On Thursday, July 13th the Kentucky Hemp Heritage Alliance hosted a hemp dinner fundraiser at Farmington Historic Plantation in Louisville to support continued historic preservation and hemp education. Guests enjoyed a five course hemp-infused feast prepared by local Chef Adam Burress, in addition to a hemp cocktail hour and speaker dialogue from event coordinators and sponsors.
The 2019 Farmington Hemp Dinner was presented by 502 Hemp & Wellness Center and Commonwealth Extracts, and honored the Glenn Sea Family, descendants of David and Martha Spencer who were enslaved at Farmington during the 19th century. Support for the dinner also came from Montgomery Realtors and Kentucky Hemp Works, with contributions from Kentucky Hempsters and Hemp Ventures.
The evening commenced at 6:00 pm with check-in and a complimentary hemp cocktail hour. Guests had the choice of a CBD-infused mule renamed the "Louisville Hemp Mule" topped with drops of hemp-derived CBD oil, a bourbon milk punch called the "Summer Hemp Bourbon Breeze" made with vanilla hemp milk, or a hemp beer from Goodwood Brewing or The Hemperor. All guests also received a gift bag full of hemp products and a 2019 Heritage Hemp Trail map printed on hemp paper.
Around 7:30 pm the dinner presentation began with a welcome by Farmington Executive Director, Kathy Nichols, followed by introduction by Chef Adam Burress who described his experience preparing the meal and working with hemp food products. Chef Burress is the owner of Louisville restaurants Hammerheads, Migo, Ostra, and Game. The menu featured:
Hemp Wildflower English Pea Hummus on Hemp Toast
Watermelon Cucumber Salad tossed in a Hemp Ponzu Vin, Hemp Oil and Goat Cheese
Elote with a Hemp Aioli, Toasted Hemp Hearts, and Cotija Cheese
Kentucky Bison in a Scotched date and Hemp Hibiscus Mole with Brie and Aged Beemster
Hemp Tres Leches Cake made with CBD Honey
Alyssa Erickson, co-founder of Kentucky Hempsters and the Kentucky Hemp Heritage Alliance (Heritage Hemp Trail) kicked off the dialogue segment at 8:15 pm and invited Ms. Nichols back to the podium to co-present the dedication to the Glenn Sea Family, descendants of the Spencers, who were enslaved at Farmington by John Speed’s son in law, Austin Peay, from approximately 1843-1865. Descendants of the Spencers have shared their family photographs, oral tradition, and stories to enrich the Farmington interpretation. Cassandra Sea, wife of the late Glenn Sea, accepted a hemp-made plaque and spoke on behalf of the family legacy.
The speakers continued with a look at the Kentucky hemp revival and the modern day industry. Owner of Kentucky Hemp Works and event sponsor, Katie Moyer, described her role as a hemp seed processor and product retailer. Dinner Co-presentor and owner of 502 Hemp & Wellness Center, Dee Dee Taylor, discussed her passion for offering alternative healthcare through hemp-derived CBD products at her store and center off Moser Road. She even brought CBD chocolates made by local chocolatier FDL Chocolates for the guests. The speaking segment and evening drew to an end with dinner co-presenter and final speaker, John Taylor, who is the owner of Commonwealth Extracts. John began using CBD oil for seizures, which inspired him to start his own extraction facility in 2015. He now has one of the largest CBD C02 extraction facilities in the state, and just recently hosted Senator Mitch McConnell and USDA Secretary Sonny Perdue for a tour.
Kentucky Hempsters founded the Kentucky Hemp Heritage Alliance (KHHA) in 2017 to facilitate the Heritage Hemp Trail and initiatives which aim to preserve and promote the rich hemp history in Kentucky. Farmington Historic Plantation was once a former 19th century hemp plantation owned by the Speed family. Farmington is an affiliate of the KHHA and a featured location on the Heritage Hemp Trail. Each year, Farmington and the KHHA plant a small hemp crop for demonstration and education. The mansion also has a "hemp room" which Farmington is looking to improve with funds raised from the dinner.
See more photos below from the © 2019 Farmington Hemp Dinner by Krista Walker/You've Got Flair.