I was awarded the “Just Do GOOD Award” for “exceptional dedication to community renewal and sustainable agriculture in Winchester, Kentucky.” The award was presented by country music star Crystal Gayle, Monty Hobbs, and Valerie Smaldone, as part of the Finding Kindness team, which is producing a show which will air on Apple TV in January. In addition, several members of the group are opening a café in Winchester.
This was an honor, and quite a surprise, as I’m not a “kind” lover of kittens and bunnies. I do love rural America, a chemical-free natural environment, and making products which are healthier for you and me. We have a team of talented rural Americans who show up and do what needs to be done. We like to win.
The Kindness producers know that it takes grit, passion, and cash, plus a workable strategy, to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps yet again. One of my goals has been community renewal, which has involved a sizable financial investment in businesses, buildings and downtown infrastructure. (We’ve been flooded out 3 times; we’ve tried things and failed; we still have unreliable internet; the downtown businesses were almost shuttered in 2025 while the High Side of Main Street was torn apart and rebuilt.)
But at last, we’ve succeeded, thanks to you, our customers! From 1 South Main, Winchester, The Mercantile on Main now sells beef and pork from Mt. Folly and our network of farmers. We sell Mt. Folly CBD and Laura’s Hemp Chocolates, made in Mt. Sterling. We sell milk from a local dairy. We sell soaps, coffee, organic garden seeds, organic bird seed, and organic supplements. People are starting to appear on Main Street sidewalks, new businesses have moved in, stocking items you won’t find in big box stores on the bypass. We have a local newspaper, a local digital media company, and local radio. So, it takes a village, and we’ve got it.
It also takes our friends from far away, who can shop on Laurasmercantile.com from any location, buy the best products, and support our small-town team. Our beef is now in Kroger’s through the state.
So, thanks from all of us at Mt. Folly, Laura’s Mercantile, The Mercantile on Main and Regeneration Distillery. You deserve the “Just Do Good Award” as much — maybe more — than I do.