Hemp Harmonic

Kentucky, the nation’s largest hemp producer in the 19th and 20th centuries, is back in the game with a new generation of innovators who have formed the country’s first organic hemp cooperative. Its mission: build on the past, educate for the future.

mowing — The Kentucky Organic Hemp Co-op was founded by Tony Silvernail, a certified organic transition trainer for the Organic Association of Kentucky, and Dr. Shawn Lucas of Kentucky State University. Together, they saw an opportunity for small farms to cooperate to meet the challenges of growing hemp in a highly competitive emerging market. Now in its early stages, the co-op consists of 16 operations, with approximately 60 acres in production.Photo by Rebecca Redding

close up hemp plant — Photo by Rebecca Redding

kentucky hemp field — By working together, members of the Kentucky Organic Hemp Co-op can sustain themselves financially as small growers in the budding hemp industry. Photos by Rebecca Redding

“If you’re not big, you’re just going to be overlooked,” said Silvernail. “I think that what we’re doing with the co-op, we can work together on issues — not on a small scale individually, but on a large scale collectively — and still be a force here in this industry as we move forward.” Photo by Rebecca Redding

Because the hemp industry currently lacks transparency and places to turn to for help, the co-op's focus is on knowledge-sharing and education. With more than 40 years of growing expertise — including Kentucky hemp pioneers Craig Lee and Jane Herrod — co-op members are sharing their experience with best production practices, plant genetics, and harvesting methods with one another. In the future, the co-op plans to acquire specialized equipment for processing certified organic CBD products. Photo by Rebecca Redding

"When organics was just starting here in Kentucky 20 years ago, people shared information," said Silvernail. "You get together, you talk, people shared what's working and what wasn't because there was not a lot of information out there." Photo by Rebecca Redding