Elaine Russell (Frankfort, KY)

In our moment of doubt we need people willing to get up from their chair and become our cheerleaders. ✨In 2013, I was invited to speak during the opening session of the Fruit & Vegetable conference. The reality of that invitation took a while to sink in. While that is the very conference where Nathan and I met as coworkers and peers in 2000 my presence up to that point had mostly been as his wife with all the kids following behind. Not only was I being invited to speak, but I would be speaking on something I hadn’t heard very often in local food conversations: food access. I shared the motivations behind Community Farmers Market to make local food more Affordable, Approachable & Accessible. I received mixed reviews and after I finished headed to the back of the room where Elaine Russell was there to greet me. In that moment,as I felt overwhelming doubt, Elaine lifted me up, shared her own work and ensured me that many people across Kentucky were invested in this very work too. I’ll forever be thankful for Elaine’s willingness to go from audience member to unexpected encourager.✨