentucky’s ups and downs through the coal boom and busts.

“Dad felt like he was part of that coal boom and got to see the towns thriving.  It’s weird to hear and see some of the numbers of some of the stores’ sales back in those days versus the store sales today.  You can just visibly see the change in the economy and the change in the number of people [who] are here,” Tate said.

As the region now sees its own struggles as people move out of the region, there’s the challenge of finding workers.  Cox Foods employs about 225 to 250 people.  Tate said they do all they can to attract and retain workers.  They have been fortunate to have several people that have been with the company long term, including store managers who have 40 years of experience and several employees with 25-plus years of experience.

“That’s what makes the company go.  It’s not me; it’s truly the team of people that we have,” he said.  “So many of them act and treat this company or their store as their own, and that’s the way I hope they always see it.  That’s why I feel like we’ve survived because we have some of the best people that I’ve ever met.  When someone walks through the store, they know their name, they know their family, they know what they are doing, who they are.  And that just goes such a long way with customers and being in the community.

“I do think it’s important that we are here for these people and give them what our mission statement says — fresh, clean, family-friendly grocery stores for the people of eastern Kentucky.  That’s what it is, and that’s what it’ll always be, regardless of how many people are here or what the economy is doing.  So, that’s what we’ll always try to do.  We’ll survive as long as we can.”

Partnership with Mountain Association

By Ariel Fugate

Mountain Association has supported Cox Food Group over the decades with affordable financing and energy savings expertise.

Most recently, we worked with Tate on his acquisition and renovation of the former Velocity Market in Pikeville, which they reopened as the reimagined Pikeville Fresh Market in Spring 2025. With the renovation they significantly expanded the stories produce, deli and meat departments. Our Energy Team was also happy to provide additional support in their USDA Rural Energy for America Program grant, which brought in funding to support more efficient lighting and upgraded refrigeration to support to expanded fresh options.

The post Cox Foods Keeps Its Mission for Eastern Kentucky Simple appeared first on Mountain Association.

It all started in the early 1990s when Paul’s daughter came home from a boating trip with friends proclaiming that instead of continuing to save for the horse she had dreamed of, she was now saving for a boat. They soon purchased a 1962 28-foot Constellation, a vintage wooden cruiser they cheekily named “Tara’s Horse.” On their young family’s limited budget, the boat was a stretch, but Paul, an engineer by trade, was up for the challenge of restoring it. His careful work soon drew boat lovers from miles away to admire the restoration job. 

Not long after, the family added a 1960 Chris-Craft Capri to their fleet, named “Taylor’s Pony” after Paul’s son. That boat earned the 1994 Best Non-Professional Restoration award at the Antique and Classic Boat Society show in Washington. Word of Paul’s skill spread quickly, and by 2004, he had built a home overlooking Lake Cumberland with a 3,500-squarefoot shop underneath, officially launching Woodies Restorations. 

Customers from Around the World

Since then, Paul and his team of now 17 people have restored and repaired countless wooden boats and engines for boaters around the world. Their customers come from all walks of life—a French woodworker who once worked on the Eiffel Tower to a retiree in Pikeville, Kentucky, and even filmmaker Roman Coppola, son of Francis Ford Coppola. At any given time, his shop, which now totals 40,000 square feet between two locations, is handling about 30 projects.  

Paul said that whether their customer’s goal is an award-winning showpiece or a reliable family boat for relaxing weekends on the water, the team at Woodies ensures the result is both beautiful and functional. Each contractor or employee at Woodies is highly specialized, whether they are a carpenter, mechanic, or upholsterer. 

“Every project is different, and every scope and every budget is different for the person having the work done,” Paul said.  

Because this is the case, they’ve taken care to detail what customers can expect as far as costs on their website, allowing vintage boats to become more accessible to the average family. They also run a YouTube channel with more than 2,000 videos on DIY repair and maintenance.  

The work sometimes takes them far from Lake Cumberland, like a trip to Belize to replace a boat’s bottom. They currently have boats headed to Iceland and France. 

Paul’s Story

Paul grew up in the neighboring state of Indiana, where his mother—though deathly afraid of water—made sure Paul and his siblings learned to swim and respect the power of the water.  

“We grew up going to visit the old strip mine lake, riding on a pontoon made of military surplus bombs,” Paul laughed. He moved to Nancy, Kentucky in the 1980s, where he spent 27 years working as a maintenance engineer with 10 years teaching at Kentucky Community and Technical College mixed in. That early exposure to lake life, combined with his engineering background, made boat repair a natural fit, and explains why education is such a key part of Woodies.  

Expanding the Business

In 2022, Paul and the team moved into a new 30,000-square-foot facility in Jamestown. The former Fruit of the Loom jeans factory now houses their woodworking, sanding, mechanical, and shipping areas, plus space for canvas production and storage. They have Rayco and Custom Canvas & Vinyl divisions, which handle everything from upholstery and commercial awnings to Coast Guard–approved fuel tanks and custom metalwork.  

“When you can’t buy it anymore, we can make it,” Paul said. The team can cast bronze parts, build trailers, and laser-strip varnish. Working with a company on the West Coast, they can even recreate 1930s textures and colors for authentic restorations. 

Now, with affordable financing and energy expertise from the Mountain Association, Woodies Restorations is adding solar to its operations to reduce its overhead. Their large roof and high energy bills make solar an ideal solution, and it is expected to cut their bills in half.  

This type of business decision ensures that Paul and his team can keep prices affordable so that generations to come can keep classic wooden boats out on the water, whether it be the local waters of Lake Cumberland or halfway around the globe. 

Learn more about their work on the Woodies Restoration website here. 

The post Woodies Restorations: How a Father’s Love Launched a Lake Cumberland Boat Business appeared first on Mountain Association.

For Tonja and Troy Lesmeister, creating this place wasn’t just about giving people a gravel lot to base out of for a few days. It was about creating a haven in the woods that has everything travelers miss when they are on the road: things like raising a garden and animals, short-term work and community service experiences for kids or adults, or simply having access to tools and space to work on their RV. 

Designed by RVers for RVers

The Lesmeisters know RV living inside and out having traveled full-time for four years, and they also know the homeschooling community. They raised their children – and foster children – via a concept called “world schooling,” a type of home school where you travel and learn from cultures around the world. Tonja also runs a nonprofit called Traveling With A Purpose, which offers global service trips that guide participants on ethical travel and volunteering. Their unique life experiences make them well-suited to create a place like Firefly Hills, which first opened in 2024. 

“We wanted to give back to the RVing and homeschooling community by building a place that feels like coming home,” Tonja said, “and a place that is a beacon of light and love for all people.”

They described how full-time RVing can sometimes be isolating to families, where they don’t have a set community to volunteer in, or a place where family and friends can visit. 

Firefly Hills regularly hosts community-building activities, including service-oriented projects like creating ‘blessing bags’ for families to give to people in need while they are on the road, or river and road clean-ups. People also miss having challenging and different responsibilities for their kids to learn from, so they can sign up for jobs around the property while they are visiting. Adults can also sign up for ‘work-camp’ jobs where they work in exchange for a RV site, laundry, fresh eggs and any produce that is grown on-site and in season. 

Here, because people can rent out rooms in the farmhouse, or one of two RVs they have on-site, people can also comfortably host family and friends who want to spend time with them, or have a place to stay while their rig is worked on locally. 

The Snowden House – Accommodations with History & Mystery

Overlooking the property is the Snowden House, the property’s striking three-story white farmhouse built in 1924. Likely built as a Sears & Roebuck “kit house,” it was the first home in Lee County to have electricity and neighbors would once drive out to the property at night just to see the lights glowing– or maybe to catch a glimpse of ghosts that are said to occupy the home.  

Tonja told us that both herself, Firefly Hills guests, and past residents alike have reported ‘encounters’ like hearing voices, seeing a woman brushing her hair in an upstairs window, and even having the bathtub fill itself. They’ve hosted many paranormal enthusiasts from podcasters to interested locals, and they will soon be featured on Haunted Discoveries, a YouTube series in its 5^th season.  

Friendly ghosts aside, the house also offers gorgeously designed guest rooms and community spaces, complete with unique vintage decor Tonja sourced from all over Eastern Kentucky. 

Experiences for the Young at Heart

When it came time to build out the park’s play areas, the Lesmeisters asked kids themselves, who came up with three pages of ideas they are incorporating bit by bit. So far, they have the Whimsical Woods, a space full of imagination and adventure. Children can whip up creations in the mud kitchen, climb across a ninja course, or play pretend in log-built cars or a sailboat. There’s even a surf swing, a tree web for bouncing (or laying), and an ADA accessible Gaga ball pit. 

For quieter moments, kids and adults can visit the “Thinking Spot,” where a simple table and a jar of prompts give them conversation starters on topics like nature, inclusion, and travel. Adults too can relax in the hammock circle, or take a walk on the trails that span their property and their neighbors.

“We wanted this to be a place where people can use their imagination and just be in nature,” Tonja said. 

So far, it has been a success. The number one reason people extend their stay with them is because their kids don’t want to leave. 

Site Details & Upcoming Event Spaces

Of course, Firefly Hills hasn’t forgotten the basics. RVers will find full hookups, 70-foot sites, and top-notch bathhouses – including one that is ADA accessible. Two fishing ponds and shared community spaces make it easy to relax or make new friends (though they can also offer a more private experience if that’s what you’re looking for). RVers can also take advantage of their membership program which gives people access to the Snowden house, tool bays, and more.  

Their property is also designed around sustainability, a core value of Tonja and Troy’s. They collect compost from the guests each day, using it in their gardens (which guests can pick freely from), and they offer local products in their store. With support from the Mountain Association’s Energy and Lending teams, the campground has completed major energy efficiency upgrades and is now working toward adding solar. They also have battery packs to provide some resiliency in the case of power outages. 

The solar panels will offset the energy use of an additional event space they are adding to their offerings. Soon, people will also be able to reserve the house and the adjacent event space for weddings, retreats and other events for up to 75 people. When they are not having events, the space will function as a rec room for visitors for activities like ping-pong or rainy day hang-out space. 

Local Economic Impact

When their guests are ready to explore, Tonja and Troy stand by to make recommendations for must-visits in the town of Beattyville and the Red River Gorge with its world-class hiking, climbing, and array of restaurant and activity options.  

The Red River Gorge has grown extensively in recent years and draws tourists from all over the world, but many people just come for a few days at a time. At Firefly Hills, they are often staying for weeks. Tonja said they are thrilled to help bring in outside sources of money to an area that has a struggling economy. 

“Weekend RVers usually come with their coolers packed for a self-sufficient weekend, but full-time RVers are buying groceries locally, taking their animals to the veterinarian, getting their vehicles worked on, you name it.” 

Plan Your Stay

There are many fall and spooky season activities coming up at Firefly Hills – from a ticketed event to learn about paranormal detection equipment for everyday visitors, to their Dia De Los Muertos two-week experience for RVers. 

For more information, visit fireflyhillskentucky.com or follow @fireflyhillskentucky on social media. 

The post Firefly Hills: A New Kind of RV Park in the Red River Gorge appeared first on Mountain Association.

During the Great Depression, in 1938, a small group of community members in Neon heard about a church for sale in nearby Pike County. Piece by piece, they took down the building and were on their way back to Neon – until they ran out of gas. One of the men set out to find a gas station and on his way, he looked down to find a $10 bill on the ground.  

“We always say that by Divine Providence, the church was delivered to Neon,” laughed Pastor Mark Wagoner. 

Pastor Mark has been leading the congregation since 1988. He explained that Neon was once a thriving independent coal town, but it has been severely impacted by the decline of the industry. Many families have left and the economy has suffered. Then the devastating 2022 floods came and nearly decimated the town and surrounding communities. But through all this, the church has remained a beacon of hope and community service.  

“After the flood, we weren’t sure if we’d even be able to rebuild,” Mark recalled.

The church faced $300,000 in damage. Despite their own recovery work, the church continued to serve its community, becoming an impromptu distribution center for supplies, serving flood survivors for over a year with the help of 1,000 volunteers from all over the country. And, with support from their church members and beyond, by Easter Sunday 2023, they were back in the sanctuary again.  

With the restoration behind them, Mark and the board decided it was time to move forward with solar to give them some much-needed savings. 

“I’ve always been intrigued by solar,” he said. “It just makes so much sense.” Mark has been interested in solar since others in Letcher County began to go solar around 2019, though the pandemic and catastrophic flood set them back on making the switch. When the Biden administration established the ‘direct pay’, which is essentially a way for nonprofits and faith institutions to tap into clean energy tax credits, the timing finally felt right – just like that $10 bill that got the church started all those years ago. 

The project, installed by Solar Holler, came with a price tag of $145,000. But between Solar Renewable Energy Credits, a Solar Finance Fund grant, and a $50,000 IRS credit under the Inflation Reduction Act, the final cost totaled around $45,000. The Mountain Association financed the remaining amount with a 4% solar loan, making the transition both possible and practical. 

Since then, the results have been stunning. From March through July, Mark said the church was essentially charged for zero kilowatt-hours, saving around $4,000 in just a few months, and banking credits with Kentucky Power to get them through the winter when less solar is generated.  

“I get excited when I get the power bill now,” Mark said, “I always go run and find Lisa, my wife, to show her.”  

In July, their two main buildings were billed just $76.10 – compared to $996 the year before. With six heat pumps across their fellowship hall and family life center, they need all the savings they can get, especially as power rates continue to increase every few years. 

“Our budget is around $100,000, and our community isn’t growing. We’ve got to get creative. Solar gives us a cushion so we can continue to do ministry and serve others. That’s the reason we did this,” Mark described, referencing their partnership with the Letcher County food pantry and their work to support other communities impacted by natural disaster.  

“And in 5, 10, 15 years, the impact will only grow. I don’t know how homes, businesses, and churches will make it without alternatives.”

The Mountain Association is proud to have supported this project with technical assistance and financing. The initial solar assessment completed by Mountain Association was funded with support from the Kentucky Office of Energy Policy. Thanks to OEP and our other funders, our energy savings assessments are free for any business, nonprofit or other institution in Appalachian Kentucky. 

The post Saving Grace and Energy in Neon, Kentucky appeared first on Mountain Association.

Sydney grew up not far from Ashland, “just in the hillside,” as she puts it. She spent much of her time with her grandfather, who was a card-carrying member of the Cherokee tribe, walking between the physical and spiritual worlds and talking with trees. He taught her ancient knowledge, like the spirit of the river, natural medicine, and the unseen energies that shape our lives.  

“I’ve been psychic my whole life,” Sydney says. “And the way I grew up, it wasn’t discouraged.” 

That early encouragement helped shape a lifelong mission to help others navigate hard times, grief and spirituality. Today, Sydney is a certified spiritual healing practitioner, a mindfulness coach, a speaker, a writer, among many other accolades. At her shop in the heart of downtown Ashland, which opened about a year ago, she provides a range of services like one-on-one or group psychic and past life readings, aura portraits, chakra balancing, tarot readings, and more. 

“I’ve always felt the drive to help people and as a psychic medium, I receive the message I am supposed to give them in the moment and pass it along to them.” 

As we talked, she described several powerful cases where she helped people reach closure and find ways of healing from things like miscarriages or other deaths of loved ones.  

Word has quickly spread and Spiritual So Simple has become a destination with customers driving for hours to book with her or just check out the shop. Many clients are repeat customers, particularly for her psychic portrait art. For example, with her aura portraits, Sydney sketches the person and then spends several hours painting the aura that surrounds them, reading their energy with the colors revealing their energetic patterns, gifts, and blockages. She also provides a written interpretation to go along with the portrait. This extends beyond what most aura photographers offer, which are typically just generalized lists of colors and what they mean. 

Sydney’s work reaches well outside Ashland. She collaborates with other paranormal investigation teams, like Bearfort Paranormal, to work on cases in places like New Jersey, Ireland, all the way to Australia. The goal of this work is to bring peace to people, whether it’s clearing homes of restless spirits or guiding souls into the afterlife. If people have questions about a spirit in their home that is negatively impacting them, Sydney offers consultations at no charge, because, as she says, “everyone should feel safe in their own space.” 

The shop operates with this kind of care and integrity, which is something Sydney takes seriously in a region with deep religious roots. “I’m very inclusive and very careful about what we allow in the store. We honor where people are coming from, including members of traditional churches.”  

That care extends into community partnerships. Sydney works with Pathways, a behavioral health organization that supports survivors of situations like domestic violence, and those in addiction recovery, which often refers people to her for holistic healing services and spiritual guidance. 

“You used to have to ‘just know somebody’ to find this kind of help. I’m glad I have tools like my website, podcasts, and events to reach more people.” 

The Mountain Association is proud to have supported Sydney with flexible financing and a project to work on her marketing strategy. She is currently focused on planning for her second annual Psychic Fair & Metaphysical Market of Appalachia, a Fall event focused on “granny magic,” handmade goods, and cultural traditions.  

Looking ahead, Sydney is also writing a book on what she believes are the nine layers of the aura, extending beyond the seven layers commonly recognized. 

Check out what she has to offer here: https://www.spiritualsosimple.com/  

The post Holistic Spiritual Small Business comes to Ashland, Kentucky appeared first on Mountain Association.

He grew up in Knott County, and now owns or manages four grocery stores in the towns of Frenchburg, Manchester, Martin and Salyersville. He has also owned a gas business for many years. 

“When you think of solar, you don’t think of Kentucky. I’ve personally been in the fossil fuel business a long time, but the technology is getting better, it’s getting cheaper, and more efficient,” Jed said.  

He is part of a group of Eastern Kentucky grocers who have been leading the way in installing solar as a way to keep their stores and rural communities thriving into the future. 

Jed first became interested in solar for his store in Salyersville after seeing Gwen Christon of Isom IGA add solar panels to her store in Letcher County and learning how it penciled out for her. He grew up in a nearby community and their kids went to school together, and Gwen is a trusted peer. The Mountain Association supported Gwen with energy expertise, financing and grant applications to make her project happen, so after Jed got interested, we ran the numbers for Salyersville. He was sold. 

Supported by $60,000 in grants from the USDA USDA Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) and the Solar Finance Fund, this first phase of solar began saving the store about $23,000 per year after it was completed in 2023.  

Next, Jed said he saw how Mike Long of Long’s Pic Pac in Pineville was able to add solar on his metal roof. That inspired him to have us look at Frenchburg and Martin – the store he manages. Those installations were both completed this spring 2025. At the same time, he wanted to pursue a second phase we proposed at Salyersville, also completed this spring, supported again by a USDA REAP grant of nearly $174,000. These two phases have brought the estimated Salyersville savings to $48,000 per year! 

These savings are central to being able to keep the stores updated and running smooth for their customers.

“Grocery is a low-margin industry to begin with and now you have extra pressure from dollar stores. And, you have to make continual improvements. So the solar savings [after paying off the systems] will eventually go back into funding equipment when it breaks down, maintenance and improvement projects, you name it.”  

Solar fits exceptionally well with the daily power requirements of groceries. The harder the refrigeration equipment must work on hot afternoons, the more solar power is available to match the higher refrigeration load. 

“At 317 KW in total, the installation at Salyersville is very likely the largest solar yet on an independent, or maybe any, grocery in Kentucky,” Josh Bills, Mountain Association’s Senior Energy Analyst, said. “That’s something Magoffin County and Eastern Kentucky should be very proud of.” 

Solar is not the only new thing at the stores. They recently rebranded from IGAs to The Market. 

Jed said the name change comes at a time where they are leaning into their service to the community, “We think this shows how we are community-based, friendly, and cost competitive. We want people to know that when they support us, they are supporting their local economy and the nearly 200 people we employ across our stores and office.” 

He explained that, like many of his stores, The Market at Frenchburg is the only full-service grocery for about 30 miles. Though there are only 600 people in the town, they serve a lot of small communities around Menifee County who would otherwise be in a food desert.  

“At all our stores, we try to have a selection of products so people can fix whatever they want to fix without leaving their town.” 

A note about federal support for rural communities: 

In total, these four projects were supported by almost $566,000 in federal grants through the USDA REAP program. Most rural communities in America don’t have the same robust populations, strong tax bases and abundant private investments that larger communities have, so these are small federal investments that have been key to keeping doors open in rural areas since the program started around 2008. 

“Independent grocers need all the support they can get, whether it’s REAP or grants for equipment, so we can continue to be here for our communities for the long haul,” Jed described of the importance of grant support. 

The post Seeing the Light: Inspired by Peers, Kentucky Grocer Makes the Solar Switch  appeared first on Mountain Association.

Laura, the youngest granddaughter of Bill Opell, grew up surrounded by the sights and sounds of the family business. After earning her degree in agriculture at Morehead State, she spent over eight years as an Extension Agent in Lawrence County, always staying true to her agricultural roots. When her aunt and uncle closed the shop in 2022 after running it as Bear Creek Meats for over a decade, Laura found herself fielding calls from local farmers, desperate for a nearby butcher. 

“A lot of places were just too far, and more and more people were wanting to raise their own animals, especially after the pandemic,” Laura said. “So I thought: This is our family business, all the equipment is still there, let’s do this.” 

In May 2023, Laura and Brad reopened Opell Meats, once again providing a crucial service to farmers and families from all the counties surrounding Boyd, and beyond.  

“There’s not a whole lot of places like us anymore. Years ago, every small town had a butcher shop, and now that’s just not the case. We get people from over two hours away.” 

Running a small cow/calf operation in Boyd County themselves, Laura and Brad understand the needs of local farmers firsthand. Brad, who serves as the Fire Marshal for the City of Ashland, spends his spare time assisting with slaughter, maintenance, repairs, and anything else the shop demands. Each day, Laura can be found behind the counter, slicing sandwich meat, wrapping orders, and keeping daily operations running smoothly. 

Opell Meats is more than just a butcher shop—it’s a community hub.  

“It’s a generational thing,” Laura explains. “People have been coming here for years. They loved my grandfather, and they keep coming back. We’re a family operation, so we know our customers, what they like, and what they don’t like.” 

During the peak processing months of October through March, the shop is bustling with farmers bringing in cattle, hogs, and deer. Despite the shop’s recent upgrades, some of the original equipment, like the 1970s grinder and saw, are still in use, standing as a testament to the quality and durability of old-school craftsmanship. 

In addition to processing beef and pork, Opell Meats offers a variety of products, including deli meats, frozen chicken, and seasonal specialties like heart-shaped steaks for Valentine’s Day and winter meat bundles. They also work closely with local producers, offering prime beef, BBQ beef jerky, eggs, and more. As a custom processor, they cater to individuals and families who use the meat for their personal families or to provide to their neighbors. 

Laura and Brad’s daughters, Caroline and Evie, are already part of the family tradition. “They’re like our little mascots,” Laura laughs. Like her, the girls are active in 4H, attending county fairs and supporting local agriculture projects. Opell Meats proudly supports 4H and FFA students across four counties by purchasing animals at auctions, which helps support their 4H projects for the next year.

As May approaches, the shop is gearing up to celebrate its two-year anniversary with a customer appreciation event, complete with lunch and a big sale. It’s a way to say thank you to the community that has supported them through generations. 

The Mountain Association is honored to have provided flexible financing for initial inventory and technical assistance for setting up their QuickBooks and accounting systems.   

Follow along the Opell Meats journey and its living legacy via their Facebook page here. 

The post From Grandfather to Granddaughter: The Next Chapter of Opell Meats  appeared first on Mountain Association.

The program is simple yet powerful: customers can choose to pay $5 to cover the costs of a meal for someone who might not otherwise afford to eat. Over the past four years, this initiative has provided meals to countless people—some who return regularly, while new faces arrive each week. The effort is entirely supported by the generosity of Shenanigans’ customers, proving a community’s love can make a big impact.

Kentucky has been deeply affected by the opioid crisis and we have one of the highest overdose death rates in the country. In 2022 alone, over 2,200 Kentuckians lost their lives to overdoses. Addiction leaves many struggling with housing and food insecurity. Shenanigans’ pay-it-forward program ensures that those trying to rebuild their lives have a warm meal and a welcoming place to sit.

“Everyone deserves to eat –  I don’t care who you are, what you’ve done – you need a good meal to survive, to heal,” Michelle says of the program. 

Beyond its mission to feed those in need, Shenanigans is also a deeply personal project for Michelle. Throughout the restaurant, guests with a careful eye can notice small tributes to Joseph, her late son, who was a sous chef in Colorado. She and Joseph always dreamed of starting a restaurant together. His love of the color purple, soccer and Alice in Wonderland show up throughout the decor and the menu.

As for the food? It’s as comforting as the atmosphere. Shenanigans offers a variety of fresh, hearty dishes, including crisp salads, stacked sandwiches, and flavorful wraps packed with high-quality ingredients. Whether you’re in the mood for something light and healthy or a hearty meal, there’s something on the menu for everyone.

The Mountain Association has been proud to have worked with Michelle over the past several years, supporting her dreams with flexible financing.

Shenanigans is a place built on love, remembrance, and the idea that every life matters. In a world where so many people are struggling, places like Shenanigans remind us that small actions can create waves of change.

So, if you’re ever near Hazard, stop by. Enjoy a delicious meal, and, if you can, pay it forward. You just might be part of someone’s fresh start.

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Living most of their lives in Michigan, their lives had nothing to do with farming. Shortly after getting married in 2015, Sandy shared her lifelong dream to have horses— a complete surprise to Martin. Along came Splash and Millie in 2018. This led to teaching Martin how to ride and lots of camping adventures with the horses, which provided a great escape early in the pandemic. In early 2021, on a total whim, Sandy mentioned looking at property further south — another complete surprise to Martin! The acreage in Estill County came up and they were almost immediately sold.

For anyone who hasn’t been to Estill County before, its scenes are perfectly captured by the county tourism motto: ‘Where the Bluegrass Kisses the Mountains.’ It’s hard not to fall in love with its idyllic mix of hills and valleys. By June, they were on the farm and there was no looking back.

When I asked Sandy and Martin if they’d done any research on Kentucky, they laughed and said: “None.” When I asked if they had any farming experience, they again laughed and said: “None.” However, it’s easy to see when you talk with them that they are the ‘figure it out’ type. Martin, who described Sandy as ‘fearless,’ loves animals and tinkering with machines. This combination makes them a good pair to take a piece of land and a farmhouse that had been sitting empty for five years and completely transform it.

Almost immediately after their move, animals also started to move in.

Because they are both true animal lovers and they wanted to raise livestock primarily on pasture, they researched each breed carefully, choosing the ones with the gentlest dispositions, smaller size and delicious meat — and, of course, the cuteness factor! They choose Idaho Pasture Pigs, Scottish Highland cattle, Nigerian Dwarf and Pygmy goats, and a variety of chickens for meat and eggs. They also added their beloved Great Pyrenees and miniature donkeys to guard the farm. There has been a lot of work to reclaim the land and bring it up to date to handle the animals. They have replaced all the fencing and added new pastures, built shelters and installed automatic waterers. 

One of their goals for their property was to share the beauty of the land and the farming experience. The farm came with a beautiful old farmhouse and a quaint, rustic cabin. They also constructed a new cabin. All of which are available for short-term rentals. Sandy and Martin now live in another house on the property that they were able to acquire and renovate.

Guests are able to explore the farm, creeks and miles of hiking trails. For a more hands-on experience, they also offer farm tours and guided geode and agate tours to uncover hidden treasures along the creek banks (Estill County is one of just six counties in Kentucky where you can find agate with dark red and black bands). Not to mention, guests can enjoy delicious eggs and sausage for breakfast or some of Red Haven Farm’s brats on the grill.

They sell their pasture and humanely raised meat locally at the Berea Farmer’s Market and off the farm, as well as offering delivery and subscription boxes. They also recently began working with other local artisans to include sourdough bread, cheese, kombucha, and jellies as delicious add-ons with more surprises to come.

The Mountain Association is proud to have worked with Sandy and Martin to support some of these projects with affordable financing. We also supported them with consulting from Jessica Holly Creative who helped polish up their branding and further develop their marketing strategy.

So, whether you’re looking for a peaceful getaway, a deep dive into farm life, or just really cool rocks and really good bacon— Red Haven Farm has you covered.

We hope you’ll check them out here: https://www.redhavenky.com/

The post Trading Traffic for Tractors: The Journey to Red Haven Farm  appeared first on Mountain Association.