Meet The Team
Bringing Home The Farm
Blake Oliver
President / Chair / Executive Director
Blake Oliver first encountered the writing of Wendell Berry in the spring of 1995 in a philosophy class at Western Kentucky University and it was at this moment he discovered someone that was writing and speaking what he was thinking but couldn’t find words for. “I remember at that time trying to have conversations with friends and family about GMOs, seed control, organic agriculture, the importance of rural economies and small farmers and I just didn’t have the words, and it was overwhelming to try and articulate my thoughts, but Wendell and a few others could and I could learn from them.”
A few years after college Blake went to work to try and help shape the future of Kentucky’s small farmers. The master settlement was complete and KY passed HB611 to appropriate funds and set up some structure to help small farmers transition away from tobacco. The writing had been on the wall for years and the tobacco program was coming to an end. The tobacco buyout was inevitable and the culture and landscape of Kentucky was about to change in a very negative way. “I wanted to be a part of organizing, lobbying, and facilitating opportunities for small farmers to have a fighting chance to transition and diversify away from tobacco.”
We went to work directly with small farmers and the county councils established by HB611 to see what could be done to save some of the small farmers and rural communities. Twenty some odd years later there have been some accomplishments but overall small farmers are still on the decline so all that work is still there to do.”
There are individuals, organizations, and farmers still fighting the good fight, but at this point we have no option but to work in place with what we have underfoot and at arms length to preserve our rural landscapes and support our small farmers. The work that must be done here and now. The culture that existed and allowed Kentucky to have small farms, strong rural communities, and neighbors working together must be preserved and I am here with a few others to help in any way we can.
Ellen Downing
Vice President / Treasurer
Ellen’s journey began in small-town Kentucky, where a deep appreciation for the land and the little things in life first took root—even if she didn’t inherit a traditional green thumb. Her passion for service and community led her to spend several years with AmeriCorps NCCC and AmeriCorps VISTA, working on initiatives in health, education, and the environment. These experiences reinforced a core belief: real change happens when we show up for one another.
Today, Ellen is committed to sparking that change by reconnecting with what sustains us—our local farmers, our land, and each other. Through hands-on education and a return to community-centered values, she hopes to inspire a movement in Kentucky that honors our roots, strengthens our bonds, and nurtures both our communities and ourselves.
Now, she’s all about getting back to the roots—supporting local farmers, caring for the land, and getting hands dirty in the best way. For Ellen, it’s not just about growing food; it’s about growing connection, resilience, and a sense of purpose. She hopes to help spark that same passion in others across Kentucky—to lift each other up and see what’s possible when we come together.
Melissa Garrett Davis
Vice President / Secretary
Melissa was born and raised in West Virginia. She learned to work and care for the land on her grandparents’ farm down on “coon creek.” Her first jobs were gathering eggs from the hen houses and feeding the pigs. They were intentional in showing her how to plant, harvest, butcher, and can. Her parents are the most resourceful people she’s ever known and instilled in her a strong work ethic and sense of justice. She earned a Master of Divinity at Louisville Seminary and Juris Doctor from Brandeis School of Law at the University of Louisville. She is an immigration lawyer in Louisville specializing in family-based immigration law, removal defense, and asylum. She is excited to be a part of the work of KentuckyCans to share her love of putting away food and bringing home the farm.
KentuckyCans grew out of a kitchen table conversation between three friends
Since April 2023, Blake, Ellen, and Melissa, who share a deep love for Kentucky’s working landscapes and the people who steward them have been rolling up their sleeves and taking inventory, and designing hands-on programs that turn intention into action.
Mission -Preserve and build local culture that supports small farmers, rural communities, and strengthens the bond between rural and urban Kentuckians.
Vision – A resilient Kentucky where every community can feed itself, every small farmer earns a fair living caring for the land, and every generation shares the skills and stories that keep agrarian culture alive.
Beliefs –
- Farmers can’t fairly participate in a free and open market nor should we want them to. We are not promoting subsidies, but instead should facilitate parity and programs that help farmers control inputs, manage supply and demand, and provide structure that allows farmers to farm in a way that provides some profit and protects the land they farm. Farmers on small farms in thriving rural communities must be a priority. It benefits all of us in Kentucky.
- We need to be able to feed Kentucky families, institutions, schools, etc. Kentucky must support purchasing food from Kentucky farmers and farms. We need programs and supply lines. Kentucky’s rural communities should supply food and fiber to the urban cities in Kentucky and local and state government should help facilitate and support this effort. How will we take care of and feed ourselves if we don’t have farmers and supply lines? It’s the right thing to do in good times and prepares us for bad times.
- Building and preserving culture is the most important work the majority of us can do to support small farmers and rebuild rural communities. We must learn from our history and continuously have old people in conversation with young people passing along that culture.
WAYS YOU CAN GET INVOLVED
“Take what you have affection for and put it to work.”
Preserving a visual of Kentucky's Landscape
Kentucky's landscape is like no other! If you have pictures of an old tobacco barn or folks working together on the farm we encourage you to share them and tell us the story! We will share the pictures and stories with our members!
Kentucky's Garden Project
Help us grow "Kentucky’s Garden” – We are collecting and planting seeds from all 120 Kentucky counties. Do you have heirloom seed to share!? Please send a couple of seeds to us along with your story and be a part of preserving Kentucky's history! We will build an interactive map to share the history as we build Kentucky's Garden!
Join KYCans in these activites!
- We can work together and host a cultural event related to small farming or food preservation. Sign up, contact us and tell us about your interest!
- Let us help you on your farm / Contact us to discuss how we can help you and in turn help us learn! We will bring free labor to the farm!
- What are you interested in doing to help small farmers? Drop us a note!
- Do you know how to preserve or can food? Do you have a family member that you would like to pass on a skill to others related to agriculture or small farming?
- Participate in our group discussions related to agrarian culture, rural community, and bridging the rural / urban divide.
- Recommend an event!
- Become a Member!