For more information:
• Mustang Troop, Kentucky Horse Park, 4089 Ironworks Pike, Lexington, KY 40511, (859) 233-4303

Producer: Donna Ross

The Horses Are Wild; the Kids Aren’t

The Mustang Troop

In Fayette County, an innovative program is putting kids from the inner city back in touch with animals. The Kentucky Horse Park Mustang Troop matches wild horses from out West with teenagers from Lexington neighborhoods dominated by public housing projects.

The young troopers learn the responsibility of caring for their horses and the team spirit of parade work. In January 1997, their hard work paid off when they got to travel to Washington, DC to march in President Clinton’s second inaugural parade.

For more information:
• Sonny Burton, (270) 826-2405; Henderson Tourism, (270) 826-3128

Producer, videographer: David Brinkley

Barbecuing for Bucks

Chicken dinners for charity

If it’s Saturday, people in Henderson know that Sonny Burton’s barbecue pits will be smoking chicken for a good cause. During the week, Sonny serves Henderson Countians as Circuit Court clerk. But for more than 40 years, he’s also been serving lots of chicken, helping area charitable, civic, and educational groups raise money through weekly barbecue dinners—all on a volunteer basis.

Producer: Gene Campbell

Pick-Your-Own ... and Beyond

‘Entertainment farming’

As agriculture in Kentucky heads into the 21st century, some enterprising farmers are taking a new look at their way of life and seeing an additional business opportunity. Reasoning that many city folks would like to rediscover their rural roots by spending a day in the country, these entrepreneurs are adding activities from pick-your-own-vegetables days to petting zoos featuring barnyard animals to draw city families out to the farm. In this segment, Kentucky Life visits several of these operations in rural Central Kentucky, as well as Lexington’s popular in-town Farmers’ Market.

• Garrett’s Orchard and Country Market
  Versailles, KY
  (859) 873-3819
  Offers Kentucky-made products and farm-grown fruits, vegetables, and flowers; pick your own in season. Main products are apples, cider, sweet corn, pumpkins, and peaches. Periodic festivals are held during the growing season. From U.S. 60 in Woodford County, take KY 1967 south 3.5 miles. Store is on the left.
  
  
• Bi-Water Farm and Greenhouse
  Georgetown, KY
  (502) 863-3676
  Fruits, vegetables, and flowers offered through country store. Located five miles outside Georgetown on U.S. 25.
  
  
• Lexington Farmers’ Market
  Held on Vine Street each Saturday and on South Broadway on Tuesdays and Thursdays; the “regulars” hope eventually to finance a permanent, covered space.