Six-State Pact Aims to Transform Appalachian Farming

Kentucky Takes the Lead as Appalachian States Unite Around Rural Growth

When leaders across Appalachia gathered in Louisville last week, they weren’t just sharing a room—they were sharing a vision. At the Appalachian Proud Commissioners’ Summit, hosted at the Kentucky Exposition Center, agriculture commissioners and senior officials from six states came together to chart a shared path forward for rural growth, regional identity, and farmer-driven innovation.

Sen. Shelley Funke Frommeyer joined Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell and counterparts from West Virginia, Tennessee, Virginia, Ohio, and Georgia for a day of collaboration that underscored something the region has long believed: Appalachia’s greatest strength is its people, and when those communities are empowered, they thrive.

“Kentucky is at the forefront of shaping a healthier, more prosperous future for Appalachian communities, and I’m proud to play a role in that,” Frommeyer said.

A Regional Compact with National Implications

At the heart of the gathering was a landmark multi-state compact that formalizes a shared commitment to expanding the Appalachia Proud brand—Kentucky’s signature agricultural identity—into a broader regional force. Originally launched in 2014 as a special designation under the Kentucky Proud program, Appalachia Proud has helped elevate farmers and food producers across 54 eastern Kentucky counties. Now, neighboring states are preparing to adopt and adapt the model to highlight their own rural producers.

The compact signals more than symbolism. It represents a strategy rooted in economic resilience, regional marketing power, and a belief that locally grown food and locally made products can anchor long-term prosperity. By aligning around Kentucky’s proven approach, commissioners are betting big on the idea that Appalachian agriculture can be a national story of revival.

Elevating Health, Nutrition, and Local Economies

Another major emphasis of the summit was the alignment with the Make America Healthy Again (MAHA) agenda. This multi-state strategy prioritizes responsible nutrition, stronger food infrastructure, and support for small businesses built on Appalachian ingenuity.

For Frommeyer—who serves as co-chair of the Make America Healthy Again Kentucky Task Force—this work is personal. It represents an effort not only to enhance access to healthy foods but to strengthen rural economies that depend heavily on agriculture and entrepreneurship.

The message from the summit was clear: improving public health and expanding economic opportunity are not competing goals. In Appalachia, they are two sides of the same strategy.

A $10 Million Push for Regional Transformation

The coalition of states is also preparing to jointly pursue a $10 million Appalachian Regional Commission (ARC) ARISE grant. The funding would help replicate several of Kentucky’s most successful agricultural programs—including the Buy Local initiative and POP (Pick of the Proud) marketing efforts—across state lines.

If awarded, the investment would scale programs that have already proven their ability to strengthen local economies, boost farm revenue, and connect consumers with trusted regional brands. It is the kind of initiative that could reshape regional markets and elevate thousands of small producers.

Public-Private Partnerships Take Center Stage

Throughout the day, one theme emerged repeatedly: collaboration is essential. The summit highlighted partnerships among agriculture departments, the Small Business Administration, conservative policy organizations, and grassroots innovators working directly in rural communities.

These relationships reflect a model that Kentucky has championed for years—public and private efforts working in tandem to build sustainable frameworks for rural success. When farmers, entrepreneurs, policymakers, and industry leaders work toward the same goals, the result is momentum that stretches far beyond state borders.

A Celebration of Appalachian Strength

The summit concluded with the Farm City Luncheon, part of the North American Livestock Expo, where the heart of Kentucky’s agricultural identity was on full display. Agribusiness leaders, farmers, students, and innovators gathered to celebrate what the region has accomplished and what lies ahead.

The event reinforced a simple truth: Kentucky has become a national leader in rural economic policy, and its example is shaping the future of Appalachian development.

Appalachia Proud: A Model Built on Resilience

For more than a decade, Appalachia Proud has symbolized the grit, creativity, and pride of eastern Kentucky’s producers. The brand gives farmers a powerful tool to tell their story and signal quality to consumers who increasingly want to buy local. Now, as states across the region join the effort, that story is expanding.

Appalachia is not defined by its challenges. It is defined by its resilience—and by the growing movement of farmers, leaders, and communities working to ensure the region’s future is even brighter than its past.

As Kentucky leads the charge in taking the Appalachia Proud model nationwide, one thing is clear: the mountains aren’t just full of beauty—they are full of potential.