Renee & Eric Bowden live on a 4+ acre farm in Jackson County. The primary product for the Bowden’s is sheep. They currently have 60 sheep, including 15 newborns. The sheep are primarily sold to a restaurant owner who then uses them on his menu or resells the sheep to families wishing to serve lamb on religious holidays. With the $7,500 in funds from the SOAR Small Farm Loan, the Bowden’s plan to purchase a Quonset hut for a greenhouse, equipment and other items to grow herbs and vegetables. The outlet for the products grown will be both to restaurants where they already have connections and farmer’s markets in Jackson, Madison and Laurel Counties.
The SOAR Small Production Loan Fund is a low-interest financing resource designed to assist small producers grow healthy, nutritional foods so that they can move into commercial production. The goal is to support and educate growers to develop a strong local food system in eastern and southern Kentucky that will be market-supported and result in a profit for the growers.
